Devine Scripture

Mark 14:2

What does Mark 14:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 14:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 14:2 means

The leaders decide to avoid arresting Jesus during the feast to prevent a riot. Their concern is not holiness but managing public opinion. They calculate timing to protect themselves, showing fear of the people’s attachment to Jesus. Ironically, their political caution cannot thwart the divine plan: Jesus will die during Passover, identifying Him as the true Passover Lamb. This verse reveals their hypocrisy—more worried about disturbances than justice—and underscores that human schemes are limited. God’s purpose advances even through opponents who try to control circumstances to their advantage.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

for they said, Not during the feast, lest haply there shall be a tumult of the people.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

for they said, Not during the feast, lest haply there shall be a tumult of the people.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But they said, Not while the feast is going on, for fear there may be trouble among the people.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and they said, `Not in the feast, lest there shall be a tumult of the people.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But they said: Not on the festival day, lest there should be a tumult among the people.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For they said, Not in the feast, lest perhaps there be a tumult of the people.

Context

After learning that the authorities want to kill Jesus, we now hear their tactical constraint: avoid a public uproar during the feast. This sets a tension with what will actually occur once Judas offers inside help. The note of timing primes the reader for God’s sovereign orchestration through ordinary and treacherous means. Immediately following, Mark places a story of costly love that interprets Jesus’ impending death and burial, contrasting with the calculating caution of the leaders and the greed that will soon surface in Judas.

v.1Now after two days wasthe feast ofthe passover and the unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him with subtlety, and kill him:

v.2This passage

v.3And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure nard very costly; and she brake the cruse, and poured it over his head.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 12:19

    The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing; lo, the world is gone after him.

  • Matthew 26:5

    But they said, Not during the feast, lest a tumult arise among the people.

  • Proverbs 21:30

    There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah.

  • Mark 11:18

    And the chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, for all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.

  • Luke 20:6

    But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

  • Lamentations 3:27

    It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

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