Mark 11:23

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

For {G1063} verily {G281} I say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, That {G3754} whosoever {G3739}{G302} shall say {G2036} unto this {G5129} mountain {G3735}, Be thou removed {G142}, and {G2532} be thou cast {G906} into {G1519} the sea {G2281}; and {G2532} shall {G1252} not {G3361} doubt {G1252} in {G1722} his {G846} heart {G2588}, but {G235} shall believe {G4100} that {G3754} those things which {G3739} he saith {G3004} shall come to pass {G1096}; he {G846} shall have {G2071} whatsoever {G3739}{G1437} he saith {G2036}.

Yes! I tell you that whoever does not doubt in his heart but trusts that what he says will happen can say to this mountain, `Go and throw yourself into the sea!' and it will be done for him.

“Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.

Commentary

Mark 11:23 is a profound statement by Jesus Christ about the power of faith and belief, often cited for its dramatic imagery of moving mountains. It follows Jesus' interaction with a fig tree and serves as a direct teaching to His disciples on the efficacy of unwavering faith.

Context

This verse is part of a broader discourse on faith and prayer that Jesus gives to His disciples after they marvel at the withered fig tree, which Jesus had cursed the previous day (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21). Jesus' teaching begins in Mark 11:22 with the command, "Have faith in God." Verse 23 then elaborates on the extent of this faith, using hyperbole to convey its immense power when coupled with sincere belief and an absence of doubt. It's not a magical formula for personal gain, but rather an illustration of the spiritual authority available to those who fully trust in God.

Key Themes

  • The Power of Unwavering Faith: The central message is that genuine faith, devoid of inner doubt, can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The "mountain" here is a metaphor for immense difficulties, challenges, or spiritual barriers.
  • The Authority of the Spoken Word: Jesus emphasizes that what one "saith" (declares) with belief will "come to pass." This highlights the creative and transformative power inherent in words spoken from a heart filled with faith. It's not about human will power alone, but about speaking in alignment with God's will and power.
  • Absence of Doubt: The crucial condition is "shall not doubt in his heart." This signifies a complete internal conviction, a steadfast trust that God will act according to the belief expressed. This concept is echoed in other scriptures, such as James 1:6, which warns against doubting.

Linguistic Insights

The word "verily" (Greek: amen) at the beginning of the verse is a strong affirmation, meaning "truly," "certainly," or "so be it." Jesus often used this to introduce a weighty and authoritative statement. The imagery of "this mountain" (Greek: oros) being cast into the sea is a powerful hyperbole, a common rhetorical device in ancient near eastern cultures, signifying the removal of any obstacle, no matter how colossal. It's a vivid illustration of the scope of what God can accomplish through a believing heart.

Practical Application

Mark 11:23 is a profound encouragement for believers to cultivate a deep, active faith that trusts in God's ability to do the impossible. It teaches that prayer and declaration, when rooted in genuine belief and free from inner conflict or doubt, are powerful forces for change. This isn't a promise for material riches or selfish desires, but rather an assurance that God will empower us to overcome spiritual and practical "mountains" in our lives when our faith aligns with His purposes. It calls us to examine our hearts and confront any unbelief that hinders us from experiencing God's full power. This verse serves as a reminder that with God, all things are possible for those who believe, as also seen in Matthew 17:20.

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 17:20

    And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

  • John 15:7

    If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

  • Matthew 21:21

    Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

  • Psalms 37:4

    Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

  • John 14:13

    And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

  • James 1:5

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  • James 1:6

    But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
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