Mark 11:23
What does Mark 11:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Mark 11:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Mark 11:23 means
Jesus continued His instruction on faith, explaining that if one has unwavering belief without doubt, even a seemingly impossible act like commanding a mountain to be cast into the sea could be accomplished. This hyperbole emphasizes the extraordinary power available through genuine faith that trusts God completely, illustrating that no obstacle is too great for a person connected to God's power. It underscores the profound impact of sincere belief.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Truly I say to you, Whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and be put into the sea; and has no doubt in his heart, but has faith that what he says will come about, he will have his desire.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for verily I say to you, that whoever may say to this mount, Be taken up, and be cast into the sea, and may not doubt in his heart, but may believe that the things that he saith do come to pass, it shall be to him whatever he may say.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Amen I say to you that whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed and be cast into the sea, and shall not stagger in his heart, but be believe that whatsoever he saith shall be done; it shall be done unto him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Verily I say to you, that whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou taken away and cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but believe that what he says takes place, whatever he shall say shall come to pass for him.
Context
Building on the foundational command to "Have faith in God" in verse 22, this verse offers a vivid, hyperbolic illustration of what such faith can achieve. This teaches the disciples about the extraordinary power available through believing prayer, directly leading into the more generalized promise regarding prayer in the next verse.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 17:20
And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
- James 1:5
But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
- Luke 17:6
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you.
- Romans 4:18
Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.
- Psalms 37:4
Delight thyself also in Jehovah; And he will give thee the desires of thy heart.
- Matthew 21:21
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Mark 11
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Mark 11.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Faith
Explore what the Bible says about faith, its origin, its purpose, and its profound impact on the life of a believer.
Topic
Bible Verses About Adultery
Adultery, a grave sin against God and marriage, represents a betrayal of trust and a violation of sacred vows.
Topic
Bible Verses About Baptism
Baptism is a significant act symbolizing new life in Christ, repentance, and identification with his death, burial, and resurrection.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You Feel Spiritually Numb
When God feels distant and you feel nothing — verses for the dry season.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When Your Marriage Is Falling Apart
When the silence at home is louder than the words — verses to pray for your marriage.
Verses for
Bible Verses for Burnout as a Christian
When ministry, work, or caregiving has emptied you — scripture for refilling.