And when they came back to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.
Parallel translations
- WEB Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and scribes questioning them.
- KJV And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
- BSB When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.
- NKJV And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.
- NLT When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them.
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
Returning, Jesus finds a crowd and scribes disputing with the other disciples. The mountaintop glory gives way to a struggle in the valley.
Overview
The scene shifts sharply from the Transfiguration to a needy world below, where the disciples are unable to help and critics press in. The contrast underscores that Jesus' glory is meant to equip his people for ministry amid real human suffering. It sets up a lesson about the power of faith and prayer.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Luke 9:37–42On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him.
- Matt 17:14–20When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, and saying,
- Luke 11:53–54As he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and to draw many things out of him;
- Mark 11:28and they began saying to him, “By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”
- Mark 2:6But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
- Mark 12:14When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
- Heb 12:3For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.
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 9:14 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.