Mark 9:32

KJV

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} they understood not {G50} that saying {G4487}, and {G2532} were afraid {G5399} to ask {G1905} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But they didn't understand what he meant, and they were afraid to ask him.

Berean Standard Bible

But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

American Standard Version

But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 9:32 reveals the profound bewilderment and apprehension of Jesus' disciples following His second explicit prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection. Despite the clarity of Jesus' words, their minds, still tethered to conventional messianic expectations, could not reconcile the idea of a suffering Messiah. This cognitive dissonance, coupled with a palpable fear of rebuke or of confronting a reality that shattered their hopes, rendered them unable to grasp the profound truth Jesus was revealing and unwilling to seek further clarification.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' second clear prediction of His passion in [Mark 9:31](/mark/9-31 "Mark 9:31 - Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection"). It is strategically placed after the glorious event of the Transfiguration in [Mark 9:2-8](/mark/9-2-8 "Mark 9:2-8 - The Transfiguration of Jesus"), where Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus' divine glory alongside Moses and Elijah. The stark contrast between the divine affirmation of Jesus as the beloved Son and His subsequent prophecy of suffering highlights the disciples' struggle to integrate these seemingly contradictory truths. Their confusion here echoes Peter's earlier rebuke of Jesus after the first passion prediction in [Mark 8:31-33](/mark/8-31-33 "Mark 8:31-33 - Peter Rebukes Jesus"), setting a recurring theme of the disciples' spiritual dullness regarding the true nature of the Messiah's mission.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Jewish people of Jesus' time, including His disciples, largely anticipated a Messiah who would be a conquering king, a political liberator who would overthrow Roman oppression and restore Israel's national glory, as prophesied in passages like [Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6-7 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - Prophecy of the Messiah's Reign") and [Daniel 7:13-14](/daniel/7-13-14 "Daniel 7:13-14 - The Son of Man Coming"). The concept of a suffering and dying Messiah, while present in texts like [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant"), was largely overlooked or reinterpreted. For the disciples, Jesus' talk of betrayal, suffering, and death was antithetical to their deeply ingrained expectations of a victorious, earthly kingdom. This cultural lens significantly impeded their ability to comprehend Jesus' radical redefinition of messianic fulfillment.

* **Key Themes:** Mark 9:32 contributes to several overarching themes within the Gospel of Mark. Primarily, it underscores the **Disciples' Misunderstanding** of Jesus' identity and mission, a pervasive motif throughout the narrative. Despite witnessing miracles, hearing parables, and receiving direct teaching, their human limitations and preconceived notions blinded them to the divine necessity of the cross. This verse also highlights the theme of **Divine Plan vs. Human Perception**, illustrating the tension between God's sovereign, often counter-intuitive, redemptive purpose and humanity's finite capacity to grasp it. Furthermore, the disciples' "fear to ask him" introduces the theme of **Fear and Hesitation** in confronting uncomfortable truths, revealing their reluctance to challenge their own cherished beliefs or admit their ignorance, perhaps fearing a rebuke similar to Peter's in [Mark 8:33](/mark/8-33 "Mark 8:33 - Jesus Rebukes Peter").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **understood not (Greek, _agnoéō_):** This verb signifies a state of being ignorant, not knowing, or failing to comprehend. It implies a complete lack of understanding, not merely a partial one. The disciples were not just confused; they were utterly unable to grasp the meaning of Jesus' "saying," indicating a profound spiritual and intellectual disconnect from the truth He was conveying.
* **saying (Greek, _rhēma_):** While often translated as "word," _rhēma_ here refers to a specific utterance or statement—in this context, Jesus' direct prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection. It emphasizes the concrete nature of what Jesus communicated, highlighting that the problem was not with the clarity of His message, but with the disciples' inability to process it.
* **afraid (Greek, _phobéō_):** This word denotes fear, awe, or reverence. In this context, it points to a deep-seated apprehension that prevented the disciples from seeking clarification. Their fear could stem from a previous rebuke (as Peter experienced in [Mark 8:33](/mark/8-33 "Mark 8:33 - Peter Rebuked by Jesus")), a reluctance to appear ignorant, or a dread of hearing an answer that would dismantle their cherished hopes for a glorious, earthly kingdom.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But they understood not that saying,"**: This clause immediately establishes the disciples' profound incomprehension. The conjunction "But" (G1161 _dé_) introduces a contrast between Jesus' clear declaration and their inability to grasp its meaning. Despite Jesus' explicit words about His impending suffering, death, and resurrection (Mark 9:31), the disciples' minds were closed to this truth, perhaps due to their deeply ingrained messianic expectations of a conquering king rather than a suffering servant. Their lack of understanding was not merely intellectual but deeply spiritual, revealing a fundamental disconnect from the divine plan.
* **"and were afraid to ask him."**: This second clause reveals the emotional and psychological state of the disciples. Their fear (G5399 _phobéō_) prevented them from seeking clarification from Jesus. This fear could have multiple roots: the memory of Peter's sharp rebuke (Mark 8:33), an unwillingness to confront a truth that contradicted their hopes, or a reluctance to expose their own spiritual dullness. This hesitation underscores their human weakness and the chasm between their earthly aspirations and the divine reality Jesus was unfolding.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 9:32 employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as the disciples, who have just witnessed Jesus' transfiguration and heard God's voice affirm Him, remain utterly blind to the true nature of His mission. They are physically close to Jesus but spiritually distant from His deepest truths. There is also a strong element of **Foreshadowing**, as this verse anticipates the disciples' continued struggle to comprehend Jesus' suffering and resurrection until after His actual death and subsequent appearances. This repeated misunderstanding highlights the **Contrast** between Jesus' divine knowledge and the disciples' human limitations, emphasizing the necessity of divine revelation and the Holy Spirit's illumination for true spiritual understanding.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 9:32 profoundly illustrates the human tendency to filter divine truth through preconceived notions and personal desires, leading to a fundamental misunderstanding of God's ways. The disciples' inability to grasp Jesus' passion predictions underscores the counter-intuitive nature of God's redemptive plan, where glory is achieved through suffering, and life through death. This concept, often foolishness to the world, is central to Christian theology. Their fear to ask further reveals the human reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths or to admit spiritual ignorance, highlighting the need for humility and trust in God's higher wisdom, even when it defies our logic.

* [1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Message of the Cross")
* [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Despised and Rejected")
* [Luke 24:45](/luke/24-45 "Luke 24:45 - Opening the Minds to Understand Scripture")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 9:32 serves as a timeless mirror for believers today, inviting us to examine our own hearts and minds. Just as the disciples struggled to reconcile Jesus' glory with His suffering, we too can find ourselves resistant to aspects of God's Word or His will that challenge our expectations or comfort zones. This verse encourages a posture of humility, reminding us that true spiritual growth often begins with acknowledging our limitations and admitting what we do not yet understand. Are we willing to ask the difficult questions, even if the answers might disrupt our preconceived notions? Do we trust God's wisdom and sovereign plan, even when it seems counter-intuitive or requires personal sacrifice? The disciples' journey reminds us that understanding is often progressive, requiring patience, persistent seeking, and ultimately, the illumination of the Holy Spirit. We are called to embrace God's truth fully, even when it demands a radical reorientation of our perspectives and a willingness to step into the unknown.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "sayings" of Jesus or truths about God do I struggle to understand or accept in my own life?**
* **Am I ever "afraid to ask" God or spiritual mentors about difficult biblical truths or personal struggles, fearing the answer or appearing ignorant?**
* **How do my own expectations or cultural biases sometimes prevent me from fully grasping God's higher ways?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a more humble and open heart towards God's Word, even when it challenges my comfort zone?**

### FAQ
**Why didn't the disciples understand Jesus' clear predictions about His death and resurrection?**

Answer: The disciples' inability to understand stemmed primarily from their deeply ingrained Jewish messianic expectations. They, like most Jews of their time, anticipated a conquering, political Messiah who would liberate Israel from Roman rule and establish an earthly kingdom. The concept of a suffering, dying, and then resurrected Messiah was completely foreign and contradictory to this worldview. While prophecies of a suffering servant existed (e.g., [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant")), they were not widely interpreted in a way that aligned with Jesus' explicit predictions. Their spiritual blindness was also part of God's sovereign timing; full comprehension would only come after Jesus' resurrection and the empowering of the Holy Spirit (as seen in [Luke 24:44-45](/luke/24-44-45 "Luke 24:44-45 - Jesus Explains the Scriptures") and [Acts 1:6-8](/acts/1-6-8 "Acts 1:6-8 - The Holy Spirit and Witness")).

**What does their fear to ask Jesus reveal about their discipleship at this stage?**

Answer: Their fear (G5399 _phobéō_) reveals a mixture of human weakness, apprehension, and perhaps a reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths. It suggests they may have feared a rebuke, similar to Peter's earlier chastisement for resisting Jesus' passion prediction (see [Mark 8:33](/mark/8-33 "Mark 8:33 - Peter Rebuked by Jesus")). They might also have been afraid of hearing an answer that would shatter their hopes for an immediate, glorious earthly kingdom, or of appearing ignorant or spiritually dull. This fear highlights their immaturity in discipleship, demonstrating that despite their closeness to Jesus, they were still grappling with fundamental aspects of His mission and the demands of true faith, which often requires confronting difficult realities.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 9:32, though depicting the disciples' profound misunderstanding, powerfully underscores the essential nature of Christ's suffering and death as the very heart of God's redemptive plan. The "saying" they could not grasp—Jesus' passion prediction—was not merely a tragic event but the divinely ordained path to salvation and victory over sin and death. Their inability to comprehend foreshadows the world's rejection of a suffering Messiah, yet it is precisely through this suffering that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the Suffering Servant (e.g., [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant")) and becomes the ultimate atoning sacrifice. The cross, which was a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles ([1 Corinthians 1:23](/1_corinthians/1-23 "1 Corinthians 1:23 - Christ Crucified")), is revealed in the New Testament as the pinnacle of God's love and justice, where Christ, "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame" ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith")). The disciples' eventual understanding, illuminated by the Holy Spirit after Jesus' resurrection, transformed their fear into bold proclamation of the crucified and risen Lord, demonstrating that true Christ-centered fulfillment lies in embracing the cross as the glorious means of our redemption ([Philippians 2:8-11](/philippians/2-8-11 "Philippians 2:8-11 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 2:50

And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

Luke 9:45

But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Luke 18:34

And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

John 16:19

Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?

John 12:16

These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and [that] they had done these things unto him.

Mark 9:10

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

Mark 8:33

But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.