Mark 9:32

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

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

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

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

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

Commentary

Mark 9:32, from the King James Version, states: "But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him." This verse immediately follows Jesus' second explicit prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection, highlighting a significant moment of confusion and apprehension among His disciples.

Context

This verse is crucial for understanding the disciples' perspective during Jesus' earthly ministry. Earlier in Mark 8:31, Jesus had given His first prediction of His impending suffering and death. Here, in chapter 9, He reiterates this profound truth after descending from the Mount of Transfiguration. Despite witnessing His glory, the disciples' minds were still anchored to their earthly expectations of a conquering Messiah who would establish an immediate political kingdom. The concept of a suffering and dying Messiah was entirely foreign and seemingly contradictory to their understanding of the Son of God.

Key Themes

  • Disciples' Misunderstanding: The primary theme is the profound gap between Jesus' divine revelation and the disciples' human comprehension. They struggled to reconcile Jesus' identity as the Christ with the idea of His rejection, suffering, and death. This reflects a common human tendency to filter spiritual truths through personal desires and preconceived notions.
  • Fear and Hesitation: The phrase "and were afraid to ask him" reveals their internal conflict. This fear might stem from several sources:
    • Fear of rebuke, as Peter had been rebuked for similar misunderstanding in Mark 8:33.
    • Fear of hearing an answer that would shatter their hopes for a glorious, earthly kingdom.
    • Fear of appearing ignorant or spiritually dull.
    This highlights the human reluctance to confront difficult truths or acknowledge one's own lack of understanding.
  • Divine Plan vs. Human Perception: The verse underscores the tension between God's sovereign plan for salvation through sacrifice and humanity's limited ability to grasp such a counter-intuitive truth. Jesus' path to glory was through the cross, a concept that would only fully be understood by the disciples after His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit (as seen in Acts 1:6 and beyond).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "understood not" is agnoeo (αΌ€Ξ³Ξ½ΞΏΞ­Ο‰), which means to be ignorant, not to know, or to fail to understand. It implies a complete lack of comprehension, not just a partial one. The phrase "were afraid to ask him" uses phobeo (φοβέω) for "afraid," indicating a deep-seated fear or awe, suggesting their apprehension was significant enough to prevent them from seeking clarity.

Practical Application

Mark 9:32 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  1. Embrace Humility in Learning: Like the disciples, we may not always immediately grasp God's ways or His Word. This verse encourages us not to be afraid to ask questions, seek understanding, or admit our limitations. Genuine spiritual growth often begins with acknowledging what we don't know.
  2. Trust God's Higher Ways: Sometimes, God's plans and methods seem illogical or contrary to our expectations. This verse reminds us that God's wisdom far surpasses our own (Isaiah 55:8-9). We are called to trust His sovereign plan, even when we don't fully comprehend it.
  3. Patience in Understanding: Spiritual understanding is often progressive. The disciples eventually came to understand the necessity of Christ's death and resurrection, but it required the fulfillment of prophecy and the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, our understanding of God's truth deepens over time as we continue to study His Word and seek His guidance.

The disciples' initial confusion and fear serve as a relatable example of the human struggle to align our expectations with divine reality, ultimately teaching us the importance of humble trust and persistent seeking of truth.

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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified 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.
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