Mark 9:32
New International Version
But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

New Living Translation
They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

English Standard Version
But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Berean Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

Berean Literal Bible
And they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask Him.

King James Bible
But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

New King James Version
But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

New American Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

NASB 1995
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

NASB 1977
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Amplified Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him [what He meant].

Christian Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

American Standard Version
But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Contemporary English Version
The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant, and they were afraid to ask.

English Revised Version
But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The disciples didn't understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him.

Good News Translation
But they did not understand what this teaching meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

International Standard Version
They didn't understand what this statement meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

Majority Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

NET Bible
But they did not understand this statement and were afraid to ask him.

New Heart English Bible
But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Webster's Bible Translation
But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Weymouth New Testament
They, however, did not understand what He meant, and were afraid to question Him.

World English Bible
But they didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
but they were not understanding the saying, and they were afraid to question Him.

Berean Literal Bible
And they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Young's Literal Translation
but they were not understanding the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they knew not the word, and were afraid to ask him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But they understood not the word, and they were afraid to ask him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But they did not understand the word. And they were afraid to question him.

New American Bible
But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

New Revised Standard Version
But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But they did not understand that saying, and they were afraid to ask him.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But they did not understand this saying, and they were afraid to question him.

Godbey New Testament
And they did not understand the word, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Haweis New Testament
But they understood not the meaning of that declaration, and were afraid to ask him.

Mace New Testament
but they did not comprehend the meaning, and were ashamed to ask him about it.

Weymouth New Testament
They, however, did not understand what He meant, and were afraid to question Him.

Worrell New Testament
But they were not understanding the saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

Worsley New Testament
But they knew not his meaning, and were afraid to ask Him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Second Prediction of the Passion
31because He was teaching His disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.” 32But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it. 33Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”…

Cross References
Luke 9:45
But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

Matthew 17:23
They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” And the disciples were deeply grieved.

John 12:16
At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.

John 16:17-18
Then some of His disciples asked one another, “Why is He telling us, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” / They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”

Luke 18:34
But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.

Matthew 16:21-22
From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. / Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

John 2:22
After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

John 20:9
For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

Acts 1:6-7
So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” / Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.

1 Corinthians 2:8
None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Isaiah 53:1-3
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? / He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. / 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.

Daniel 12:8-9
I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?” / “Go on your way, Daniel,” he replied, “for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.

Psalm 22:6-8
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. / 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.”

Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Hosea 6:2
After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.


Treasury of Scripture

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

they.

Mark 9:10
And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

Luke 2:50
And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

Luke 9:45
But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

were.

Mark 7:18
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Mark 8:17,18,33
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? …

Mark 16:14
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

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Mark 9
1. Jesus is transfigured.
11. He instructs his disciples concerning the coming of Elijah;
14. casts forth a deaf and mute spirit;
30. foretells his death and resurrection;
33. exhorts his disciples to humility;
38. bidding them not to prohibit such as are not against them,
42. nor to give offense to any of the faithful.














But they did not understand
The phrase "But they did not understand" highlights the disciples' lack of comprehension regarding Jesus' teachings about His impending death and resurrection. The Greek word for "understand" here is "syniēmi," which means to bring together or to comprehend. This suggests that the disciples were unable to piece together the prophetic words of Jesus with their expectations of the Messiah. Historically, the Jewish expectation of the Messiah was a conquering king who would liberate Israel from Roman oppression. The idea of a suffering Messiah was foreign and difficult to grasp, which is why the disciples struggled to understand Jesus' prediction of His death.

this statement
refers to Jesus' foretelling of His death and resurrection. The Greek word "rhēma" is used here, which can mean a word, saying, or statement. In the context of Mark 9, Jesus had just spoken plainly about His future suffering, death, and resurrection. This was a pivotal teaching moment, yet the disciples' preconceived notions and cultural expectations created a barrier to their understanding. Theologically, this highlights the mystery of God's redemptive plan, which often transcends human understanding and requires faith and revelation to fully grasp.

and they were afraid to ask Him about it
The phrase "and they were afraid" reveals the disciples' fear and hesitation. The Greek word "phobeō" is used, which means to fear or be afraid. This fear could stem from a variety of sources: fear of rebuke, fear of the unknown, or fear of confronting a reality that contradicted their hopes. In a broader scriptural context, fear often accompanies encounters with the divine or the unknown, as seen in other biblical narratives. The disciples' fear prevented them from seeking clarity, which is a reminder of the importance of approaching God with boldness and seeking understanding through prayer and study.

to ask Him about it
The phrase "to ask Him about it" indicates the disciples' reluctance to seek further explanation from Jesus. The Greek word "eperōtaō" means to inquire or question. This reluctance could be due to their fear of appearing ignorant or their discomfort with the subject matter. In the historical context of a rabbi-disciple relationship, questioning was a common method of learning. However, the disciples' hesitation underscores their struggle to reconcile Jesus' teachings with their expectations. This serves as an inspirational reminder for believers to seek wisdom and understanding from God, trusting that He welcomes our questions and desires to reveal His truth to us.

(32) They understood not that saying.--The words, giving once more a kind of psychological analysis of the disciples' thoughts, are not in St. Matthew, but are found in St. Luke. They imply the continuance of the perplexity described in Mark 9:10.

Verse 32. - But they understood not the saying, and were afraid (ἐφοβοῦντο) to ask him; St. Matthew (Matthew 17:23) says, "They were exceeding sorry." They saw that something very dreadful was about to happen. Their Master's words and looks showed them this. But it was a mystery to them. All his words staggered them, but especially those which spoke of his rising again. They did not understand whether it was an entrance into a higher state or a restoration to a common life. They did not understand why he was to die, and how these words of his about his death could agree with those in which he had told them that his kingdom was at hand. Perhaps, on the whole, they inclined to the view most pleasing to them, that Christ would not die; for this was what they wished and most desired. And so they tried to persuade themselves that his words respecting his sufferings and death had some other hidden meaning; and were to be understood in a figurative sense and not a literal. But anyhow, they dreaded to ask him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

they did not understand
ἠγνόουν (ēgnooun)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 50: To do not know, be ignorant of, sometimes with the idea of willful ignorance.

this
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.

statement,
ῥῆμα (rhēma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4487: From rheo; an utterance, ; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.

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

they were afraid
ἐφοβοῦντο (ephobounto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5399: From phobos; to frighten, i.e. to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. Revere.

to ask
ἐπερωτῆσαι (eperōtēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1905: To interrogate, question, demand of. From epi and erotao; to ask for, i.e. Inquire, seek.

Him.
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 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.


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NT Gospels: Mark 9:32 But they didn't understand the saying (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 9:31
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