Mark 15:35
New International Version
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

New Living Translation
Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah.

English Standard Version
And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”

Berean Standard Bible
When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, “Behold, He is calling Elijah.”

Berean Literal Bible
And some of those standing by, having heard, were saying, "Behold, He calls Elijah."

King James Bible
And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

New King James Version
Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!”

New American Standard Bible
And when some of the bystanders heard Him, they began saying, “Look! He is calling for Elijah!”

NASB 1995
When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.”

NASB 1977
And when some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And when some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Look, He is calling for Elijah.”

Amplified Bible
Some of the bystanders heard Him and said, “Look! He is calling for Elijah!”

Christian Standard Bible
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “See, he’s calling for Elijah.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah!”

American Standard Version
And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah.

Contemporary English Version
Some of the people standing there heard Jesus and said, "He is calling for Elijah."

English Revised Version
And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When some of the people standing there heard him say that, they said, "Listen! He's calling Elijah."

Good News Translation
Some of the people there heard him and said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah!"

International Standard Version
When some of the people standing there heard this, they said, "Listen! He's calling for Elijah!"

Majority Standard Bible
When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, “Behold, He is calling Elijah.”

NET Bible
When some of the bystanders heard it they said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah!"

New Heart English Bible
Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, "Look, he is calling for Elijah."

Webster's Bible Translation
And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah.

Weymouth New Testament
Some of the bystanders, hearing Him, said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah!"

World English Bible
Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And certain of those standing by, having heard, said, “Behold, He calls Elijah”;

Berean Literal Bible
And some of those standing by, having heard, were saying, "Behold, He calls Elijah."

Young's Literal Translation
And certain of those standing by, having heard, said, 'Lo, Elijah he doth call;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And some of them standing by, having heard, said, Behold, he calls Elias.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And some of the standers by hearing, said: Behold he calleth Elias.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And some of those standing near, upon hearing this, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”

New American Bible
Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.”

New Revised Standard Version
When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Some of the men who were standing by, when they heard it, said, He called for Elijah.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the people who heard among those standing there were saying, “He called to Elijah.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said: Behold, he calls for Elijah.

Godbey New Testament
And certain ones of those standing by said, Behold, He is calling Elijah.

Haweis New Testament
And some of those who stood by, hearing him, said, Behold, he crieth for Elias.

Mace New Testament
some there present upon hearing that, said: observe, he calls upon Elias.

Weymouth New Testament
Some of the bystanders, hearing Him, said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah!"

Worrell New Testament
And some of those standing by, hearing it, said, "Behold, He is calling Elijah!"

Worsley New Testament
And some of them that stood by hearing it, said, Behold He calleth upon Elias.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death of Jesus
34At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 35When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, “Behold, He is calling Elijah.” 36And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”…

Cross References
Matthew 27:47
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.”

John 19:28-30
After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” / A jar of sour wine was sitting there. So they soaked a sponge in the wine, put it on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to His mouth. / When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.

Psalm 22:1
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?

Matthew 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Luke 23:36-37
The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine. / “If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!”

John 19:29
A jar of sour wine was sitting there. So they soaked a sponge in the wine, put it on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to His mouth.

Psalm 69:21
They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

Isaiah 53:3-4
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. / Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

Hebrews 5:7-8
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. / Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.

John 7:12
Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.” But others replied, “No, He deceives the people.”

Psalm 22:7-8
All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

Matthew 26:67-68
Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him / and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”

Luke 23:35
The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

John 19:19-22
Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. / Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. / So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but only that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’” ...

Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.


Treasury of Scripture

And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calls Elias.

he.

Mark 9:11-13
And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? …

Matthew 17:11-13
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things…

Matthew 27:47-49
Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias…

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Mark 15
1. Jesus brought bound, and accused before Pilate.
6. Upon the clamor of the people, the murderer Barabbas is released,
12. and Jesus delivered up to be crucified.
16. He is crowned with thorns, spit on, and mocked;
21. faints in bearing his cross;
27. hangs between two thieves;
29. suffers the triumphing reproaches of the crowd;
39. but is confessed by the centurion to be the Son of God;
42. and is honorably buried by Joseph.














When some of those standing nearby
This phrase sets the scene at the crucifixion of Jesus, where a crowd has gathered. The Greek word for "standing" (ἑστῶτες, hestōtes) implies a stationary position, indicating that these individuals were not merely passing by but were intentionally present, perhaps out of curiosity or malice. Historically, crucifixions were public spectacles, and the presence of onlookers was common. This crowd's proximity to Jesus allows them to hear His words, setting the stage for their misunderstanding.

heard this
The Greek word for "heard" (ἀκούσαντες, akousantes) suggests not just the act of hearing but also implies understanding or perceiving. However, in this context, it becomes clear that their understanding is flawed. This highlights a recurring theme in the Gospels where Jesus' words are often misunderstood by those around Him, pointing to the spiritual blindness that can accompany physical hearing.

they said
The act of speaking (εἶπαν, eipan) here is significant as it reflects the immediate reaction of the crowd. Their response is not one of inquiry or seeking understanding but rather a declaration based on their own assumptions. This reflects a broader human tendency to interpret divine actions through a limited, earthly perspective.

Behold
The word "Behold" (Ἴδε, Ide) is an imperative, drawing attention and indicating surprise or emphasis. It suggests that the crowd is not merely making an observation but is expressing a sense of astonishment or incredulity. This exclamation underscores the dramatic nature of the moment and the crowd's misinterpretation of Jesus' cry.

He is calling Elijah
This statement reveals a common Jewish expectation of the time. Elijah, a revered prophet who was taken to heaven without dying (2 Kings 2:11), was expected to return as a forerunner to the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). The crowd's assumption that Jesus is calling for Elijah reflects their misunderstanding of His words, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (Mark 15:34), which means "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" in Aramaic. Their confusion may stem from the similarity in sound between "Eloi" and "Elijah." This misinterpretation highlights the spiritual blindness and lack of understanding of Jesus' true mission and identity, even as He fulfills the prophecies concerning the Messiah. It serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of spiritual discernment and the need to seek divine truth beyond surface-level interpretations.

Verse 35. - Notwithstanding the supernatural darkness, there were those who lingered about the cross. Indeed, the darkness would add greatly to the awfulness of the place. It was out of that darkness that the voice of Jesus was heard; and inasmuch as Elias, or Elijah, was believed to hold some relation to the Messiah, it was natural for some of those who stood by to understand the words to mean that our Lord was actually calling for Elias.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
When
Καί (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

some
τινες (tines)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

of those
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.

standing nearby
παρεστηκότων (parestēkotōn)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3936: Or prolonged paristano from para and histemi; to stand beside, i.e. to exhibit, proffer, recommend, substantiate; or to be at hand, aid.

heard [this],
ἀκούσαντες (akousantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

they said,
ἔλεγον (elegon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Look,
Ἴδε (Ide)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2400: See! Lo! Behold! Look! Second person singular imperative middle voice of eido; used as imperative lo!

He is calling
φωνεῖ (phōnei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5455: From phone; to emit a sound; by implication, to address in words or by name, also in imitation.

Elijah.”
Ἠλίαν (Ēlian)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2243: Elijah, the prophet. Of Hebrew origin; Helias, an Israelite.


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