For the one who is not against us is for us.
Parallel translations
- WEB For whoever is not against us is on our side.
- KJV For he that is not against us is on our part.
- BSB For whoever is not against us is for us.
- NKJV For he who is not against us is on our side.
- NLT Anyone who is not against us is for us.
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 whoever is not against the disciples is for them. There is a wide field of those who, though outside the inner circle, stand with Christ's cause.
Overview
This saying tempers sectarian zeal, affirming that not everyone outside the Twelve is an enemy. It pairs with the seemingly opposite saying in Matthew 12:30, the two together teaching that no neutrality toward Christ is possible while warning against rashly rejecting genuine allies. The kingdom's reach is broader than the disciples assumed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Matt 12:30“He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters.
- Luke 11:23“He that is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters.
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 9:40 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.