OET interlinear MARK 9:12

9:12a

9:12b

9:12a–b

Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things: The clause Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things indicates that Elijah comes before the Christ. Then Elijah restores all things.

The present tense of the word restores is used here to refer generally to an event happening. The tense does not indicate here whether the event has already happened, is happening now, or will someday happen.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

Elijah must come first and restore all things.

Elijah will/shall come first and restore all things.

indeed: The Greek word that the BSB translates as indeed indicates that the speaker agrees but will later say something in contrast (9:13). In this context, Jesus agreed that Elijah must come first (9:11b), but later explained that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy about Elijah (9:13).

Here are some other ways to translate this:

To be sure (NIV)

certainly (CEV)

restores all things: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as restores means “return something to a previously good condition,” “heal,” or “put something back in proper order.” The original prophecy in Malachi 4:5–6 referred to restoring good relationships between parents and children. Here Jesus was referring to the work of Elijah that John the Baptist did. John the Baptist taught people to repent. This restored their relationship with God so that they would be prepared for the Messiah to come.

Here are some other ways to express the meaning of restores all things in this context:

will put everything in order again (GW)

to set everything right again (NJB)

make everything the way it should be (NCV)

Several versions have a general phrase “will get everything ready” (as in the GNT). But it may be better to use an expression that focuses more on the specific meaning of “restore.”

all things: The Greek word that the BSB translates as all things is literally “all.” It refers here to every situation in human society that needs to be restored or made right. It especially refers to people’s relationships with each other and with God. It does not refer to physical objects.

9:12c–d

Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to cause the disciples to think further on this topic. The disciples still did not understand that Jesus must suffer and be rejected. There are at least two ways to translate this meaning:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

  yet how is it that the scriptures say about the Son of man that he must suffer grievously and be treated with contempt? (NJB)

  Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man will suffer much and be rejected? (GNT)

• As a statement. For example:

  Then consider the Scriptures that say that the Son of Man must endure much suffering and be rejected.

  Then explain how the Scriptures say that I the Son of Man will suffer much and be rejected.

Use whichever form is most natural in your language to cause someone to think further on a topic.

Son of Man: See the note at 9:9c.

9:12c

Why…is it written: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Why is literally “how” or “in what sense.” The phrase that the BSB translates as it is written refers to Scripture. It asks: “How should we understand the Scriptures that say that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?” For example, the NJB says:

…how is it that the scriptures say…?

See also the notes on 1:2a and 7:6b, where similar expressions occur.

See the General Comment on 9:12c–d after 9:12d for ways to use more than one sentence to express the information in this question.

9:12d

suffer many things: The word suffer refers to what Jesus experienced when people did bad things to him. The Greek word that the BSB translates as many things here is the same phrased translated as “many things” in 8:31a.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

experience/endure great hardship

suffer a lot (GW)

See how you translated this expression in 8:31b.

be rejected: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as be rejected means here “be treated with contempt” (as in the RSV) or “be considered as worthless.” It has a similar meaning to the different verb that is used in 8:31c.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

be looked down on

be counted as useless

The clause be rejected is passive. In some languages it may be more natural in to use an active verb here. For example, the NCV says:

people will treat him as if he were nothing