40And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, 'If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.' [1:41] And being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, 'I am willing. Be cleansed.' [1:42] And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. [1:43] And having sternly warned him, he immediately sent him away, [1:44] and said to him, 'See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.' [1:45] But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places. And people were coming to him from every direction.
MRK 1:40-45
The Leperʼs Prayer
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish society, leprosy was not merely a medical condition but a marker of ritual impurity that excluded individuals from communal and religious life. Lepers were required to live apart from society, wear torn clothes, and cry 'unclean' when approached (Leviticus 13:45-46). The leper’s approach to Jesus, kneeling and imploring , was a bold act of desperation, risking public scorn and violating social boundaries. His plea, 'If You may be willing, You are able to cleanse me,' reflects both faith in Jesus’ power and submission to His authority. Jesus’ response—touching the leper—was culturally shocking, as contact with a leper rendered one ritually unclean. His command to show oneself to the priest and offer the required sacrifices (Leviticus 14:1-32) underscores His respect for Torah while affirming the leper’s restoration to community. The leper’s disobedience in spreading the news, despite Jesus’ stern warning , highlights the tension between Jesus’ messianic mission and public expectations.
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How other translations render this
MRK 1:40
- KJV
- And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
- BSB
- Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
- Koinōnos
- And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, 'If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.
MRK 1:41
- KJV
- And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
- BSB
- Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
- Koinōnos
- And being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, 'I am willing. Be cleansed.
MRK 1:42
- KJV
- And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
- BSB
- And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.
- Koinōnos
- And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.
MRK 1:43
- KJV
- And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
- BSB
- Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning:
- Koinōnos
- And having sternly warned him, he immediately sent him away,
MRK 1:44
- KJV
- And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
- BSB
- “See that you donʼt tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
- Koinōnos
- and said to him, 'See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.
MRK 1:45
- KJV
- But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
- BSB
- But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.
- Koinōnos
- But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places. And people were coming to him from every direction.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 1:40
- a leper:The word translated 'a leper' referred to a person suffering from a variety of severe skin diseases, not necessarily what modern medicine identifies as Hansen's disease, and carried significant social and religious stigma.
- imploring:The term translated 'imploring' suggests a strong appeal, often with an emotional plea for help or comfort, indicating a deep sense of need and urgency.
MRK 1:41
- And:While most English translations say Jesus felt 'pity' or 'compassion,' some ancient manuscripts use a word that means 'anger,' suggesting a strong emotional reaction to the disease itself or the situation.
MRK 1:43
- having sternly warned:The phrase translated 'having sternly warned' implies a strong, almost forceful, command or admonition, often with an underlying sense of agitation or deep emotion.