Mark 9:12 Meaning and Explanation
“And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus affirms that Elijah truly comes first and restores all things, and sets beside it what is also written: the Son of man must suffer many things and be despised.
What Does Mark 9:12 Mean?
Jesus affirms the scribes' reading: Elijah truly comes first and restores all things. Then He lays a second scripture beside the first. It is also written of the Son of man that he must suffer many things and be set at nought, despised and counted as nothing, the path traced by Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22.
Restoration and rejection are both written, and God's plan holds them together. The disciples wanted the promise of Elijah without the prophecy of suffering; Jesus will not let half of Scripture silence the other half. The whole counsel of God includes the cross. Readers still face the same temptation, to keep the comfortable texts and pass over the costly ones, and Christ still answers it the same way.
Mark 9:12 in the Original Language
exoudeneo (ἐξουδενέω), 'set at nought' -- to treat as nothing, to despise utterly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 9:12
What does Mark 9:12 mean?
Jesus affirms that Elijah truly comes first and restores all things, and sets beside it what is also written: the Son of man must suffer many things and be despised.