Mark 2:7
in Mark 2“Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, even God?
KJV
Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
⋯
This verse in Mark 2
Commentary
5 notes on this verseNow the commandment was given to man by the Word. For Adam, it is said, "heard the voice of the Lord God." Rightly then does His Word say to man, "Thy sins are forgiven thee;" He, the same against whom we had sinned in the beginning, grants forgiveness of sins in the end. But if indeed we had disobeyed the command of any other, while it was a different being who said, "Thy sins are forgiven thee;" such an one is neither good, nor true, nor just.
This site's exposition
certain of the scribes sitting there
on Mark 2:6-7
The scribes' objection is theologically correct as far as it goes, who can forgive sins but God only, and the bench takes their logic seriously rather than dismissing it, since the claim Jesus has just made truly does belong to God alone in the Hebrew scriptures they knew. Their charge, blasphemy, is the same charge that will convict him at his trial in 14:64, so this early scene already previews the crime he will die for. The scribes reason silently, in their hearts, yet Jesus answers a question no one spoke aloud, which is itself the first evidence his claim was true.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies?.... They took Christ to be a mere man, and reasoned with themselves, that he must be a blasphemer, in assuming that to himself, which was peculiar to God: they seem astonished at his words, and wonder at his arrogance, and to be filled with indignation and resentment at him; saying, who can forgive sins but God only? this was a generally received maxim with them, and a very just one.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
on Mark 2:1-12
This passage shows our Lord once more at Capernaum. Once more we find Him doing His accustomed work, preaching the word, and healing those that were sick. We see, in these verses, what great spiritual privileges some people enjoy, and yet make no use of them . This is a truth which is strikingly illustrated by the history of Capernaum. No city in Palestine appears to have enjoyed so much of our Lord's presence, during His earthly ministry, as did this city. It was the place where He dwelt, after He left Nazareth. (Matt. 4:13.)
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?--In this second question they expressed a great truth. Nor was their first question altogether unnatural, though in our Lord's sole case it was unfounded.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τί | ti | Why | G5101 → | 563 times |
| οὗτος | houtos | this [man] | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | thus | G3779 → | 208 times |
| λαλεῖ; | lalei | does speak? | G2980 → | 294 times |
| βλασφημεῖ· | blasphemei | He blasphemes! | G987 → | 34 times |
| τίς | tis | Who | G5101 → | 563 times |
| δύναται | dunatai | is able | G1410 → | 207 times |
| ἀφιέναι | aphienai | to forgive | G863 → | 143 times |
| ἁμαρτίας | hamartias | sins | G266 → | 173 times |
| εἰ | ei | only | G1487 → | 508 times |
| μὴ | me | except | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| εἷς | heis | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεός; | theos | God? | G2316 → | 1312 times |
τίWhy
tiG5101 →563 times
οὗτοςthis [man]
houtosG3778 →1381 times
οὕτωςthus
houtosG3779 →208 times
λαλεῖ;does speak?
laleiG2980 →294 times
βλασφημεῖ·He blasphemes!
blasphemeiG987 →34 times
τίςWho
tisG5101 →563 times
δύναταιis able
dunataiG1410 →207 times
ἀφιέναιto forgive
aphienaiG863 →143 times
ἁμαρτίαςsins
hamartiasG266 →173 times
εἰonly
eiG1487 →508 times
μὴexcept
meG3361 →1066 times
εἷςone
heisG1520 →343 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεός;God?
theosG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 43:25I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
it leads to
- Hebrews 8:12
For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”
- Micah 7:18–19
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
- Hebrews 10:17
Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
- Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I…
- Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.
- Hebrews 8:12
Through
Micah 7:18Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
it leads to
- Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
- Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
- Ephesians 2:4–5
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
- Isaiah 43:25
Where this verse is studied
About Mark
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Irenaeus, AGAINST HERESIES 5.17.1-3; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748).