Mark 9:50
in Mark 9Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another.
KJV
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
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This verse in Mark 9
Commentary
20 notes on this verseA commentator
Gregory the DialogistThe Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 2, Chapter 4 · Written before 604.
But, when the ruler prepares himself for speaking, let him bear in mind with what studious caution he ought to speak, lest, if he be hurried inordinately into speaking, the hearts of hearers be smitten with the wound of error and, while he perchance desires to seem wise he unwisely sever the bond of unity. For on this account the Truth says, "Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another." Now by salt is denoted the word of wisdom.
This site's exposition
every one shall be salted with fire
on Mark 9:49-50
Every one shall be salted with fire is among the hardest single sayings in Mark to render with confidence, and the bench offers it as either the refining trial every disciple passes through, in the manner of the salted sacrifices of Leviticus, or a continuing echo of the fire of judgment just named in the verses before. Salt is good, but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it turns the image from judgment to preservation, salt standing for a disciple's own distinctive influence that cannot be manufactured again once it is gone. Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another closes the discourse where it began, back at the disciples' own dispute over greatness, salt and peace named together as the cure for the rivalry the chapter has been answering.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Glory be to God on high, Who mixed his salt in our minds, His leaven in our souls. His body became bread, To quicken our deadness.
(v. Vict. Ant. in Cat.) Concerning which it is added: Salt is good; that is, the fire of love. But if the salt have lost his saltness, that is, is deprived of itself, and that peculiar quality, by which it is called good, where with will ye season it? For there is salt, which has saltness, that is, which has the fulness of grace; and there is salt, which has no saltness, for that which is not peaceful is salt unseasoned. (v. Vict. Ant. in Cat.) Or, according to Matthew, the disciples of Christ are the salt, which preserves the whole world, resisting the rottenness which proceeds from idolatry and sinful fornication. For it may also be meant, that each of us has salt, in as far as he contains in himself the graces of God. Wherefore also the Apostle joins together grace and salt, saying, Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt. (Col. 4:6) For salt is the Lord Jesus Christ, Who was able to preserve the whole earth, and made many to be salt in the earth: and if any of these be corrupted, (for it is possible for even the good to be changed into corruption,) they are worthy to be cast out.
For as the putrid humours and matter of flesh, and all those things which corrupt it, are driven out by salt, in the same manner all the irrational appetites of a virgin are banished from the body by divine teaching. For it must needs be that the soul which is not sprinkled with the words of Christ, as with salt, should stink and breed worms, as King David, openly confessing with tears in the mountains, cried out, "My wounds stink and are corrupt," because he had not salted himself with the exercises of self-control, and so subdued his carnal appetites, but self-indulgently had yielded to them, and became corrupted in adultery. And hence, in Leviticus, every gift, unless it be seasoned with salt, is forbidden to be offered as an oblation to the Lord God. Now the whole spiritual meditation of the Scriptures is given to us as salt which stings in order to benefit, and which disinfects, without which it is impossible for a soul, by means of reason, to be brought to the Almighty; for "ye are the salt of the earth," said the Lord to the apostles.
The Medieval Church2 voices
For we must continually weigh what is said to the holy apostles, and through the apostles to us: You are the salt of the earth. If therefore we are salt, we ought to season the minds of the faithful. You then, who are shepherds, consider that you are feeding God's animals. Concerning these animals indeed it is said to God through the Psalmist: Your animals shall dwell in it. And we often see that a block of salt is set before brute animals, so that they may lick that same block of salt and be improved. Therefore, like a block of salt among brute animals, so should the priest be among the people. For the priest must take care what he says to each person, how he admonishes each one, so that whoever is joined to the priest may be seasoned with the taste of eternal life, as if from the touch of salt. For we are not the salt of the earth if we do not season the hearts of our hearers. Indeed, he truly bestows this seasoning upon his neighbor who does not withhold the word of preaching. If therefore the people are the food of God, the priests ought to have been the seasoning of the food. But because while we cease from the practice of prayer and holy instruction, the salt has become tasteless; it cannot season the food of God, and therefore it is not taken up by the Creator, because through our prevailing foolishness it is not seasoned at all.
(De cura past. iii. c. 22) Or this is said against those whom greater knowledge, while it raises above their neighbours, cuts off from the fellowship of others; thus the more their learning increases, the more they unlearn the virtue of concord. (Ibid. ii. 4) He also who strives to speak with wisdom should be greatly afraid, lest by his eloquence the unity of his hearers be thrown into confusion, lest, while he would appear wise, he unwisely cut asunder the bonds of unity.
13 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church6 voices
Good salt. But if the salt becomes insipid, with what will you season it? It is good to hear the word of God more frequently, to season the secrets of the heart with the salt of spiritual wisdom, indeed to become the salt of the …
Have salt in yourselves, and have peace among yourselves. For by salt indeed is designated the wisdom of the word. Therefore, he who strives to speak wisely should greatly fear lest his eloquence confound the unity of listeners. For salt without peace is not a …
(ubi sup.) Or the good salt is the frequent hearing of God's word, and the seasoning the hidden parts of the heart with the salt of spiritual wisdom.
Or otherwise; That salt is saltless which loves the chief place, and dares not rebuke others. Wherefore there follows, Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. That is, let the love of your neighbour temper the saltness of rebuke, and the salt of justice season the love of your neighbour.
By salt the Lord also means the apostles, and in general those who have a preserving and binding power. For just as salt preserves meat and does not allow worms to breed in it, so too the word of a teacher, if it is strong …
But if it be without saltness, that is, if its virtue of drying up and preserving be gone, with what shall it be salted? Or else, he who binds himself to his neighbour by the tie of love, has salt, and in this way peace with his neighbour.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
But as salt if it loses its saltness is fit for nothing, so ye, if ye lose your faith and love, are fit for nothing but to be utterly destroyed. See therefore that grace abide in you, and that ye no more contend, Who shall be greatest.
12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. 13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him. A prediction of Christ's kingdom now near approaching,
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:88%@v12-14
Salt is good,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
If the salt have lost his saltness - See on Mat 5:13 (note). Have salt in yourselves - See that ye have at all times the preserving principle of Divine grace in your hearts, and give that proof of it which will satisfy your own minds, and convince or silence the world: live in brotherly kindness and peace with each other: thus shall all men see that you are free from ambition, (see Mar 9:34), and that you are my disciples indeed.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
We see in these verses, the mind of Christ on the great subject of TOLERATION in religion . The apostle John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw a man using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't one of our group." The man was doing a good work without doubt. He was warring on the same side as the apostles, beyond question. But this did not satisfy John. He did not work in the company of the apostles. He did not fight in line with them. And therefore John had opposed him.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Salt is good; but if the salt have lost his saltness--its power to season what it is brought into contact with. wherewith will ye season it?--How is this property to be restored?
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
We see in these verses, the mind of Christ on the great subject of TOLERATION in religion . The apostle John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw a man using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't one of our group." The man was doing a good work without doubt. He was warring on the same side as the apostles, beyond question. But this did not satisfy John. He did not work in the company of the apostles. He did not fight in line with them. And therefore John had opposed him. But let us hear now what the great Head of the church decides! "Don't stop him!" Jesus said. "No one who performs miracles in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us." Here is a golden rule indeed, and one that human nature severely needs, and has too often forgotten. Men of all branches of Christ's Church are apt to think that no good can be done in the world, unless it is done by their own party and denomination. They are so narrow-minded, that they cannot conceive the possibility of working on any other pattern but that which they follow. They make an idol of their own peculiar ecclesiastical machinery, and can see no merit in any other. They are like him who cried when Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp, "Moses, my master, make them stop!" (Num. 11:28.) To this intolerant spirit we owe some of the blackest pages of Church history. Christians have repeatedly persecuted Christians for no better reason than that which is here given by John. They have practically proclaimed to their brethren, "you shall either follow us, or not work for Christ at all." Let us be on our guard against this feeling. It is only too near the surface of all our hearts. Let us study to realize that liberal, tolerant spirit which Jesus here recommends, and be thankful for good works wheresoever and by whoever done.
The words behind it
21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καλὸν | kalon | Good [is] | G2570 → | 101 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἅλας· | halas | salt; | G217 → | 8 times |
| ἐὰν | ean | if | G1437 → | 352 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἅλας | halas | salt | G217 → | 8 times |
| ἄναλον | analon | unsalty | G358 → | |
| γένηται, | genetai | may become, | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τίνι | tini | what | G5101 → | 563 times |
| αὐτὸ | auto | it | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀρτύσετε; | artusete | will you season? | G741 → | |
| ἔχετε | echete | do have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἑαυτοῖς | he'autois | yourselves | G1438 → | 322 times |
| ἅλα | hala | salt | G217 → | 8 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἰρηνεύετε | eireneuete | do be at peace | G1514 → | |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἀλλήλοις.¶ | allelois | one another. | G240 → | 100 times |
καλὸνGood [is]
kalonG2570 →101 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἅλας·salt;
halasG217 →8 times
ἐὰνif
eanG1437 →352 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἅλαςsalt
halasG217 →8 times
ἄναλονunsalty
analonG358 →
γένηται,may become,
genetaiG1096 →667 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
τίνιwhat
tiniG5101 →563 times
αὐτὸit
autoG846 →5565 times
ἀρτύσετε;will you season?
artuseteG741 →
ἔχετεdo have
echeteG2192 →707 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἑαυτοῖςyourselves
he'autoisG1438 →322 times
ἅλαsalt
halaG217 →8 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἰρηνεύετεdo be at peace
eireneueteG1514 →
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
ἀλλήλοις.¶one another.
alleloisG240 →100 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
Matthew 5:13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and…
it leads to
- Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- Luke 14:34–35
Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned?
- Mark 9:49–50
For everyone will be salted with fire.
- Leviticus 2:13
And you shall season each of your grain offerings with salt. You must not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering; you are to add salt to…
- Hebrews 6:4–6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
- Colossians 4:6
Through
Romans 12:18If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
it leads to
- Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 12:14
Through
Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Ephesians 4:29
Through
Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
it leads to
- Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 12:18
Where this verse is studied
About Mark

This page draws on 18 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, On the Gospel of Mark; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Ephrem the Syrian, HYMNS ON THE NATIVITY 2; Gregory the Dialogist, The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 2, Chapter 4; Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 17; Gregory the Dialogist, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Mark; 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; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Methodius of Olympus, THE BANQUET OF THE TEN VIRGINS 1.1; Pseudo-Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Pseudo-Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.
