Mark 1:13 Meaning and Explanation
“And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →For forty days in the wilderness Jesus is tempted by Satan, among the wild beasts, while angels minister to him.
What Does Mark 1:13 Mean?
Mark tells the temptation in a single spare verse. Forty days recalls Israel's forty years of testing and the forty-day fasts of Moses and Elijah. Jesus is with the wild beasts, the wilderness at its most dangerous, while Satan tempts him and angels serve him.
Before Jesus preaches a single word in public, he meets the adversary in person and stands. Where Israel's testing in the desert ended in failure, the beloved Son endures. Because he has felt temptation's full weight, he is able to succour them that are tempted (Hebrews 2:18). And the verse carries a quiet comfort: even in the place of beasts and devils, ministering angels are near, and the tested Son is not forsaken.
Mark 1:13 in the Original Language
peirazo (πειράζω), 'tempted' -- to test, to put to the proof.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 1:13
What does Mark 1:13 mean?
For forty days in the wilderness Jesus is tempted by Satan, among the wild beasts, while angels minister to him.