Bible Commentaries
Vincent's Word Studies
Mark 14
The feast of the passover and the unleavened bread ( τὸ πάσχα καὶ τὰ ἄζυμα )
Lit., the passover and the unleavened. It was really one and the same festival.
Sought ( ἐζήτουν )
Imperfect tense: were all this while seeking
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Alabaster box
See on Matthew 26:7.
Spikenard ( νάρδου πιστικῆς )
The meaning of πιστικῆς greatly disputed. The best authorities define it genuine or unadulterated: pure nard.
Brake
Possibly by striking the brittle neck of the flask. This detail is peculiar to Mark.
She hath done what she could ( ὅ ἔσχεν ἐποίησεν )
Lit., what she had she did. Peculiar to Mark.
She is come aforehand to anoint ( προέλαβεν μυρίσαι )
Lit., she anticipated to anoint. Rev., hath anointed beforehand. The verb μυρίζω is found only here.
Money
See on Matthew 26:15.
He sought ( ευζήτει )
Imperfect tense. He kept seeking: busied himself continuously from that time.
Conveniently ( εὐκαίρως )
Might find a good opportunity ( καιρός ).
A man
A slave probably, whose business it was to draw water. See Deuteronomy 19:11.
Pitcher
Of earthenware: κεράμοιν , from κέραμος , potter's clay.
My guest-chamber ( κατάλυμά μου )
Luke 22:11. The word is not classical, and as used by an oriental signifies a khan or caravanserai. Hence inn at Luke 2:7. My chamber. It was a common practice that more than one company partook of the paschal supper in the same apartment; but Christ will have his chamber for himself and his disciples alone.
And he ( αὐτὸς )
The Greek is more emphatic. “He will himself show you.” So Rev. Probably the owner of the house was a disciple.
Furnished ( ἐστρωμένον )
Lit., strewed with carpets, and with couches properly spread.
The cup.
The wine was the ordinary one of the country, only red. It was mixed with water, generally in the proportion of one part to two of water.
Covenant
See on Matthew 26:28.
Is shed ( τὸ ἐκχυννόμενον )
Lit., is being shed. This present participle is significant. To the Lord's mind the sacrifice is already being offered.
Cock crow
See on Matthew 26:34. Mark alone addstwice.
Deny ( ἀπαρνήσῃ )
The compound verb signifies utterly deny.
I will not deny ( οὐ μή σε ἀπαρνήσαμαι )
The double negative with the future forms the strongest possible assertion.
To be sore amazed ( ἐκθαμβεῖσθαι )
A word peculiar to Mark. Compare Mark 9:15; Mark 16:5, Mark 16:6.
It is enough ( ἀπέχει )
Peculiar to Mark. In this impersonal sense the word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. Expositors are utterly at sea as to its meaning.
Token ( σύσσημον )
A later Greek compound used only by Mark in this passage. Compare σημεῖον , Matthew 26:48. The σύν , with, gives the force of a mutual token: a concerted signal.
The servant
See on Matthew 26:51.
Ear ( ὠτάριον )
A word found only here and at John 18:10. See on Matthew 26:51.
Linen cloth ( σινδόνα )
The probable derivation is from Ἰνδός , an Indian: India being the source from which came this fine fabric used for wrapping dead bodies, and in which Christ's body was enveloped. See Matthew 27:59; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53.
Palace ( αὐλὴν )
Rather, court, as Rev., the quadrangle round which the chambers were built. See on Matthew 26:3.
Sat with ( ἦν συγκαθήμενος )
The verb with the participle denoting continuousness. What occurred after occurred while he was sitting. So Rev.
Servants
Rev., officers. See on Matthew 5:25.
At the fire ( πρὸς τὸ φῶς )
Φῶς is never used of the fire itself, but of the light of the fire; and this is the point to which the evangelist directs attention: that the firelight, shining on Peter's face, called forth the challenge of the maid (Mark 14:66).
Their witness agreed not
Peculiar to Mark. Lit., their testimonies were not equal. Hence the difficulty of fulfilling the requirement of the law, which demanded two witnesses. See Deuteronomy 17:6; and compare Matthew 18:16; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28.
Buffet
See on Matthew 26:67.
Palms of their hands ( ῥαπίσμασιν )
An unclassical word, but used also by John (John 19:3). The word means blows.
Did strike
Following the old reading, ἔβαλλον . The correct reading is ἔλαβον ,received. So Rev. Received him into custody.
Porch ( προαύλιον )
Only here in New Testament. The vestibule, extending from the outside gate to the court.
Curse ( ἀναθεματίζειν )
Compare on Matthew 26:74; where the word is καταθεματίζειν , to call down ( κατὰ ) curses on himself if he were not telling the truth. The words are synonymous.
When he thought thereon ( ἐπιβαλὼν )
From ἐπί , uponand βάλλω , to throw. When he threw his thought upon it.
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