Mark 16:18 Meaning and Explanation
“They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The promise continues: the Lord will guard his messengers from serpents and poison, and the sick will recover as believers lay hands on them.
What Does Mark 16:18 Mean?
The pledge moves to the hazards of carrying the gospel to the ends of the earth — serpents, poison, disease. Acts records Paul shaking a viper into the fire on Malta, unharmed (Acts 28:3-6), and the sick healed through hands laid on them with prayer (Acts 28:8).
These are promises of protection for people sent into danger, not invitations to court danger as a proof of faith — Jesus himself refused to put God to the test (Matthew 4:7). The accent falls on the faithfulness of the Lord to his messengers: where he sends, he keeps. And his compassion still reaches the sick through praying hands (James 5:14-15).
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 16:18
What does Mark 16:18 mean?
The promise continues: the Lord will guard his messengers from serpents and poison, and the sick will recover as believers lay hands on them.