MRK 11:1-11

The Triumphal Entry

1Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples

2and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has yet sat. Untie it and bring it.

3If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'"

4And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it.

5And some of those standing there were saying to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?"

6And they said to them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.

7And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.

8And many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches they had cut from the fields.

9And those going ahead and those following were crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

10Blessed is the coming reign of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!"

11And Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple complex. And after looking around at everything, as it was already evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, Jerusalem was a bustling center of Jewish religious and political life, especially during Passover, when pilgrims flooded the city. The Mount of Olives held eschatological significance, as Jewish tradition associated it with the coming of the Messiah. Bethphage and Bethany, small unwalled villages , were familiar stopping points for travelers. The colt Jesus instructs His disciples to retrieve was likely a young donkey, a humble animal tied to messianic prophecy (Zechariah 9:9). The act of untying it would have been seen as a claim of authority, especially when invoking 'the Lord' , a term that could denote divine or royal prerogative. The spreading of cloaks and leafy branches on the road was a gesture of honor, akin to welcoming a king. This scene would have resonated deeply with Jewish listeners, who would recognize the messianic overtones and the challenge it posed to Roman authority and Temple elites.

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How other translations render this

MRK 11:1

KJV: And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
BSB: As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples
Koinōnos: Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples

MRK 11:2

KJV: And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
BSB: and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.
Koinōnos: and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has yet sat. Untie it and bring it.

MRK 11:3

KJV: And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
BSB: If anyone asks, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it shortly.’”
Koinōnos: If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'

MRK 11:4

KJV: And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
BSB: So they went and found the colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. They untied it,
Koinōnos: And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it.

MRK 11:5

KJV: And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
BSB: and some who were standing there asked, “Why are you untying the colt?”
Koinōnos: And some of those standing there were saying to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?

MRK 11:6

KJV: And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
BSB: The disciples answered as Jesus had instructed them, and the people gave them permission.
Koinōnos: And they said to them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.

MRK 11:7

KJV: And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
BSB: Then they led the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, and He sat on it.
Koinōnos: And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.

MRK 11:8

KJV: And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
BSB: Many in the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut from the fields.
Koinōnos: And many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches they had cut from the fields.

MRK 11:9

KJV: And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
BSB: The ones who went ahead and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Koinōnos: And those going ahead and those following were crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

MRK 11:10

KJV: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
BSB: “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
Koinōnos: Blessed is the coming reign of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!

MRK 11:11

KJV: And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
BSB: Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Koinōnos: And Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple complex. And after looking around at everything, as it was already evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

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

Translator's notes

MRK 11:2

village:The word translated 'village' here refers to an unwalled settlement, distinct from a fortified city, often implying a smaller, less significant community.
a colt:The term used here for 'colt' specifically refers to a young animal, whether male or female, that has not yet been broken or ridden.

MRK 11:3

Lord:The word translated 'Lord' signifies someone with ultimate authority and power, often used in a way that implies divine sovereignty or ownership.

MRK 11:8

then:The word translated 'then' actually refers to leafy branches or rushes, specifically those used to make a bed or strewn on the ground.