MRK 2:1-12

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

1And when he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. [2:2] And many were gathered so that there was no longer room, not even at the door. And he was speaking the word to them. [2:3] And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. [2:4] And when they could not bring him near because of the crowd, they removed the roof where he was, and when they had dug through, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. [2:5] And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Child, your sins are forgiven.' [2:6] Now some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, [2:7] 'Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming! Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?' [2:8] And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they were reasoning this way among themselves, said to them, 'Why do you reason these things in your hearts? [2:9] Which is easier — to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise and take up your pallet and walk? [2:10] But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins' — he said to the paralytic — [2:11] 'I say to you, rise, take up your pallet, and go to your home.' [2:12] And he rose and immediately took up his pallet and went out before all of them, so that they were all utterly beside themselves and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Capernaum, a small fishing village on the Sea of Galilee, houses were typically modest, with flat roofs made of beams, thatch, and packed earth. Removing part of the roof to lower a paralytic would have been a disruptive but feasible act, though it risked damaging the homeowner’s property. The paralytic’s use of a (a simple pallet) underscores his poverty and dependence, as only the destitute would rely on such a humble means of transport. Jesus’ address to him as (‘child’ or ‘dear one’) reflects a paternal tone, emphasizing both affection and authority. The scribes’ presence highlights the tension between Jesus and Jewish religious leaders, who viewed forgiveness of sins as God’s exclusive prerogative. The crowd’s astonishment reflects their awe at Jesus’ power, which challenged their understanding of divine authority. This event would have resonated deeply in a culture where illness was often seen as a consequence of sin, and healing as a sign of divine favor.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

MRK 2:1

KJV: And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
BSB: A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard that He was home,
Koinōnos: And when he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home.

MRK 2:2

KJV: And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
BSB: they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them.
Koinōnos: And many were gathered so that there was no longer room, not even at the door. And he was speaking the word to them.

MRK 2:3

KJV: And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
BSB: Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.
Koinōnos: And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

MRK 2:4

KJV: And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
BSB: Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
Koinōnos: And when they could not bring him near because of the crowd, they removed the roof where he was, and when they had dug through, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.

MRK 2:5

KJV: When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
BSB: When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Koinōnos: And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Child, your sins are forgiven.

MRK 2:6

KJV: But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
BSB: But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts,
Koinōnos: Now some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,

MRK 2:7

KJV: Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
BSB: “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Koinōnos: Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming! Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?

MRK 2:8

KJV: And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
BSB: At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked.
Koinōnos: And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they were reasoning this way among themselves, said to them, 'Why do you reason these things in your hearts?

MRK 2:9

KJV: Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
BSB: “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?
Koinōnos: Which is easier — to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise and take up your pallet and walk?

MRK 2:10

KJV: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
BSB: But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
Koinōnos: But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins' — he said to the paralytic —

MRK 2:11

KJV: I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
BSB: “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
Koinōnos: I say to you, rise, take up your pallet, and go to your home.

MRK 2:12

KJV: And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
BSB: And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Koinōnos: And he rose and immediately took up his pallet and went out before all of them, so that they were all utterly beside themselves and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!

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

Translator's notes

MRK 2:4

roof:The word translated 'roof' here refers to the flat, accessible rooftops common in ancient Near Eastern homes, which were often used for various activities and could be easily modified.
pallet:The term used here for 'pallet' describes a simple, portable mat or bed, often made of straw or reeds, indicating the man's humble circumstances.

MRK 2:5

paralytic;:The word translated 'paralytic' is actually a term of endearment, 'child,' used by Jesus to address the man, conveying compassion and intimacy.

MRK 2:12

to be amazed:The word translated 'to be amazed' carries a stronger sense of being utterly astonished or beside oneself with wonder, almost to the point of being out of one's mind.