Mark 1:10 Meaning and Explanation
“And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →As Jesus comes up from the water, the heavens are torn open and the Spirit descends on him like a dove.
What Does Mark 1:10 Mean?
The quiet baptism erupts into revelation. Mark uses a violent word: the heavens are not merely opened but torn apart, the same verb he will use when the veil of the temple is torn at the crucifixion (Mark 15:38). Out of that opened heaven the Spirit descends upon Jesus, gently, like a dove.
Isaiah had prayed, 'Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down' (Isaiah 64:1). Here God answers. The long silence is over, and heaven stands open over the Son. The dove calls to mind the bird that returned to Noah with news of peace after judgment (Genesis 8:11). From this moment the ministry of Jesus moves in the power of the Spirit, and through him the opened heaven is held out to all who are his.
Mark 1:10 in the Original Language
schizo (σχίζω), 'opened' -- torn apart, split open.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 1:10
What does Mark 1:10 mean?
As Jesus comes up from the water, the heavens are torn open and the Spirit descends on him like a dove.