Mark 1:14-20

Mark 1:14-20
Ordinary B9

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14 Now after JohnA was arrested,B JesusC came to Galilee,D

Notes on verse 14a

A “John” = Ioannes. From Hebrew yochanan (Johanan); from Yehochanan (“the Lord has been gracious”); {from YHVH (proper name of the God of Israel); {from havah (to become); from hayah (to be, exist, happen)} + chanan (beseech, show favor, be gracious; properly, to bend in kindness to someone with less status). This is John.
B “arrested” = paradidomi. From para (from beside, by) + didomi (give, offer, place, bestow, deliver; give in a literal or figurative sense). This is literally to hand over – hence to deliver, abandon, or betray. It implies a personal involvement.
C “Jesus” = Iesous. Related to “John” in v14. From Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua, the Lord is salvation); {from YHVH (see note A above) + yasha (to deliver, defend, help, preserve, rescue; properly, to be open, wide or free, which implies being safe. So, in a causative sense, this is to free someone)}. This is Jesus or Joshua in Greek – the Lord saves or the Lord is salvation.
D “Galilee” = Galilaia. From Hebrew galil (cylinder, circuit, district); from galal (to roll in a literal or figurative sense, roll away, roll down, wallow, remove, trust). This is Galilee, meaning perhaps region or cylinder.

proclaimingE the good newsF of God,G 

Notes on verse 14b

E “proclaiming” = kerusso. This is to proclaim, preach, publish. Properly, it is to act as a herald – announcing something publicly with confidence and/or to persuade.
F “good news” = euaggelion. From eu (well, good, rightly) + aggelos (angel, messenger; a messenger from God bringing news – whether a prophet or an angel); {from aggellos (to bring tidings); probably from ago (to bring, lead, carry, guide)}. This is literally “the good news,” used for the gospel. This is also where “evangelism” comes from.
G “God” = theos. From Proto-Indo-European origins, meaning do, put, place. This is God or a god in general.

15 and saying, “The timeH is fulfilled,I and the kingdomJ of God has come near;K repent,L and believeM in the good news.”

Notes on verse 15

H “time” = kairos. This is season, opportunity, occasion. The word chronos is used for chronological time. Kairos is used for spiritually significant time – the right time or appointed time.
I “fulfilled” = pleroo. From pleres (to be full, complete, abounding in, occupied with). This is to fill, make full or complete. Properly, this is filling something up to the maximum extent that it can be filled – an appropriate amount for its individual capacity. So, this is used figuratively for furnish, influence, satisfy, finish, preach, perfect, and fulfill.
J “kingdom” = basileia. From basileus (king, emperor, sovereign); probably from basis (step, hence foot; a pace); from baino (to walk, to go). This is kingdom, rule, authority, sovereignty, royalty, a realm.
K “come near” = eggizo. From eggus (nearby or near in time). This is extremely close by – approaching, at hand, immediately imminent.
L “repent” = metanoieo. From meta (with, among, after, beyond) + noieo (to perceive, think, understand); {from nous (mind, understanding, reasoning faculty, intellect, capacity to reflect)}. This is to repent, change one’s mind or goal. It is a change that results in thinking differently – particularly a moral change.
M “believe” = pisteuo. From pistis (faith, faithfulness, belief, trust, confidence; to be persuaded or come to trust); from peitho (to have confidence, urge, be persuaded, agree, assure, believe, have confidence, trust). This is to believe, entrust, have faith it, affirm, have confidence in. This is less to do with a series of beliefs or doctrines that one believes and more to do with faithfulness, loyalty, and fidelity. It is trusting and then acting based on that trust.

16 As Jesus passedN along the SeaO of Galilee, he sawP SimonQ

Notes on verse 16a

N “passed” = parago. Related to “good news” in v14. 11x in NT. From para (by, beside, in the presence of, alongside) + ago (see note F above). This is to lead near or by, to pass by, go along, be a passer-by.
O “Sea” = thalassa. Perhaps from hals (sea, salt, a boy of saltwater) or halas (salt; can be figurative for prudence). This is the sea, a lake, or seashore.
P “saw” = horao. To see, perceive, attend to, look upon, experience. Properly, to stare at and so implying clear discernment. This, by extension, would indicate attending to what was seen and learned. This is to see, often with a metaphorical sense. Can include inward spiritual seeing.
Q “Simon” = Simon. From Hebrew Shimon (Simon – Jacob’s son and his tribe); from shama (to hear, often implying attention and obedience). This is Simon, meaning “he who hears.”

and his brotherR AndrewS casting a netT into the sea—for they were fishermen.U 

Notes on verse 16b

R “brother” = adelphos. From a (with, community, fellowship) + delphus (womb). This is a brother in a literal or figurative sense. It is also used of another member of the Church.
S “Andrew” = Andreas. 13x in NT. From aner (man, male, sir, husband). This is Andrew, meaning manly.
T “casting a net” = ballo. This is to throw, cast, rush, place, or drop. It is throwing, but it could be with more or less velocity and with more or less force/violence.
U “fishermen” = halieus. Related to “Sea” in v16. 5x in NT – all in the Gospels when Jesus calls the first disciples. From hals (see note O above). This is fisher, sailor.

17 And Jesus said to them, “FollowV me and I will make youW fishX for people.”Y 

Notes on verse 17

V “follow” = deute. 12x in NT. From deuro (come here, hither, hence, now, until now). This is come, follow – as an exclamatory mood.
W {untranslated} = ginomai. This is to come into being, to happen, become, be born. It can be to emerge from one state or condition to another or is coming into being with the sense of movement or growth.
X “fish” = halieus. Same as “fishermen” in v16. See note U above.
Y “people” = anthropos. Perhaps related to “Andrew” in v16. Probably from aner (see note S above) + ops (eye, face). This is human, humankind. Used for all genders.

18 And immediatelyZ they leftAA their netsBB and followedCC him. 

Notes on verse 18

Z “immediately” = eutheos. From euthus (immediately, upright, straight and not crooked). This is directly, soon, at once.
AA “left” = aphiemi. From apo (from, away from) + hiemi (to send). This is send away, release, permit, forgive, allow to depart, discharge, or send forth.
BB “nets” = diktuon. 12x in NT. From dikein (to cast); probably from diko (to cast). A fishing net or any net used in hunting.
CC “followed” = akoloutheo. From a (with, fellowship, union) + keleuthos (road, way). This is to accompany or follow someone, especially the way a disciple does.

19 As he wentDD a little farther, he saw JamesEE son of ZebedeeFF and his brother John, who were in their boatGG mendingHH the nets. 

Notes on verse 19

DD “went” = probaino. Related to “kingdom” in v15. 5x in NT. From pro (before, ahead, earlier than, above) + the same as basis (see note J above). This is to go forward literally or to advance in years.
EE “James” = Iakobos. From Hebrew Yaaqov (Jacob); from the same as aqeb (heel, hind part, hoof, rear guard of an army, one who lies in wait, usurper). This is James, meaning heel grabber or usurper.
FF Zebedee” = Zebedaios. Related to “John” and “Jesus” in v14. 12x in NT. From Hebrew zebadyah (Zebadiah, “The Lord has bestowed”); {from Zabad (to bestow, confer, endure) + Yah (God, the Lord; a shortening of the sacred name of the God of Israel); {from YHVH (see note A above)}. This is Zebedee, meaning “the Lord has bestowed.”
GG “boat” = ploion. From pleo (to sail, voyage); probably from pluno (to plunge – so to wash); from pluo (to flow). This is a boat, ship, or vessel.
HH “mending” = katartizo. 13x in NT. From kata (down, against, throughout, among) + artizo (get ready, prepare); {from artios (perfect, complete, ready, adequate, fitted); from arti (now, in the moment); from airo (raise, take up, lift, remove)}. This is to prepare, complete, perfect for final use. This is restoring something to a good condition, whether for the first time or one more. It is to repair in a literal or figurative sense.

20 Immediately he calledII them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men,JJ and followedKK him.

Notes on verse 20

II “called” = kaleo. Related to keleuo (to command, order, direct); from kelomai (to urge on). This is to call by name, invite, to name, bid, summon, call aloud.
JJ “hired men” = misthotos. 3x in NT– here and in John 10:12-13 of the hired man who flees when the sheep are in danger. From misthoo (to hire for a wage, engage); from misthos (wages, pay, salary; reward, recompense, punishment; pay for services rendered in a literal or figurative way, good or bad). This is a hired servant or someone who works for a wage.
KK “followed” = aperchomai. From apo (from, away from) + erchomai (to come or go). This is to depart, follow,  or go off in a literal or figurative sense.


Image credit: “Fish and Feet” at Coventry Cathedral in Coventry, UK, 1956-1962.

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