Mark 11:2

And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring [him].

And {G2532} saith {G3004} unto them {G846}, Go your way {G5217} into {G1519} the village {G2968} over against {G2713} you {G5216}: and {G2532} as soon as {G2112} ye be entered {G1531} into {G1519} it {G846}, ye shall find {G2147} a colt {G4454} tied {G1210}, whereon {G1909}{G3739} never {G3762} man {G444} sat {G2523}; loose {G3089} him {G846}, and bring {G71} him.

with these instructions: "Go into the village ahead of you; and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it, and bring it here.

and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.

and saith unto them, Go your way into the village that is over against you: and straightway as ye enter into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat; loose him, and bring him.

Commentary

Mark 11:2 is a pivotal verse preceding Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, often known as Palm Sunday. It highlights Jesus' divine foreknowledge and careful orchestration of events, setting the stage for one of the most significant moments in His earthly ministry.

Context

This verse immediately follows Mark 11:1, where Jesus and His disciples are approaching Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, near the villages of Bethphage and Bethany. The instruction to find a colt is part of Jesus' preparation for His entry into the city, fulfilling ancient prophecy. This event marks the beginning of Passion Week, leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection.

Key Themes

  • Divine Foreknowledge and Authority: Jesus demonstrates His omniscience by knowing exactly where the colt would be found, its condition, and even the immediate questions that would arise (addressed in Mark 11:3). This pre-arrangement underscores His divine authority and control over all circumstances.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: The instruction to bring a donkey's colt directly aligns with the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, which foretold that Zion's King would come "riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." This was a clear sign to those who understood the Scriptures that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah.
  • Humility of Christ: Choosing a humble donkey, rather than a warhorse, symbolized Jesus' kingship as one of peace and humility, not earthly conquest. The detail "whereon never man sat" emphasizes its special, untouched nature, making it uniquely consecrated for the Lord's use.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "colt" here is polos (πῶλος), which specifically refers to a young animal, often a donkey or horse. The phrase "whereon never man sat" (ἐφʼ ὃν οὐδεὶς πώποτε ἀνθρώπων ἐκάθισεν) signifies that the animal was unbroken and untouched by human use, making it ritually pure and uniquely suitable for a sacred purpose, much like animals designated for sacrifice or objects used in temple service that had to be new or unused.

Practical Application

Mark 11:2 encourages believers to recognize and trust in God's detailed plans and perfect timing. Just as the colt was prepared for a specific, divine purpose, we too are called to be available for God's use, even in seemingly ordinary circumstances. It reminds us that God often works through humble means to accomplish His grand designs, inviting us to submit to His will and participate in His unfolding story. Our willingness to obey, like the disciples who went to find the colt, allows us to be part of God's greater redemptive work.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 21:2

    Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose [them], and bring [them] unto me.

  • Matthew 21:3

    And if any [man] say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

  • Luke 19:30

    Saying, Go ye into the village over against [you]; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring [him hither].

  • Luke 19:31

    And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose [him]? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
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