Mark 11:1
New International Version
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,

New Living Translation
As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead.

English Standard Version
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples

Berean Standard Bible
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples

Berean Literal Bible
And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, He sends two of His disciples

King James Bible
And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

New King James Version
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;

New American Standard Bible
And as they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples,

NASB 1995
As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples,

NASB 1977
And as they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples,

Legacy Standard Bible
And as they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples,

Amplified Bible
When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples,

Christian Standard Bible
When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples

American Standard Version
And when they draw nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples,

Contemporary English Version
Jesus and his disciples reached Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. When they were getting close to Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of them on ahead.

English Revised Version
And when they draw nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When they came near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of him.

Good News Translation
As they approached Jerusalem, near the towns of Bethphage and Bethany, they came to the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of his disciples on ahead

International Standard Version
When they came near Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples on ahead

Majority Standard Bible
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples

NET Bible
Now as they approached Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples

New Heart English Bible
When they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

Webster's Bible Translation
And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, to Bethphage, and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

Weymouth New Testament
When they were getting near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples on in front, with these instructions.

World English Bible
When they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And when they come near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage, and Bethany, to the Mount of Olives, He sends forth two of His disciples,

Berean Literal Bible
And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, He sends two of His disciples

Young's Literal Translation
And when they come nigh to Jerusalem, to Bethphage, and Bethany, unto the mount of the Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

Smith's Literal Translation
And when they draw near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, to the mount of Olives, he sends two of his disciples,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
AND when they were drawing near to Jerusalem and to Bethania at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And as they were approaching Jerusalem and Bethania, toward the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

New American Bible
When they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples

New Revised Standard Version
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
WHEN he came near to Jerusalem, to wards Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when he approached Jerusalem on the side of Bayth Phage and Bayth Anya to Tura d'Zaytay, he sent two of his disciples.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And when they drew near to Jerusalem, as far as Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

Godbey New Testament
And when they draw nigh to Jerusalem and to Bethany, to the Mount of Olives, He sends away two of His disciples,

Haweis New Testament
AND when he drew nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, to the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

Mace New Testament
As they came near to Jerusalem, about Bethphage and Bethany, by the mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, and said to them:

Weymouth New Testament
When they were getting near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples on in front, with these instructions.

Worrell New Testament
And, when they draw nigh to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, He sendeth two of His disciples,

Worsley New Testament
And when they came near to Jerusalem, even to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, He sendeth two of his disciples,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Triumphal Entry
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.…

Cross References
Matthew 21:1-3
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples, / saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. / If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

Luke 19:29-31
As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples, / saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. / If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

John 12:12-15
The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. / They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” / Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written: ...

Matthew 21:4-5
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: / “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

Luke 19:28
After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

John 12:1
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

Matthew 20:17-19
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside and said, / “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death / and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. And on the third day He will be raised to life.”

Luke 18:31-34
Then Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. / He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. / They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.” ...

John 11:55-57
Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover. / They kept looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple courts, “What do you think? Will He come to the feast at all?” / But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where He was must report it, so that they could arrest Him.

Matthew 26:6
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,

Luke 22:39
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.

John 11:1
At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

2 Kings 9:13
Quickly, each man took his garment and put it under Jehu on the bare steps. Then they blew the ram’s horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”

Genesis 49:10-11
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. / He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.


Treasury of Scripture

And when they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sends forth two of his disciples,

when.

Matthew 21:1
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

Luke 19:29
And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

John 12:14
And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

at the.

Mark 13:3
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

2 Samuel 15:30
And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

Zechariah 14:4
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

he.

Mark 6:7
And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

Mark 14:13
And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

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Approached Arrived Bethany Bethphage Bethsphage Disciples Draw Drew Forth Front Getting Instructions Jerusalem Jesus Mount Nigh Olives Sends
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Approached Arrived Bethany Bethphage Bethsphage Disciples Draw Drew Forth Front Getting Instructions Jerusalem Jesus Mount Nigh Olives Sends
Mark 11
1. Jesus rides with triumph into Jerusalem;
12. curses the fruitless fig tree;
15. purges the temple;
20. exhorts his disciples to steadfastness of faith, and to forgive their enemies;
27. and defends his actions by the witness of John, who was a man sent of God.














As they approached Jerusalem
The phrase signifies a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, as Jerusalem is not just a geographical location but the spiritual heart of Judaism. The Greek word for "approached" (ἐγγίζω, eggizō) implies drawing near with purpose. Jerusalem, the city of peace, is where Jesus will fulfill His mission. Historically, Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple, symbolizing God's presence among His people. This approach marks the beginning of the Passion Week, where Jesus will confront the religious authorities and ultimately sacrifice Himself for humanity's redemption.

and came to Bethphage and Bethany
Bethphage and Bethany are small villages on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. Bethphage, meaning "house of unripe figs," is mentioned in Jewish texts as a place near the city limits where certain religious rituals could be performed. Bethany, meaning "house of affliction" or "house of dates," is known as the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. These locations are significant as they are the setting for many of Jesus' teachings and miracles. The proximity of these villages to Jerusalem highlights the anticipation and preparation for the events to come.

at the Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives is a ridge east of Jerusalem, offering a panoramic view of the city. It holds deep eschatological significance in Jewish and Christian traditions. In the Old Testament, it is associated with the glory of the Lord departing from the Temple (Ezekiel 11:23). In the New Testament, it is the place where Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse, prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem and His second coming. The Mount of Olives is also where Jesus will ascend to heaven after His resurrection (Acts 1:9-12). This location underscores the fulfillment of prophecy and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

Jesus sent out two of His disciples
The act of sending is a recurring theme in Jesus' ministry, reflecting His authority and the disciples' role as His emissaries. The Greek word for "sent out" (ἀποστέλλω, apostellō) conveys a sense of mission and purpose. By sending two disciples, Jesus adheres to the Jewish legal principle that testimony is established by two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). This action foreshadows the Great Commission, where Jesus will send His disciples to spread the Gospel to all nations. The choice of two disciples emphasizes the importance of community and partnership in ministry, as they prepare the way for Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

XI.

(1-10) And when they came nigh.--See Notes on Matthew 21:1-11.

Unto Bethphage and Bethany.--The better MSS. give "Bethany" only.

Verse 1. - And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives. St. Matthew (Matthew 21:1) says, "When they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage." St. Mark mentions the three places together, because Bethphage and Bethany, being near together, were also both of them close to Jerusalem. The distance from Jericho to Jerusalem (about seventeen miles) would involve a journey of about seven hours. The country between Jerusalem and Jericho is hilly, rugged, and desolate. It is from the height overhanging Bethany that the finest view of Jerusalem is gained. It appears from St. John (John 12:1) that our Lord on the preceding sabbath had supped, and probably passed the night, at Bethany; and that on the following day (answering to our Palm Sunday) he had come still nearer to Jerusalem, namely, to Bethphage; and from thence he sent two of his disciples for the ass and the colt. So his way to Jerusalem was from Bethany by Bethphage, the Mount of Olives, and the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The Valley of Jehoshaphat, through which flows the brook Kedron, lies close to Jerusalem. Bethphage literally means "the house of green figs," as Bethany, lying a short distance west of it, means "the house of dates." The date palm growing in the neighbeurhood would furnish the branches with which the multitude strewed the way on the occasion of our Lord's triumphal entry. He sendeth two of his disciples. Who were they? Bede thinks that they were Peter and Philip. Jansonius, with greater probability, thinks that they were Peter and John, because a little after this Christ sent these two to prepare for the Passover. But we know nothing certain on this point.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
As
ὅτε (hote)
Adverb
Strong's 3753: When, at which time. From hos and te; at which too, i.e. When.

they approached
ἐγγίζουσιν (engizousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1448: Trans: I bring near; intrans: I come near, approach. From eggus; to make near, i.e. approach.

Jerusalem
Ἱεροσόλυμα (Hierosolyma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2414: The Greek form of the Hebrew name: Jerusalem. Of Hebrew origin; Hierosolyma

[and came] to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

Bethphage
Βηθφαγὴ (Bēthphagē)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 967: Of Chaldee origin; fig-house; Beth-phage, a place in Palestine.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Bethany
Βηθανίαν (Bēthanian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 963: Of Chaldee origin; date-house; Beth-any, a place in Palestine.

at
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Mount
ὄρος (oros)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3735: A mountain, hill. Probably from an obsolete oro; a mountain: -hill, mount(-ain).

of Olives,
Ἐλαιῶν (Elaiōn)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 1636: An olive tree; the Mount of Olives. Feminine of a presumed derivative from an obsolete primary; an olive.

[Jesus] sent
ἀποστέλλει (apostellei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 649: From apo and stello; set apart, i.e. to send out literally or figuratively.

two
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

of
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

disciples
μαθητῶν (mathētōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.


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