Mark 14:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

Complete Jewish Bible:

For the Son of Man will die, just as the Tanakh says he will; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him had he never been born!"

Berean Standard Bible:

The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

American Standard Version:

For the Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

The Son^{G5207} of man^{G444} indeed^{G3303} goeth^{G5217}, as^{G2531} it is written^{G1125} of^{G4012} him^{G846}: but^{G1161} woe^{G3759} to that^{G1565} man^{G444} by^{G1223} whom^{G3739} the Son^{G5207} of man^{G444} is betrayed^{G3860}! good^{G2570} were it^{G2258} for that^{G1565} man^{G444} if^{G1487} he^{G846} had^{G1080} never^{G3756} been born^{G1080}.

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Commentary for Mark 14:21

Mark 14:21 is a verse that captures a poignant moment during the Last Supper, which is the final meal that Jesus shares with his disciples before his crucifixion. The verse speaks to the fulfillment of prophecy and the gravity of betrayal. Here, Jesus, referred to as "the Son of man," acknowledges that his impending death is in accordance with what has been foretold in Scripture. This reflects the theme of Jesus' life and mission being a fulfillment of the Hebrew Bible's messianic prophecies, a central tenet in Christian theology.

The historical context of this verse is set against the backdrop of Jesus' ministry in 1st-century Palestine, under Roman occupation. Jesus' reference to "the Son of man" alludes to the prophetic figure in the Book of Daniel, who is given dominion and glory by God. By using this term, Jesus is identifying himself with that prophetic figure and affirming his divine mission.

The second part of the verse expresses a dire warning to the one who will betray him. The term "woe" signifies a pronouncement of sorrow or divine judgment. Jesus is acutely aware that one of his own disciples, Judas Iscariot, will facilitate his arrest, leading to his crucifixion. The strength of the warning underscores the severity of the betrayal and the personal pain it causes Jesus. The statement "good were it for that man if he had never been born" reflects the depth of the tragedy and the eternal consequences of such an act. It suggests that the fate awaiting the betrayer is so terrible that it would have been better never to have existed.

This verse encapsulates the tension between divine necessity and human freedom, the anguish of betrayal, and the weight of moral responsibility. It also foreshadows the unfolding events of Jesus' passion, which are central to Christian belief in salvation and atonement.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G5207
   There are 348 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: υἱός
   Transliteration: huiós
   Pronunciation: hwee-os'
   Description: apparently a primary word; a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship:--child, foal, son.
   
2. Strong's Number: G444
   There are 614 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἄνθρωπος
   Transliteration: ánthrōpos
   Pronunciation: anth'-ro-pos
   Description: from ἀνήρ and (the countenance; from ὀπτάνομαι); man-faced, i.e. a human being:--certain, man.
   
3. Strong's Number: G3303
   There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: μέν
   Transliteration: mén
   Pronunciation: men
   Description: a primary particle; properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with δέ (this one, the former, etc.):--even, indeed, so, some, truly, verily. Often compounded with other particles in an intensive or asseverative sense.
   
4. Strong's Number: G5217
   There are 77 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὑπάγω
   Transliteration: hypágō
   Pronunciation: hoop-ag'-o
   Description: from ὑπό and ἄγω; to lead (oneself) under, i.e. withdraw or retire (as if sinking out of sight), literally or figuratively:--depart, get hence, go (a-)way.
   
5. Strong's Number: G2531
   There are 180 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καθώς
   Transliteration: kathṓs
   Pronunciation: kath-oce'
   Description: from κατά and ὡς; just (or inasmuch) as, that:--according to, (according, even) as, how, when.
   
6. Strong's Number: G1125
   There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: γράφω
   Transliteration: gráphō
   Pronunciation: graf'-o
   Description: a primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe:--describe, write(-ing, -ten).
   
7. Strong's Number: G4012
   There are 304 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: περί
   Transliteration: perí
   Pronunciation: per-ee'
   Description: from the base of πέραν; properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period):--(there-)about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ((there-, where-)) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-)state, (as) touching, (where-)by (in), with. In comparative, it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through).
   
8. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
9. Strong's Number: G1161
   There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δέ
   Transliteration: dé
   Pronunciation: deh
   Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
   
10. Strong's Number: G3759
    There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὐαί
    Transliteration: ouaí
    Pronunciation: oo-ah'-ee
    Description: a primary exclamation of grief; "woe":--alas, woe.
    
11. Strong's Number: G1565
    There are 244 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐκεῖνος
    Transliteration: ekeînos
    Pronunciation: ek-i'-nos
    Description: from ἐκεῖ; that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed:--he, it, the other (same), selfsame, that (same, very), X their, X them, they, this, those. See also οὗτος.
    
12. Strong's Number: G1223
    There are 580 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: διά
    Transliteration: diá
    Pronunciation: dee-ah'
    Description: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
    
13. Strong's Number: G3739
    There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὅς
    Transliteration: hós
    Pronunciation: ho
    Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ.
    
14. Strong's Number: G3860
    There are 118 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: παραδίδωμι
    Transliteration: paradídōmi
    Pronunciation: par-ad-id'-o-mee
    Description: from παρά and δίδωμι; to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit:--betray, bring forth, cast, commit, deliver (up), give (over, up), hazard, put in prison, recommend.
    
15. Strong's Number: G2570
    There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: καλός
    Transliteration: kalós
    Pronunciation: kal-os'
    Description: of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from ἀγαθός, which is properly intrinsic):--X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.
    
16. Strong's Number: G2258
    There are 416 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἦν
    Transliteration: ēn
    Pronunciation: ane
    Description: imperfect of εἰμί; I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were):--+ agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.
    
17. Strong's Number: G1487
    There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εἰ
    Transliteration: ei
    Pronunciation: i
    Description: a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:--forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μή(γε), εἰ καί, εἰ μή, εἰ μή τι, εἴ περ, εἴ πως, εἴ τις, ἐκ. See also ἐάν.
    
18. Strong's Number: G1080
    There are 65 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: γεννάω
    Transliteration: gennáō
    Pronunciation: ghen-nah'-o
    Description: from a variation of γένος; to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate:--bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.
    
19. Strong's Number: G3756
    There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὐ
    Transliteration: ou
    Pronunciation: ookh
    Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος.