Mark 13:11 Meaning and Explanation
“But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When they are arrested and put on trial, the disciples are not to rehearse their defense beforehand; the Holy Ghost will give them what to say in that hour.
What Does Mark 13:11 Mean?
Jesus continues preparing his friends for arrest. Dragged before tribunals, ordinary fishermen would face trained accusers, and dread of that moment could consume them long in advance. Jesus forbids the rehearsal of anxiety: do not premeditate. What they need will be given 'in that hour' — not before.
This is a promise to the persecuted, not an excuse for the unprepared. Its heart is companionship: 'it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.' God does not merely watch his servants suffer; he speaks in them and through them. Acts shows the promise kept, as unlettered men silenced councils. The grace we cannot feel today for tomorrow's trial will be there when the trial is — given, like manna, in the hour it is needed.
Mark 13:11 in the Original Language
promerimnao (προμεριμνάω), 'take thought beforehand' -- to be anxious in advance, rehearsing worry before the moment comes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 13:11
What does Mark 13:11 mean?
When they are arrested and put on trial, the disciples are not to rehearse their defense beforehand; the Holy Ghost will give them what to say in that hour.