MARK 1:27 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.)

OET (OET-RV) Everyone was astounded and asked each other, “What just happened? We haven’t heard anything like this before—he has authority to command demons, and they obey him!”

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, 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 And they all were amazed, so that they discussed among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching according to authority! And he commands the unclean spirits, and they obey him!”

UST What Jesus had done impressed all the people who were in the Jewish meeting place, and they talked about it with each other. They said, “What he does is amazing! He teaches new things as someone whom God has authorized to do so. He tells the demons what to do, and they do what he says!”

BSB All [the people] were amazed [and] began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

MSB All [the people] were amazed [and] began to ask one another, “What is this? What new teaching [is] this that with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him?[fn]”

1:27 CT What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!

BLB And all were astonished, so as to question among themselves, saying, "What is this new teaching? With authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!"

AICNT And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching! With authority he also commands the unclean spirits, and they obey him”.

OEB They were all so amazed that they kept asking each other, ‘What is this? What is this, a new kind of teaching? He gives his commands with authority even to the foul spirits, and they obey him!’

WEBBE They were all amazed, so that they questioned amongst themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET They were all amazed so that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

LSV and they were all amazed, so as to reason among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new teaching [is] this? That with authority He also commands the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

FBV Everyone was amazed at what happened. “What is this?” they asked each other. “What is this new teaching that has such authority? Even evil spirits do what he tells them!”

TCNT All the people were amazed so that they questioned [fn]among themselves, saying, “What is this? [fn]What new teaching is this that with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him?”

1:27 among themselves 76.4% • TR 2% • MSS 18.3% ¦ it WH 0.2%

1:27 What new teaching is this that with authority he … him? ¦ A new teaching with authority; he … him. CT

T4T All the people who were there were amazed. As a result, they discussed this among themselves, exclaiming, “◄This is amazing!/What is this?► [RHQ] Not only does he teach in a new and authoritative way, but also the evil spirits obey him when he commands them!”

LEB And they were all amazed, so that they began to discuss with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

BBE And they were all greatly surprised, so that they put questions to one another, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he gives orders even to the unclean spirits, and they do what he says.

Moff Then they were all so amazed that they discussed it together, saying, "Whatever is this?" "It's new teaching with authority behind it!" "He orders even unclean spirits!" "Yes, and they obey him!"

Wymth And all were amazed and awe-struck, so they began to ask one another, "What does this mean? Here is a new sort of teaching—and a tone of authority! And even to foul spirits he issues orders and they obey him!"

ASV And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.

DRA And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying: What thing is this? what is this new doctrine? for with power he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.

YLT and they were all amazed, so as to reason among themselves, saying, 'What is this? what new teaching [is] this? that with authority also the unclean spirits he commandeth, and they obey him!'

Drby And all were amazed, so that they questioned together among themselves, saying, What is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.

RV And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.
(And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth/commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. )

SLT And all were amazed, so as to seek out with themselves, saying, What is this? what new teaching this? for with power also he commands the unclean spirits, and they listen to him.

Wbstr And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.

KJB-1769 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
(And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth/commands he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. )

KJB-1611 And they were all amased, insomuch that they questioned among themselues, saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authoritie commandeth he euen the vncleane spirits, and they doe obey him.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps And they were all amased, insomuch that they demaunded one of another among them selues, saying: What thing is this? What newe doctrine is this? For with aucthoritie commaunded he the fowle spirites, and they obeyed him.
(And they were all amazed, insomuch that they demanded one of another among themselves, saying: What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commanded he the fowle spirits, and they obeyed him.)

Gnva And they were all amased, so that they demaunded one of another, saying, What thing is this? what newe doctrine is this? for he commandeth euen the foule spirites with authoritie, and they obey him.
(And they were all amazed, so that they demanded one of another, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for he commandeth/commands even the foul spirits with authority, and they obey him. )

Cvdl And they were all astonnyed, in so moch that they axed one another amonge the selues, & sayde: What is this? What new lernynge is this? For he comaundeth the foule spretes with power, and they are obedient vnto him.
(And they were all astonished, in so much that they asked one another among the selves, and said: What is this? What new learning is this? For he commandeth/commands the foul spirits with power, and they are obedient unto him.)

TNT And they were all amased in so moche that they demaunded one of another amonge them selves saying: what thinge is this? what newe doctryne is this? For he commaundeth the foule spirites with power and they obeye him.
(And they were all amazed in so much that they demanded one of another among themselves saying: what thing is this? what new doctrine is this? For he commandeth/commands the foul spirits with power and they obey him. )

Wycl And alle men wondriden, so that thei souyten with ynne hem silf, and seiden, What thing is this? what newe doctrine is this? for in power he comaundith to vnclene spiritis, and thei obeyen to hym.
(And all men wondered, so that they sought within himself, and said, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for in power he commandeth/commands to unclean spirits, and they obeyen to him.)

Luth Und sie entsetzten sich alle, also daß sie untereinander sich befragten und sprachen: Was ist das? Was ist das für eine neue Lehre? Er gebeut mit Gewalt den unsaubern Geistern, und sie gehorchen ihm.
(And they/she/them horrified itself/yourself/themselves all, also that they/she/them each_other itself/yourself/themselves interviewed and said: What is that? What is the for/in_favour_of a/one new teaching? He given with violence the unclean spirits/ghosts, and they/she/them obey him.)

ClVg Et mirati sunt omnes, ita ut conquirerent inter se dicentes: Quidnam est hoc? quænam doctrina hæc nova? quia in potestate etiam spiritibus immundis imperat, et obediunt ei.[fn]
(And surprised are everyone, so/thus as they_would_search between himself saying: What_exactly it_is this? whichnam teaching/instruction these_things new? because in/into/on power also spirits unclean commands, and they_obey to_him. )

1.27 Quidnam est? Per ea quæ vident ad inquisitionem eorum quæ audierant excitantur. Ad hoc enim et ipse Dominus signa facit, et discipulis facere dedit, ut per hoc Evangelio certius credatur, dum qui cœlestia promittunt terrenis, cœlestia et divina opera operentur in terris.

1.27 What_exactly it_is? Per them which they_see to investigation their which they_had_heard they_are_excited. To this because and exactly_that/himself Master signs he_does, and students to_do he_gave, as through this Evangelio certius believe, while who/which heaven they_promise earthly, heaven and divine works by_workntur in/into/on lands.

UGNT καὶ ἐθαμβήθησαν ἅπαντες, ὥστε συνζητεῖν πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγοντας, τί ἐστιν τοῦτο? διδαχὴ καινή κατ’ ἐξουσίαν! καὶ τοῖς πνεύμασι τοῖς ἀκαθάρτοις ἐπιτάσσει, καὶ ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ!
(kai ethambaʸthaʸsan hapantes, hōste sunzaʸtein pros autous legontas, ti estin touto? didaⱪaʸ kainaʸ kat’ exousian! kai tois pneumasi tois akathartois epitassei, kai hupakouousin autōi!)

SBL-GNT καὶ ἐθαμβήθησαν ⸀ἅπαντες, ὥστε συζητεῖν ⸂πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς⸃ λέγοντας· Τί ἐστιν τοῦτο; ⸂διδαχὴ καινή⸃· κατʼ ἐξουσίαν καὶ τοῖς πνεύμασι τοῖς ἀκαθάρτοις ἐπιτάσσει, καὶ ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ.
(kai ethambaʸthaʸsan ⸀hapantes, hōste suzaʸtein ⸂pros heautous⸃ legontas; Ti estin touto; ⸂didaⱪaʸ kainaʸ⸃; katʼ exousian kai tois pneumasi tois akathartois epitassei, kai hupakouousin autōi.)

RP-GNT Καὶ ἐθαμβήθησαν πάντες, ὥστε συζητεῖν πρὸς ἑαυτούς, λέγοντας, Τί ἐστιν τοῦτο; Τίς ἡ διδαχὴ ἡ καινὴ αὕτη, ὅτι κατ' ἐξουσίαν καὶ τοῖς πνεύμασιν τοῖς ἀκαθάρτοις ἐπιτάσσει, καὶ ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ;
(Kai ethambaʸthaʸsan pantes, hōste suzaʸtein pros heautous, legontas, Ti estin touto; Tis haʸ didaⱪaʸ haʸ kainaʸ hautaʸ, hoti kat' exousian kai tois pneumasin tois akathartois epitassei, kai hupakouousin autōi;)

TC-GNT Καὶ ἐθαμβήθησαν [fn]πάντες, ὥστε [fn]συζητεῖν [fn]πρὸς ἑαυτούς, λέγοντας, Τί ἐστι τοῦτο; [fn]Τίς ἡ διδαχὴ ἡ καινὴ αὕτη, ὅτι κατ᾽ ἐξουσίαν καὶ τοῖς πνεύμασι τοῖς ἀκαθάρτοις ἐπιτάσσει, καὶ ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ;
(Kai ethambaʸthaʸsan pantes, hōste suzaʸtein pros heautous, legontas, Ti esti touto; Tis haʸ didaⱪaʸ haʸ kainaʸ hautaʸ, hoti kat exousian kai tois pneumasi tois akathartois epitassei, kai hupakouousin autōi; )

1:27 παντες ¦ απαντες ECM^† NA SBL TH WH

1:27 συζητειν ¦ συνζητειν TH WH

1:27 πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντας 76.4% ¦ πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντες MSS 18.3% ¦ πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγοντας TR 2% ¦ αὐτοὺς λέγοντας WH 0.2%

1:27 τις η διδαχη η καινη αυτη οτι ¦ διδαχη καινη CT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:21–28: Jesus expelled an evil spirit from a man

In this section Mark described the first of four events that happened in the town of Capernaum in the region of Galilee. Paragraph 1:21–26 tells how Jesus expelled an evil spirit from a man in the synagogue at Capernaum. Paragraph 1:27–28 describes the people’s amazed reaction to Jesus’ authority over evil spirits. See the note on “unclean spirit" in 1:23a for ways to translate “evil/unclean spirit.”

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here is another idea for this section heading:

The time when Jesus expelled an evil spirit

There is a parallel passage for this section in Luke 4:31–37.

Paragraph 1:27–28

This paragraph indicates that the people in the synagogue were amazed when the unclean spirit left. They were amazed that Jesus had the authority to cause unclean spirits to obey him.

1:27a

All the people were amazed

¶ All of the people in the synagogue were very surprised,
¶ Those who were gathered there were astonished,

All the people were amazed: In some languages it may be natural to say what amazed the people here. For example:

All the people were amazed at/by this

This miracle that Jesus had done amazed all the people

The people all thought, “He certainly has special/great power!”

See the General Comment on 1:27a–b at the end of 1:27b for ways to translate the relationship between 1:27a and 1:27b.

All the people: The Greek word that the BSB translates as All the people is literally “all” or “everyone.” It refers to all the people in the synagogue who had just seen Jesus cause the evil spirit to leave the man.

amazed: The Greek word that the BSB translates as amazed also means “astonished,” “shocked,” or “stunned.” It is not the same Greek word as the one used in 1:22a, but it has a similar meaning. There may be a idiom in your language to express the people’s shock and amazement. For example:

[All who were there] widened their eyes

[The people all] had their mouths open

1:27b

and began to ask one another,

so they began asking each another,
and they began to discuss what had happened, and to say,

began to ask one another: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as began to ask one another can mean “discussed with one another” or “debated with one another.” It does not only mean that the people asked each other questions. 1:27c gives the content of what the people asked or discussed with each other.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

they discussed what had happened. They asked one another:

they asked one another, saying:

General Comment on 1:27a–b

In Greek, 1:27b begins with a word that introduces a result. In this context it indicates that the statement “began to ask one another” in 1:27b is the result of the people being amazed in 1:27a.

Here are some different ways this relationship may be expressed:

The people were all so amazed that (NIV)

Everyone was stunned. They said to each other… (GW)

Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. (NLT)

Notice that in the GW version, the result relationship is implied. In the NLT, the word “and” implies “and so.” Translate this relationship in a way that is clear and natural in your language.

1:27c–d

A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits: There are two ways to understand how the phrase with authority relates to the context:

The phrase with authority relates to “a new teaching.” It means that Jesus’ teaching had authority. For example:
It must be some new kind of powerful teaching! (CEV) (BSB, NIV, NRSV, REB, NJB, NCV, NLT, CEV)
The phrase with authority relates to “He commands even the unclean spirits.” It means that Jesus commanded the unclean spirits with authority. For example:
This man has authority to give orders to the evil spirits (GNT) (RSV, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions and scholars.

1:27c

“What is this? A new teaching with authority!

“What kind of teaching is this? We^(incl) have never heard anyone teach with such authority!
“This is a new and amazing kind of teaching that shows authority!

What is this?: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses surprise. There are at least three ways to translate this rhetorical question:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
What sort of new teaching is this? (NLT)
What is happening here? (NCV)
As a statement or exclamation. For example:
This is amazing.
Wow! Amazing!
As a tag question. For example:
This is amazing, isn’t it?

Some languages may have an idiom that expresses amazement. Use a natural way to express this type of amazement in your language.

A new teaching with authority!: The BSB translates the phrase A new teaching with authority as an exclamation that answers the rhetorical question. There is no verb in this exclamation. There are many other acceptable ways to translate this phrase. Here are some other possibilities:

Combine the phrase with the rhetorical question at the beginning of 1:27c. For example, the NLT says:
“What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority!” (NLT)
Include some words to make the phrase into a sentence. For example, the GW says:
This is a new teaching that has authority behind it! (GW)

Translate in a way that will effectively express the people’s surprise at Jesus’ new and authoritative way of teaching.

A new teaching: The phrase A new teaching refers to the way Jesus taught. The word that the BSB translates as new means that the people had never before seen or heard anyone teach that way. Jesus’ manner of teaching was different and amazing.The Greek word kainos means “new” in quality, in other words, different, strange or remarkable. It is distinct from the Greek word neos, which means “new” in time (BAGD page 394, Cranfield page 81, Robertson page 261). Louw and Nida (page 645, #67.115) focus on the meaning “previously unknown.” A new teaching does not imply that Jesus’ current teaching was different from his previous teaching.

with authority: The characteristic of Jesus’ teaching that made it “new” or “amazing” or “different” is that he taught with authority. He showed absolute certainty about the truth of what he taught. See the note on 1:22b for an explanation of authority in this context.

1:27d

He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

He even commands the evil spirits to leave and they obey him.”
Even evil spirits do what he says when he orders them to do something.”

He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him: In this sentence the people indicated that they were amazed that Jesus had such great authority. Their statement means that Jesus even had the power to command unclean spirits to leave the people whom they were possessing.

they obey Him: The phrase they obey Him implies that the unclean spirits were forced to obey Jesus. They had to do what he told them even though they did not want to.

In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit the content of Jesus’ command. For example:

He even orders unclean spirits to leave people, and the unclean spirits obey him.

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses in 1:27d. For example:

Even unclean spirits must obey him when he commands them to leave!

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐθαμβήθησαν ἅπαντες

˓were˒_amazed all

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say what did the action, it is clear from the context that it was what Jesus did and taught. Alternate translation: [what they saw and heard amazed all of them]

Note 2 topic: writing-quotations

λέγοντας

saying

Consider natural ways of introducing direct quotations in your language. Alternate translation: [and they asked]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί ἐστιν τοῦτο?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἐθαμβήθησαν ἅπαντες ὥστε συζητεῖν αὐτούς λέγοντας Τί ἐστίν τοῦτο διδαχή Καινή κατʼ ἐξουσίαν καί τοῖς πνεύμασιν τοῖς ἀκαθάρτοις ἐπιτάσσει καί ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ)

The people in the synagogue are using the question form to express their surprise and amazement. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [We are impressed.] or [This is amazing!]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

διδαχὴ καινή κατ’ ἐξουσίαν! καὶ τοῖς πνεύμασι τοῖς ἀκαθάρτοις ἐπιτάσσει

Here, the phrase according to authority could go with: (1) A new teaching. Alternate translation: [A new teaching, one according to authority! And he commands the unclean spirits] (2) And he commands the unclean spirits. Alternate translation: [A new teaching! According to authority he commands even the unclean spirits]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

κατ’ ἐξουσίαν

with authority

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of authority, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [from one having been authorized] or [that sounds authoritative]

Parallel MARK 1:27