MRK 10:35-45

The Request of James and John

35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask." [10:36] He said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" [10:37] They said to him, "Grant us that we may sit, one at your right and one at your left, in your glory." [10:38] Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" [10:39] They said to him, "We are able." Jesus said to them, "The cup I drink you will drink, and the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized with. [10:40] But to sit at my right or my left is not mine to grant — it is for those for whom it has been prepared." [10:41] And when the ten heard, they began to be indignant at James and John. [10:42] Jesus called them together and said to them, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the nations lord it over them with force, and their great ones exercise heavy authority over them. [10:43] It is not to be so among you. But whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, [10:44] and whoever wants to be first among you must be slave of all. [10:45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, honor and status were central to social identity. James and John’s request to sit at Jesus’ right and left in His glory reflects this cultural obsession with rank and privilege. In Roman and Jewish contexts, positions at the right and left of a ruler symbolized authority and favor, often granted to trusted advisors or military leaders. Their request, however, reveals a misunderstanding of Jesus’ mission. Jesus responds by invoking the metaphor of the 'cup' and 'baptism,' terms that would have evoked suffering and death in Jewish thought. The 'cup' often symbolized divine judgment or destiny, while 'baptism' could signify overwhelming trials. Jesus contrasts the Gentile model of leadership, where rulers 'lord it over' others , with His own model of servanthood and slavery . In a society where slavery was ubiquitous and servanthood was often degrading, Jesus redefines greatness as self-giving service, subverting the honor-shame economy of His day.

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How other translations render this

MRK 10:35

KJV: And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
BSB: Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
Koinōnos: James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.

MRK 10:36

KJV: And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
BSB: “What do you want Me to do for you?” He inquired.
Koinōnos: He said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?

MRK 10:37

KJV: They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
BSB: They answered, “Grant that one of us may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your glory.”
Koinōnos: They said to him, "Grant us that we may sit, one at your right and one at your left, in your glory.

MRK 10:38

KJV: But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
BSB: “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?”
Koinōnos: Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?

MRK 10:39

KJV: And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
BSB: “We can,” the brothers answered. “You will drink the cup that I drink,” Jesus said, “and you will be baptized with the baptism that I undergo.
Koinōnos: They said to him, "We are able." Jesus said to them, "The cup I drink you will drink, and the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized with.

MRK 10:40

KJV: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
BSB: But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
Koinōnos: But to sit at my right or my left is not mine to grant — it is for those for whom it has been prepared.

MRK 10:41

KJV: And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
BSB: When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
Koinōnos: And when the ten heard, they began to be indignant at James and John.

MRK 10:42

KJV: But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
BSB: So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.
Koinōnos: Jesus called them together and said to them, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the nations lord it over them with force, and their great ones exercise heavy authority over them.

MRK 10:43

KJV: But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
BSB: But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
Koinōnos: It is not to be so among you. But whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,

MRK 10:44

KJV: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
BSB: and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.
Koinōnos: and whoever wants to be first among you must be slave of all.

MRK 10:45

KJV: For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
BSB: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Koinōnos: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MRK 10:35

to Him;:The word translated 'Teacher' here was a common and respectful address for a religious instructor or master, indicating a position of authority and wisdom.

MRK 10:42

the:The term used here for 'lord it over' implies a forceful and oppressive domination, where rulers assert their power with heavy-handed authority.

MRK 10:43

servant;:The word translated 'servant' here refers to someone who actively serves or ministers to others, often in a practical or official capacity, rather than a general sense of servitude.

MRK 10:44

slave.:The word translated 'slave' refers to a person who is legally owned by another, with no personal rights or freedoms, highlighting a state of complete subservience.