MRK 15:33-41

The Death of Jesus

33And when the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the land until the ninth hour. [15:34] And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" — which is translated, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" [15:35] And some of those standing by, hearing it, were saying, "Look, he is calling for Elijah." [15:36] And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Leave him alone. Let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down." [15:37] And Jesus, having cried out with a loud voice, breathed his last. [15:38] And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. [15:39] And when the centurion who was standing opposite him saw that he breathed his last in this way, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God." [15:40] And there were also women watching from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome, [15:41] who had followed him and served him when he was in Galilee — and many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

In the world it was spoken into

In the first-century Mediterranean world, darkness covering the land during daylight would have been understood as a cosmic sign, often interpreted as divine displeasure or intervention. The sixth to the ninth hour marked the middle of the day, a time when darkness was unnatural and alarming. Jesus’ cry, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani,” quoting Psalm 22:1, would have resonated deeply with Jewish listeners familiar with the psalm’s themes of suffering and vindication. The bystanders’ misunderstanding of His call to Elijah reflects a common Jewish expectation that Elijah would return to aid the righteous in distress. The offering of (sour wine) was a gesture of mockery or minimal relief, typical of Roman soldiers’ treatment of condemned prisoners. The loud cry and final breath underscore the physical and emotional intensity of Jesus’ death, a moment that would have been witnessed as both tragic and portentous by those present.

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How other translations render this

MRK 15:33

KJV: And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
BSB: From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
Koinōnos: And when the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the land until the ninth hour.

MRK 15:34

KJV: And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
BSB: At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Koinōnos: And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" — which is translated, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

MRK 15:35

KJV: And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
BSB: When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, “Behold, He is calling Elijah.”
Koinōnos: And some of those standing by, hearing it, were saying, "Look, he is calling for Elijah.

MRK 15:36

KJV: And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
BSB: And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”
Koinōnos: And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Leave him alone. Let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.

MRK 15:37

KJV: And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
BSB: But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.
Koinōnos: And Jesus, having cried out with a loud voice, breathed his last.

MRK 15:38

KJV: And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
BSB: And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Koinōnos: And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

MRK 15:39

KJV: And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
BSB: When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
Koinōnos: And when the centurion who was standing opposite him saw that he breathed his last in this way, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God.

MRK 15:40

KJV: There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
BSB: And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.
Koinōnos: And there were also women watching from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome,

MRK 15:41

KJV: (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
BSB: These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.
Koinōnos: who had followed him and served him when he was in Galilee — and many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

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

Translator's notes

MRK 15:33

the:The word translated 'earth' here refers to the land, as opposed to the sea or the heavens, rather than the entire planet.

MRK 15:34

Jesus:The term used here for 'voice' emphasizes the sound produced by a living being, distinguishing it from other kinds of noises.

MRK 15:36

with vinegar,:The word translated 'vinegar' refers to a common, inexpensive sour wine, often consumed by laborers and soldiers, rather than a culinary condiment.

MRK 15:39

having cried out:The phrase translated 'having cried out' literally means to 'breathe out' or 'expire,' often used in the sense of breathing one's last breath.