MRK 14:17-26

The Last Supper

17And when evening came he arrived with the Twelve. [14:18] And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, one of you will hand me over — one who is eating with me." [14:19] They began to be grieved and to say to him one by one, "Is it I?" [14:20] He said to them, "It is one of the Twelve — the one dipping with me into the bowl. [14:21] For the Son of Man goes just as it is written about him. But woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is handed over. It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." [14:22] And as they were eating, he took bread and, having spoken a blessing, he broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take. This is my body." [14:23] And he took a cup and, having given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. [14:24] And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. [14:25] Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." [14:26] And having sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, reclining at meals was a practice reserved for formal, communal gatherings, particularly among Jewish and Greco-Roman elites. The Passover meal, a central Jewish ritual commemorating the Exodus, was eaten in this posture, symbolizing freedom and fellowship. Jesus’ announcement that one of the Twelve would ‘hand over’ Him would have evoked deep distress, as betrayal within a close-knit group violated the honor-shame codes of loyalty and trust. The act of dipping bread in a common bowl further emphasized intimacy, making the betrayal more shocking. Jesus’ reference to the ‘Son of Man’ and the ‘covenant’ in His blood would have resonated with Jewish listeners familiar with prophetic and covenantal language, particularly Jeremiah’s new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). The blessing over the bread and wine mirrored Jewish liturgical practices, but Jesus’ reinterpretation of these elements as His body and blood would have been startling, redefining the Passover’s meaning around His impending sacrifice.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

MRK 14:17

KJV: And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
BSB: When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.
Koinōnos: And when evening came he arrived with the Twelve.

MRK 14:18

KJV: And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
BSB: And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”
Koinōnos: And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, one of you will hand me over — one who is eating with me.

MRK 14:19

KJV: And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
BSB: They began to be grieved and to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I?”
Koinōnos: They began to be grieved and to say to him one by one, "Is it I?

MRK 14:20

KJV: And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.
BSB: He answered, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping his hand into the bowl with Me.
Koinōnos: He said to them, "It is one of the Twelve — the one dipping with me into the bowl.

MRK 14:21

KJV: The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
BSB: The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Koinōnos: For the Son of Man goes just as it is written about him. But woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is handed over. It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.

MRK 14:22

KJV: And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
BSB: While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
Koinōnos: And as they were eating, he took bread and, having spoken a blessing, he broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take. This is my body.

MRK 14:23

KJV: And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
BSB: Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
Koinōnos: And he took a cup and, having given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

MRK 14:24

KJV: And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
BSB: He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Koinōnos: And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

MRK 14:25

KJV: Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
BSB: Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”
Koinōnos: Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

MRK 14:26

KJV: And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
BSB: And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Koinōnos: And having sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

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

Translator's notes

MRK 14:18

when were reclining:The word translated 'reclining' describes the common dining posture in the ancient world, where people would lean on their left elbow on low couches around a table, rather than sitting upright in chairs.
will betray:The word translated 'betray' carries the primary sense of 'handing over' or 'delivering' someone or something, which could be for good or ill, but in this context, it clearly implies a treacherous act of handing over to an enemy.

MRK 14:22

Jesus:The word translated 'blessed' here means to speak well of, to praise, or to invoke divine favor upon something. It implies an act of consecration or setting apart for a sacred purpose.

MRK 14:24

<the>:The word translated 'covenant' refers to a solemn agreement or pact, often between God and humanity, which establishes a relationship and outlines mutual obligations. It can also refer to a last will and testament.