Mark 9:32
New International Version
But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

New Living Translation
They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

English Standard Version
But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Berean Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

Berean Literal Bible
And they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask Him.

King James Bible
But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

New King James Version
But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

New American Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

NASB 1995
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

NASB 1977
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Amplified Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him [what He meant].

Christian Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

American Standard Version
But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Contemporary English Version
The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant, and they were afraid to ask.

English Revised Version
But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The disciples didn't understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him.

Good News Translation
But they did not understand what this teaching meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

International Standard Version
They didn't understand what this statement meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

Majority Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

NET Bible
But they did not understand this statement and were afraid to ask him.

New Heart English Bible
But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Webster's Bible Translation
But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Weymouth New Testament
They, however, did not understand what He meant, and were afraid to question Him.

World English Bible
But they didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
but they were not understanding the saying, and they were afraid to question Him.

Berean Literal Bible
And they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Young's Literal Translation
but they were not understanding the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they knew not the word, and were afraid to ask him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But they understood not the word, and they were afraid to ask him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But they did not understand the word. And they were afraid to question him.

New American Bible
But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

New Revised Standard Version
But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But they did not understand that saying, and they were afraid to ask him.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But they did not understand this saying, and they were afraid to question him.

Godbey New Testament
And they did not understand the word, and they were afraid to ask Him.

Haweis New Testament
But they understood not the meaning of that declaration, and were afraid to ask him.

Mace New Testament
but they did not comprehend the meaning, and were ashamed to ask him about it.

Weymouth New Testament
They, however, did not understand what He meant, and were afraid to question Him.

Worrell New Testament
But they were not understanding the saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

Worsley New Testament
But they knew not his meaning, and were afraid to ask Him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Second Prediction of the Passion
31because He was teaching His disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.” 32But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it. 33Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”…

Cross References
Luke 9:45
But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

Matthew 17:23
They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” And the disciples were deeply grieved.

John 12:16
At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.

John 16:17-18
Then some of His disciples asked one another, “Why is He telling us, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” / They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”

Luke 18:34
But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.

Matthew 16:21-22
From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. / Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

John 2:22
After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

John 20:9
For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

Acts 1:6-7
So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” / Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.

1 Corinthians 2:8
None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Isaiah 53:1-3
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? / He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. / He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Daniel 12:8-9
I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?” / “Go on your way, Daniel,” he replied, “for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.

Psalm 22:6-8
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. / All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Hosea 6:2
After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.


Treasury of Scripture

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

they.

Mark 9:10
And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

Luke 2:50
And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

Luke 9:45
But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

were.

Mark 7:18
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Mark 8:17,18,33
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? …

Mark 16:14
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

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Mark 9
1. Jesus is transfigured.
11. He instructs his disciples concerning the coming of Elijah;
14. casts forth a deaf and mute spirit;
30. foretells his death and resurrection;
33. exhorts his disciples to humility;
38. bidding them not to prohibit such as are not against them,
42. nor to give offense to any of the faithful.
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But they did not understand this statement
The disciples' lack of understanding highlights a recurring theme in the Gospels where Jesus' followers often struggle to grasp His teachings, particularly concerning His death and resurrection. This reflects the spiritual blindness that can affect even those closest to Jesus. The statement in question refers to Jesus' prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection, which He had just shared with them. This lack of understanding can be seen as a fulfillment of Isaiah 6:9-10, where the prophet speaks of people who hear but do not understand. It also underscores the mystery of the Gospel, which is only fully revealed through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

and they were afraid to ask Him about it
The disciples' fear to question Jesus further may stem from a combination of reverence, confusion, and previous rebukes. In Mark 8:33, Peter was sharply rebuked by Jesus for misunderstanding His mission, which could have contributed to their hesitance. This fear also reflects a cultural context where questioning a rabbi or teacher could be seen as disrespectful. Additionally, their fear might indicate an awareness of the gravity of Jesus' words, as they sensed the impending challenges and suffering that lay ahead. This moment foreshadows the disciples' eventual abandonment of Jesus during His arrest and crucifixion, highlighting their human frailty and the need for divine strength.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching His disciples about His impending death and resurrection.

2. The Disciples
The followers of Jesus who are struggling to understand His teachings and are afraid to ask for clarification.

3. Galilee
The region where Jesus and His disciples are traveling, a significant area for Jesus' ministry.
Teaching Points
Understanding Requires Humility
The disciples' fear of asking questions highlights the importance of humility in seeking understanding. We should not be afraid to ask God for wisdom and clarity.

Fear as a Barrier to Growth
Fear can prevent us from seeking deeper understanding and growth in our faith. We must overcome fear to fully grasp God's truths.

The Importance of Open Communication
Just as the disciples were afraid to ask Jesus questions, we too can be hesitant in our communication with God. We should strive for open and honest dialogue in our prayer life.

God's Patience with Our Misunderstanding
Jesus' patience with His disciples serves as a reminder that God is patient with us as we grow in understanding His Word.

Seeking Wisdom from God
James 1:5 encourages us to ask God for wisdom. This passage reminds us that God is willing to provide understanding if we seek it earnestly.(32) They understood not that saying.--The words, giving once more a kind of psychological analysis of the disciples' thoughts, are not in St. Matthew, but are found in St. Luke. They imply the continuance of the perplexity described in Mark 9:10.

Verse 32. - But they understood not the saying, and were afraid (ἐφοβοῦντο) to ask him; St. Matthew (Matthew 17:23) says, "They were exceeding sorry." They saw that something very dreadful was about to happen. Their Master's words and looks showed them this. But it was a mystery to them. All his words staggered them, but especially those which spoke of his rising again. They did not understand whether it was an entrance into a higher state or a restoration to a common life. They did not understand why he was to die, and how these words of his about his death could agree with those in which he had told them that his kingdom was at hand. Perhaps, on the whole, they inclined to the view most pleasing to them, that Christ would not die; for this was what they wished and most desired. And so they tried to persuade themselves that his words respecting his sufferings and death had some other hidden meaning; and were to be understood in a figurative sense and not a literal. But anyhow, they dreaded to ask him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

they did not understand
ἠγνόουν (ēgnooun)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 50: To do not know, be ignorant of, sometimes with the idea of willful ignorance.

this
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

statement,
ῥῆμα (rhēma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4487: From rheo; an utterance, ; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

they were afraid
ἐφοβοῦντο (ephobounto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5399: From phobos; to frighten, i.e. to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. Revere.

to ask
ἐπερωτῆσαι (eperōtēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1905: To interrogate, question, demand of. From epi and erotao; to ask for, i.e. Inquire, seek.

Him.
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Mark 9:32 But they didn't understand the saying (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 9:31
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