But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.
Parallel translations
- KJV But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
- BSB But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
- NKJV But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
- NASB But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.
- NLT But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
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
The disciples are silent because they had argued about who was greatest. Their shame reveals how out of step their ambition was with Jesus' coming sacrifice.
Overview
Just after Jesus predicted his death, the disciples quarreled over rank, a jarring contrast Mark sets deliberately. Their silence betrays a guilty conscience. The episode shows how deeply self-promotion grips the human heart, and prepares the way for Jesus to redefine greatness as humble service modeled supremely in himself.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Mark 9:50Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
- Luke 9:46–48There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.
- Luke 22:24–30There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.
- Phil 2:3–7doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
- 3 Jn 1:9I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.
- Rom 12:10In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;
- 1 Pet 5:3neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
- Matt 20:21–24He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.”
- Matt 18:1–5In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
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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 9:34 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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