Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
Parallel translations
- WEB He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?”
- KJV And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
- NKJV Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”
- NASB They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them: “What were you discussing on the way?”
- NLT After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?”
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
Back in Capernaum, Jesus asks what the disciples were arguing about on the road. His question gently exposes a heart problem they would rather hide.
Overview
Knowing their dispute, Jesus probes them so the issue can be brought into the light and corrected. The setting "in the house" signals private, formative teaching for the Twelve. This moment sets up Jesus' reversal of worldly notions of greatness, contrasting their ambition with his path of self-giving service.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Matt 18:1–5At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
- Heb 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- Luke 9:46–48Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
- John 21:17Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
- John 2:25He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.
- Rev 2:23Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
- Ps 139:1–4For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
- Matt 17:24After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”
- Mark 2:8At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 9:33 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.