MARK 1:2 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Just as it has been written in Isaiah the prophet,
⇔  “Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face,
⇔  who will prepare your way;

UST This story began as Isaiah, who spoke for God, wrote that it would:
⇔  “Listen, I am sending my messenger ahead of you.
⇔  He will make things ready for when you come.

BSB As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:[fn]
⇔ “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,
⇔ who will prepare Your way.”[fn]

MSB As it is written in the prophets:[fn]
⇔ “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,
⇔ who will prepare Your way before You.”[fn]

1:2 CT in Isaiah the prophet:

1:2 Malachi 3:1; CT does not include before You.

BLB As it has been written in the prophet Isaiah: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way."

AICNT As it is written in {Isaiah the prophet},[fn] “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way [[before you]];”[fn][fn]

1:2, Isaiah the prophet: Some manuscripts read “the prophets.”

1:2, before you: Some manuscripts include.

1:2, Malachi 3:1 Masoretic text

OEB It is said in the prophet Isaiah –
⇔ “I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
⇔ he will prepare your way.

WEBBE As it is written in the prophets,
⇔ “Behold,[fn] I send my messenger before your face,
⇔ who will prepare your way before you:

1:2 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

WMBB As it is written in the Prophets,
⇔ “Behold,[fn] I send my messenger before your face,
⇔ who will prepare your way before you:

1:2 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

MSG ^(1-3)The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
Watch closely: I’m sending my preacher ahead of you;
He’ll make the road smooth for you.
Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!

NET As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
⇔ “ Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
⇔  who will prepare your way,

LSV As it has been written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.

FBV Just as the prophet Isaiah wrote, “I'm sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare your way.

TCNT As it is written in the [fn]Prophets,
⇔ “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of yoʋ,
⇔ who will prepare yoʋr way [fn]before yoʋ,

1:2 Prophets 96.2% ¦ prophet Isaiah CT 1.3%

1:2 before yoʋ 96.6% ¦ — ECM^† NA SBL TH WH 3.3%

T4T 1-2 ◄This is/I want to tell you► the good message about Jesus Christ, the Son of God (OR, the man who was also God). What I want to tell you begins just like the prophet Isaiah said it would begin, when he wrote these words that God said to Jesus:
¶ Listen! I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare people for your coming.

LEB Just as it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
• “Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face,
• who will prepare your way,

TLB In the book written by the prophet Isaiah, God announced that he would send his Son* to earth, and that a special messenger would arrive first to prepare the world for his coming.

BBE Even as it is said in the book of Isaiah the prophet, See, I send my servant before your face, who will make ready your way;

Moff As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
⇔ Here I send my messenger before your face
⇔ to prepare the way for you:

Wymth As it is written in Isaiah the Prophet, "See, I am sending My messenger before Thee, Who will prepare Thy way";

ASV Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
⇔ Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
⇔ Who shall prepare thy way;

DRA As it is written in Isaias the prophet: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare the way before thee.

YLT As it hath been written in the prophets, 'Lo, I send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee,' —

Drby as it is written in [Isaiah] the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way.

RV Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way;
(Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy/your face, Who shall prepare thy/your way; )

SLT As it has been written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

Wbstr As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee;

KJB-1769 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
(As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy/your face, which shall prepare thy/your way before thee/you. )

KJB-1611 As it is written in the Prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps As it hath ben written in the prophetes: Beholde, I sende my messenger before thy face, whiche shall prepare thy waye before thee.
(As it hath/has been written in the prophets: Behold, I send my messenger before thy/your face, which shall prepare thy/your way before thee/you.)

Gnva As it is written in the Prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
(As it is written in the Prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy/your face, which shall prepare thy/your way before thee/you. )

Cvdl as it is wrytte in the prophetes. Beholde, I sende my messauger before thy face, which shal prepare thy waye before the.
(as it is written in the prophets. Behold, I send my messenger before thy/your face, which shall prepare thy/your way before them.)

TNT as that is wrytten in the Prophetes: beholde I sende my messenger before thy face which shall prepared thy waye before the.
(as that is written in the Prophets: behold I send my messenger before thy/your face which shall prepared thy/your way before them. )

Wycl As it is writun in Ysaie, the prophete, Lo! Y sende myn aungel bifor thi face, that schal make thi weie redi bifor thee.
(As it is written in Isaiah, the prophet, Lo! I send mine angel before thy/your face, that shall make thy/your way ready before thee/you.)

Luth wie geschrieben stehet in den Propheten: Siehe, ich sende meinen Engel vor dir her, der da bereite deinen Weg vor dir!
(as/like written stands in the prophet(s): See/Look, I send my angel before/in_front_of you/to_you(sg) her, the/of_the there prepare your(s) way/path/road before/in_front_of you/to_you(sg)!)

ClVg Sicut scriptum est in Isaia propheta: [Ecce ego mitto angelum meum ante faciem tuam, qui præparabit viam tuam ante te.[fn]
(Like written it_is in/into/on Isaiah a_prophet: [Behold I I_send a_messenger/angel mine before face your(sg), who/which will_prepare way/road your(sg) before you(sg). )

1.2 Sicut scriptum est. Marcus prophetarum testimonia præmittit quibus hæc vetera et non nova, sed a prophetis præscita et prædicta asserit, in quo et Judæos qui legem et prophetas susceperant ad Evangelium invitat: et gentiles qui Evangelium tenebant ad venerationem legis et prophetarum provocat, ne quis juxta hæreticos alterum sine altero suscipiat. Ecce mitto. BEDA. Angelus dicitur Joannes non societate naturæ, ut mentitur Origenes, sed officii dignitate: sicut et sacerdotes, de quibus dicitur: Labia sacerdotis custodiunt scientiam, et legem exquirunt ex ore ejus, quia angelus Domini exercituum est Mal. 2.. ID. Nota quod hoc testimonium: Ecce ego mitto angelum, etc., Malachiæ est, utrumque tamen dicit Isaiæ esse, quia, etc., usque ad omnes prophetæ uno spiritu locuti sunt quasi uno ore.

1.2 Like written it_is. Marcus of_the_prophets evidence precedes to_whom these_things old and not/no new, but from prophets foreknowledge and aforementioned asserts, in/into/on where and Yudahos who/which the_law and a_prophets susceperant to the_Gospel invites: and Gentiles who/which the_Gospel tenebant to had_comeionem law and of_the_prophets provokes, not who/any next_to heretics the_other without to_the_other undertake. Behold mitto. BEDA. Angelus it_is_said Yoannes not/no society of_nature, as he_lies Origenes, but office dignity: like and priests, from/about to_whom it_is_said: lips of_the_priest they_keep knowledge, and the_law exquirunt from vocally his, because messenger/angel Master hosts/soldiers it_is Mal. 2.. ID. Note that this testimony: Behold I I_send a_messenger/angel, etc., Malachiæ it_is, both nevertheless he_says Isaiæ to_be, because, etc., until to everyone the_prophets one in_spirit spoke are as_if one vocally.

UGNT καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ: ἰδοὺ, ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου.
(kathōs gegraptai en tōi Aʸsaia tōi profaʸtaʸ: idou, apostellō ton angelon mou pro prosōpou sou, hos kataskeuasei taʸn hodon sou.)

SBL-GNT ⸀Καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν ⸂τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ⸃· ⸀Ἰδοὺ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν ⸀σου·
(⸀Kathōs gegraptai en ⸂tōi Aʸsaia tōi profaʸtaʸ⸃; ⸀Idou apostellō ton angelon mou pro prosōpou sou, hos kataskeuasei taʸn hodon ⸀sou;)

RP-GNT Ὡς γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, Ἰδού, ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου.
(Hōs gegraptai en tois profaʸtais, Idou, egō apostellō ton angelon mou pro prosōpou sou, hos kataskeuasei taʸn hodon sou emprosthen sou.)

TC-GNT [fn]Ὡς γέγραπται ἐν [fn]τοῖς προφήταις,
⇔ Ἰδού, [fn]ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου,
⇔ ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου [fn]ἔμπροσθέν σου.
(Hōs gegraptai en tois profaʸtais,
⇔ Idou, egō apostellō ton angelon mou pro prosōpou sou,
⇔ hos kataskeuasei taʸn hodon sou emprosthen sou. )

1:2 ως ¦ καθως ECM^† NA SBL TH WH

1:2 τοις προφηταις 96.2% ¦ τω ησαια τω προφητη CT 1.3%

1:2 εγω ¦ — NA SBL TH WH

1:2 εμπροσθεν σου 96.6% ¦ — ECM^† NA SBL TH WH 3.3%

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:1–8: God sent John the Baptizer to prepare the people to receive Jesus

These notes have divided this section into three paragraphs:

1:1 serves as an introduction both to section 1:1–8 and to the book as a whole.

1:2–3 introduces John the Baptizer by quoting the Old Testament verses that predict his ministry.

1:4–8 describes John, his ministry and his message.

In some languages it may be more natural to make different paragraph breaks. For example:

1:1–3 and 1:4–8 (GNT, NCV)
1:1–8 (NRSV, REB, NAB, NJB)

Divide the paragraphs in a way that will fit the style of your language.

It is good to translate the section before you decide on a section heading for it. You will need to use terms in the heading that you have used in the verses within the section. For example, before you write a section heading for this section, you will need to know how you have translated the word “Baptizer.” See the note on 1:4a.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The preaching of John the Baptizer

John prepared people for Jesus to arrive

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 3:1–12; Luke 3:1–18; and John 1:19–28.

Paragraph 1:2–3

The quotes in 1:2–3 come from two books of the Old Testament. The quote in 1:3 is from Isaiah 40:3. The quote in 1:2 is from Malachi 3:1. Some parts of 1:2–3 may also be from Exodus 23:20. Mark mentioned only Isaiah. Consider whether it would be helpful to your readers to use footnotes to give the references for these Old Testament quotations.

1:2a

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

¶ In the book that Isaiah the prophet wrote long ago, God said to his Son, the Christ,
¶ Long ago, God said something to his Son, the Messiah, and he caused it to be written by Isaiah, who was one of his spokesmen. He said,

As: The Greek word that the BSB translates as As indicates the connection between 1:2a and 1:4: Just as Isaiah prophesied in 1:2–3, so John appeared in 1:4 and fulfilled that prophecy. Another way to show this connection is to indicate it only in 1:4. Many English versions that omit the word “as” in 1:2a follow this option. See the note on 1:4a.

it is written in Isaiah the prophet There is a textual issue in 1:2a: (1) Some Greek manuscripts have in Isaiah the prophet. For example, the RSV says: “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet” (BSB, NIV, GNT, RSV, NJB, ESV, NET, NASB, REB, GW, NLT, CEV, JBP, NCV). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have in the prophets. For example, the KJV says: “As it is written in the prophets” (KJV). It is recommended that you follow option (1). The phrase Isaiah the prophet refers here to the book that Isaiah the prophet wrote.The manuscript evidence for the reading “in Isaiah the prophet” has both early and widespread support. The quote in 1:2 actually comes from Exodus 23:20 and Malachi 3:1 and only 1:3 comes from Isaiah. Because Isaiah was a major prophet in the Old Testament, and often quoted in the New, it is possible that Mark mentions Isaiah the prophet as representative of these quotes from the Old Testament. (Gundry page 35) Also, it must be noted that Mark was not writing for a Jewish but a Gentile audience, who would not be familiar with all the prophets mentioned in the Jewish Scriptures. This book is in the Old Testament. In this book Isaiah wrote the messages that God gave him to tell people. The first readers of Mark’s Gospel knew that Mark was quoting God’s message that Isaiah had written long before. If this information is not clear to your readers, you may need to make it explicit. For example:

Long ago, God caused the prophet Isaiah to write these words:

The prophet Isaiah wrote these words from God long ago. He said…

it is written: The phrase it is written is the usual way that authors of New Testament books introduced a quote from the Old Testament. You should be as consistent as possible in translating this phrase.

prophet: A prophet is a man who speaks on behalf of God. He tells people what God has revealed to him, and he also gives them messages from God.

Here are some ways to translate prophet:

a spokesman for God

a man who speaks God’s words

God’s message-speaker

When choosing a term for prophet, consider how you will translate other words which are similar in meaning such as “angel,” “apostle,” and “preacher.”

While prophets did foretell the future, this was not their only function. Avoid using a word that focuses on telling the future.

1:2b–c

I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your Way: Here the pronoun I refers to God, and the pronoun You refers to the Christ. It is important to translate this quotation carefully so that readers will understand to whom the pronouns in 1:2b–c refer.In Malachi 3:1 the quotation can be translated as, “I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me,” and the quotation from Isaiah 40:3 can be translated as, “prepare the way of the LORD .” When these quotations are interpreted in relation to Mark 1:2, they indicate that the LORD himself was coming to earth in the person of the Messiah.

If this meaning will not be clear in your translation, you may need to make it explicit. For example, the GNT makes explicit that I refers to God. It has:

God said, “I will send…”

See the meaning lines for 1:2a in the Display for other ways to indicate who the pronouns refer to.

1:2b

“Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,

“I will order my messenger to go before you,^(sing)
“I have something to tell you.^(sing) I will send someone ahead of you^(sing) to announce my message

Behold: The word that the BSB translates as Behold indicates that the speaker will say something important or surprising, and he wants people to listen carefully to it.

This word is not easy to translate into English, so many English versions do not translate it (see the NIV). Consider whether you have a natural way in your language to translate this Greek word.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Look/Listen

Take note of this

I have something to tell you

I will send My messenger: In many cultures at that time, a king would choose a person to go as his messenger to tell people that he was coming. The messenger would tell the people to prepare for his coming. Here God indicated that he would send a messenger to tell people that the Christ was coming.

send: The Greek word that the BSB translates as send means to order someone to go somewhere for a particular purpose.

My messenger: In some languages it may be more natural to express the word messenger as a verb phrase. For example:

I will send someone ahead of you to make known my message/words.

ahead of You: The phrase that the BSB translates as ahead of You is literally “before your face.” In this context the phrase may indicate either or both of the following options:

I will send my messenger before I send you.
I will send my messenger to go in front of you.

In some languages there may be a natural way to translate the clause so that both meanings are possible. If you must chose one of these meanings, choose option (a).

1:2c

who will prepare Your way.”

who will prepare people for your^(sing) coming/arrival.
that people must prepare for you^(sing) to come. My messenger will be like a person who prepares a road for a king’s coming.

prepare Your way: In this context the phrase prepare Your way is a metaphor. It is based on the custom of preparing roads before a king came. People repaired the roads so that the king could travel easily on them. Here the metaphor indicates that God was sending someone to prepare people for the Christ by telling them to repent of their sins. (This metaphor is also used in Matthew 11:10, Mark 1:2–3, Luke 3:4–6, and Luke 7:27.)

In some languages people may not understand the meaning of the metaphor. They may wrongly think that it refers to repairing roads. If that is true in your language, consider one of these options:

Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare people for your coming, like a person who prepares the roads before a king comes.
Translate the meaning of the metaphor directly. For example:
I will send my messenger ahead of you to tell people to prepare themselves for your coming.

way: The word that the BSB translates as way literally means “road,” “path,” or “highway.” Use a word that is appropriate for your area.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-quotations

καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καθώς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ Ἰδού ἀποστέλλω τόν ἄγγελον μού πρό προσώπου σοῦ ὅς κατασκευάσει τήν ὁδόν σοῦ)

In Mark’s culture, Just as it has been written is a normal way to introduce quotations from important texts, in this case, the Old Testament books written by the prophet Malachi and by Isaiah the prophet (see [Malachi 3:1](../mal/03/01.md) and [Isaiah 40:3](../isa/40/03.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase that indicates that Mark is quoting from important texts. Alternate translation: [Just as you can read in what Isaiah the prophet wrote] or [Just as it says in the Scriptures connected with Isaiah the prophet]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Just as Isaiah the prophet wrote]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ

in ¬the Isaiah the prophet

Here, Isaiah the prophet represents the book written by Isaiah. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [in the scroll of Isaiah the prophet]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / exclamations

ἰδοὺ

Here, the word Behold draws the attention of the audience and asks them to listen carefully. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Behold with a word or phrase that asks the audience to listen, or you could draw the audience’s attention in another way. Alternate translation: [See] or [Pay attention]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

πρὸ προσώπου σου

Here, the phrase before your face means before or in front of the person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [in front of you] or [before I send you]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου

˓will_be˒_preparing (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καθώς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ Ἰδού ἀποστέλλω τόν ἄγγελον μού πρό προσώπου σοῦ ὅς κατασκευάσει τήν ὁδόν σοῦ)