The Great Commission
Mark 16:18
Why translations differ here
Mark's longer ending: original, added, or both? Mark 16:9–20 is in the great majority of manuscripts and was known by the second century (Irenaeus quotes it).
In 9 translations
- BSB
- they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”
- KJV
- They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
- WEB
- they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
- ASV
- they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
- LSV
- they will take up serpents; and if they may drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the ailing, and they will be well.”
- YLT
- serpents they shall take up; and if any deadly thing they may drink, it shall not hurt them; on the ailing they shall lay hands, and they shall be well.'
- DBY
- they shall take up serpents; and if they should drink any deadly thing it shall not injure them; they shall lay hands upon the infirm, and they shall be well.
- DRC
- They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.
- GNV
- And shall take away serpents, and if they shall drinke any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their handes on the sicke, and they shall recouer.
Word by word Greek · tap a word
Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Greek has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.
Where the editions differ
Editions are published forms of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Meet the editions and sources →
- In STEPBible’s comparison, NA28, NA27, Tyndale House, Westcott–Hort, Tregelles include καὶ ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν (“and with their hands”); SBLGNT (2010), Textus Receptus, Byzantine text do not include this wording.
- In STEPBible’s comparison, NA28, NA27, Tyndale House, Westcott–Hort, Tregelles, Textus Receptus, Byzantine text include ὄφεις ἀροῦσιν κἂν θανάσιμόν τι πίωσιν οὐ μὴ αὐτοὺς (“serpents they will take up, and if deadly anything they shall drink, certainly not them”); SBLGNT (2010) do not include this wording.
- Textus Receptus read βλάψει (“it will hurt”); NA28, NA27, Tyndale House, Westcott–Hort, Tregelles, Byzantine text read βλάψῃ (“it may hurt”).
- In STEPBible’s comparison, NA28, NA27, Tyndale House, Westcott–Hort, Tregelles, Textus Receptus, Byzantine text include ἐπὶ ἀρρώστους χεῖρας ἐπιθήσουσιν καὶ καλῶς ἕξουσιν.¶ (“upon [the] sick hands they will lay and well they will be”); SBLGNT (2010) do not include this wording.
SBLGNT apparatus (1)
A comparison of published Greek editions. “Add” means after the SBLGNT wording; “omit” refers to that wording.
- SBLGNT: ὄφεις. Robinson–Pierpont read ὄφεις; Westcott and Hort (1881) (double brackets), Tregelles, Nestle–Aland 28th edition read καὶ ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ὄφεις.
Copyright 2010 by the Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software. CC BY 4.0.
Edition differences: STEP Bible, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0). Names and codes expanded; consecutive words grouped. Comparisons follow the editions used by the source; see version details.
Original-language editions
- SBLGNT
- ὄφεις ἀροῦσιν κἂν θανάσιμόν τι πίωσιν οὐ μὴ αὐτοὺς βλάψῃ, ἐπὶ ἀρρώστους χεῖρας ἐπιθήσουσιν καὶ καλῶς ἕξουσιν.
- RP2018
- ὄφεις ἀροῦσιν· κἂν θανάσιμόν τι πίωσιν, οὐ μὴ αὐτοὺς βλάψῃ· ἐπὶ ἀρρώστους χεῖρας ἐπιθήσουσιν, καὶ καλῶς ἕξουσιν.
- TR-Boyd
- ὄφεις ἀροῦσι· κἂν θανάσιμόν τι πίωσιν, οὐ μὴ αὐτοὺς βλάψει· ἐπὶ ἀρρώστους χεῖρας ἐπιθήσουσι, καὶ καλῶς ἕξουσιν.
- SCR1894
- οφεις αρουσιν καν θανασιμον τι πιωσιν ου μη αυτους βλαψει επι αρρωστους χειρας επιθησουσιν και καλως εξουσιν
Who and where
◆ Holy Week◆ Resurrection and Ascension
People, places and events the Theographic dataset links to this verse.
In the reference works topics that cite this verse
SerpentGifts, spiritualDeadlyArmenian Versions, of the BibleJoseph BarsabbasCharismDaemoniacRecoverDemoniacsPoison
From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).
Cross-references most cited first
- Luke 10:19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.
- James 5:14–15Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise…
- Acts 19:12so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
- Acts 28:3–6Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another,…
- Acts 4:30as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
- Acts 28:8–9The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man. After this had happened, the rest of the sick on…
- Mark 5:23and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”
- Acts 3:16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence.
- Psalms 91:13You will tread on the lion and cobra; you will trample the young lion and serpent.
- Acts 3:12And when Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
- Acts 9:34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,
- Romans 16:20The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
- Acts 3:6–8But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and…
- Acts 9:17–18So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again…
- Acts 9:40–42Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. Peter took her by the hand and helped her…
- Acts 5:15–16As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem,…
From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).