Devine Scripture

Mark 14:23

What does Mark 14:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 14:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 14:23 means

Jesus takes a cup, gives thanks, and they all drink from it. Participation is communal; all share in what He provides. The act of giving thanks (eucharist) marks the cup as a gift from God, even as it signifies suffering. Their drinking signifies acceptance and fellowship with Him in the benefits of His death. The cup symbolizes a covenant bond sealed by blood. By sharing one cup, Jesus unites them around Himself, not around their performance. The emphasis that they all drank anticipates their later failures, yet shows that grace is extended to weak disciples who will need restoration.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he took a cup, and when he had given praise, he gave it to them: and they all had a drink from it.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And having taken the cup, having given thanks, he gave to them, and they drank of it--all;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And having taken the chalice, giving thanks, he gave it to them. And they all drank of it.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And having taken [the] cup, when he had given thanks, he gave [it] to them, and they all drank out of it.

Context

Following the bread, Jesus now turns to the cup, maintaining the Passover sequence while transforming its meaning. The focus on all drinking prepares for His interpretive word in the next verse about His blood of the covenant poured out for many. The cup will also be contrasted with Jesus’ later vow not to drink again until the kingdom. After instituting both elements, they will sing and move to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus predicts widespread stumbling and Peter’s denial before Gethsemane’s agony.

v.22And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body.

v.23This passage

v.24And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 26:27

    And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

  • Mark 14:22

    And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body.

  • Luke 22:17

    And he received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

  • 1 Corinthians 10:16

    The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?

  • Romans 14:6

    He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

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