Mark 9:39
New International Version
“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,

New Living Translation
“Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me.

English Standard Version
But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.

Berean Standard Bible
“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me.

Berean Literal Bible
And Jesus said, "Do not forbid him. For there is no one who will do a work of power in My name, and will be able readily to speak evil of Me.

King James Bible
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

New King James Version
But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

New American Standard Bible
But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.

NASB 1995
But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.

NASB 1977
But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who shall perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.

Amplified Bible
But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.

Christian Standard Bible
“Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in my name who can soon afterward speak evil of me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

American Standard Version
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man who shall do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus said to his disciples: Don't stop him! No one who works miracles in my name will soon turn and say something bad about me.

English Revised Version
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus said, "Don't stop him! No one who works a miracle in my name can turn around and speak evil of me.

Good News Translation
"Do not try to stop him," Jesus told them, "because no one who performs a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say evil things about me.

International Standard Version
But Jesus said, "Don't stop him, because no one who works a miracle in my name can slander me soon afterwards.

Majority Standard Bible
“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me.

NET Bible
But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me.

New Heart English Bible
But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Jesus said, Forbid him not; for there is no man who shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

Weymouth New Testament
"You should not have tried to hinder him," replied Jesus, "for there is no one who will use my name to perform a miracle and be able the next minute to speak evil of me.

World English Bible
But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak evil of me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in My Name, and will be readily able to speak evil of Me:

Berean Literal Bible
And Jesus said, "Do not forbid him. For there is no one who will do a work of power in My name, and will be able readily to speak evil of Me.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jesus said, 'Forbid him not, for there is no one who shall do a mighty work in my name, and shall be able readily to speak evil of me:

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jesus said, Check him not: for there is no one who shall do power in my name, and shall be able quickly to revile me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Jesus said: Do not forbid him. For there is no man that doth a miracle in my name, and can soon speak ill of me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But Jesus said: “Do not prohibit him. For there is no one who can act with virtue in my name and soon speak evil about me.

New American Bible
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.

New Revised Standard Version
But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Jesus said to them, Do not forbid him; for there is no man who performs miracles in my name, who will hastily speak evil of me.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Yeshua said to them, “Do not forbid him, for there is no man who does a powerful work in my name and can soon speak badly about me.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But Jesus said: Forbid him not; for there is no one that will do a mighty deed in my name, and be able readily to speak evil of me.

Godbey New Testament
And Jesus said, Forbid him not. For there is no one who shall do a miracle in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.

Haweis New Testament
Then said Jesus, Forbid him not: for there is no man who shall perform a miracle in my name, who will be able presently after to speak evil of me.

Mace New Testament
but Jesus said, do not oppose him: for no man can speak evil of me, at the same time he works a miracle by virtue of my name.

Weymouth New Testament
"You should not have tried to hinder him," replied Jesus, "for there is no one who will use my name to perform a miracle and be able the next minute to speak evil of me.

Worrell New Testament
But Jesus said, "Forbid him not; for there is no one who shall exercise power in My name, and be able quickly to speak evil of Me;

Worsley New Testament
But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no one, that worketh a miracle in my name, and can presently speak evil of me:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Miracles in Jesus' Name
38John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone else driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.” 39“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me. 40For whoever is not against us is for us.…

Cross References
Matthew 12:30
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

Luke 9:50
“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

1 Corinthians 12:3
Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

John 3:2
He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”

Acts 4:30
as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

Philippians 1:15-18
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. / The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. / The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains. ...

Numbers 11:26-29
Two men, however, had remained in the camp—one named Eldad and the other Medad—and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those listed, but they had not gone out to the tent, and they prophesied in the camp. / A young man ran and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” / Joshua son of Nun, the attendant to Moses since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!” ...

1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. / By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, / and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

Acts 19:13-17
Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I command you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.” / Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. / But one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” ...

Matthew 7:22-23
Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ / Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’

John 9:16
Because of this, some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was division among them.

1 Samuel 10:10-13
When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied along with them. / When all those who had formerly known Saul saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” / Then a man who lived there replied, “And who is their father?” So the saying became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” ...

1 Corinthians 3:5-9
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. / I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. / So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ...

Romans 14:4
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

2 Kings 2:16-18
“Look now,” they said to Elisha, “we your servants have fifty valiant men. Please let them go and search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and put him on one of the mountains or in one of the valleys.” “Do not send them,” Elisha replied. / But when they pressed him to the point of embarrassment, he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find Elijah. / When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”


Treasury of Scripture

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

Forbid.

Mark 10:13,14
And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them

Matthew 13:28,29
He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? …

Philippians 1:18
What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

there.

Matthew 7:22,23
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? …

Acts 19:13-16
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth…

1 Corinthians 9:27
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

lightly.

1 Corinthians 12:3
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Jump to Previous
Able Afterward Bad Evil Forbid Great Hinder Jesus Lightly Mighty Minute Miracle Moment Perform Quickly Readily Soon Speak Stop Time Tried Use Work
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Able Afterward Bad Evil Forbid Great Hinder Jesus Lightly Mighty Minute Miracle Moment Perform Quickly Readily Soon Speak Stop Time Tried Use Work
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.














Do not stop him
In this phrase, Jesus is addressing His disciples, who had attempted to stop someone casting out demons in His name. The Greek word for "stop" is "kōlyō," which means to hinder or prevent. This instruction from Jesus emphasizes the importance of allowing others to work in His name, even if they are not part of the immediate group of disciples. It reflects a broader understanding of the Kingdom of God, where the work of Christ is not limited to a select few but is open to all who genuinely act in His name.

Jesus replied
This phrase indicates that Jesus is responding to a concern or question from His disciples. The context here is crucial; the disciples were concerned about someone outside their group performing miracles. Jesus' reply is a teaching moment, highlighting His authority and wisdom. It underscores the importance of listening to Jesus' words and understanding His perspective on inclusivity in ministry.

For no one who performs a miracle in My name
The phrase "in My name" is significant. In the ancient world, a name was more than just a label; it represented authority and character. Performing a miracle in Jesus' name implies acting under His authority and with His power. The Greek word for "miracle" is "dynamis," which denotes power or mighty work. This highlights the divine power at work through those who genuinely invoke Jesus' name, regardless of their affiliation with the core group of disciples.

can turn around and speak evil of Me
This part of the verse suggests a transformation that occurs when one acts in Jesus' name. The Greek word for "turn around" is "tacheōs," meaning quickly or soon. The implication is that those who experience the power of Jesus through performing miracles are unlikely to quickly or easily speak against Him. It speaks to the transformative power of engaging in Christ's work, suggesting that genuine acts of faith and service in His name lead to a deeper alignment with His mission and character.

(39) A miracle.--Better, a mighty work, or work of power.

Lightly.--Literally, quickly. The words are wide-reaching in their range. The true disciples of Christ are to hinder no one who is really doing His work. The very fact that they do it will bring with it reverence and sympathy. They will not quickly be found among those who speak evil of the Son of Man. So of old Moses answered the prayer of Joshua that he would forbid Eldad and Medad to prophesy in the camp, "Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets" (Numbers 11:29). So St. Paul rejoiced that every way Christ was preached (Philippians 1:18). So too often have churches and their teachers not acted when men were doing the work of Christ, combating evil, relieving wants, in ways more or less irregular, or with faith more or less imperfect. In all such cases we need to remember the words "Forbid him not . . . he that is not against us is on our side."

Verse 39. - But Jesus said, Forbid him not. It is as though our Lord said, "Do not forbid him; do not hinder him from a good work - a work which does honor to me and to my cause; because, although he does not actually follow me as you do, he is nevertheless engaged in the same cause; he is celebrating my Name by the casting out of evil spirits. Therefore he is not opposing my Name; on the contrary, he is publishing and recommending it." Here is a warning against that exclusive spirit, which is eager for its own ends rather than for Christ's glory, and would limit the exercise of his gifts and graces to its own system or school, instead of inquiring whether those whom it condemns are not working in Christ's name and for the promotion of his glory, although it may be allowable to think that in some instances they might find a more excellent way.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

replied,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“{Do} not
Μὴ (Mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

stop
κωλύετε (kōlyete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2967: To prevent, debar, hinder; with infin: from doing so and so. From the base of kolazo; to estop, i.e. Prevent.

him.
αὐτόν (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.

No one
οὐδεὶς (oudeis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

who
ὃς (hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

performs
ποιήσει (poiēsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

a miracle
δύναμιν (dynamin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1411: From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power.

in
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

My
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

name
ὀνόματί (onomati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3686: Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.

can
δυνήσεται (dynēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

turn around
ταχὺ (tachy)
Adverb
Strong's 5035: Quickly, speedily. Neuter singular of tachus; shortly, i.e. Without delay, soon, or suddenly, or readily.

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

speak evil of
κακολογῆσαί (kakologēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2551: To speak evil of, curse, revile, abuse. From a compound of kakos and logos; to revile.

Me.
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.


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Mark 9:38
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