But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him.”
- KJV But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
- BSB But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.”
- NKJV But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
- NASB But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written of him.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus declares that Elijah has already come and was treated as people wished, as Scripture foretold. He identifies John the Baptist as the promised Elijah.
Overview
Jesus points to John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17) and was rejected and killed by Herod. John's suffering foreshadows Jesus' own. The statement shows that God's prophetic word is being fulfilled precisely, including the rejection of his messengers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Matt 14:3–11For Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
- Matt 17:12–13but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.”
- Matt 11:14If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.
- Acts 7:52Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.
- Luke 3:19–20but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,
- Mark 6:14–28King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, “John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”
- Luke 1:17He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 9:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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