Mark 15:9
What does Mark 15:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Mark 15:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Mark 15:9 means
Pilate tests the crowd by offering to release “the King of the Jews”—meaning Jesus—ironically framing the decision. His question is loaded with irony and perhaps sarcasm: he invites them to grasp the implications of freeing Jesus. Pilate seems to understand that releasing Jesus might expose the leaders’ motives. This move also reveals Pilate’s attempt to shift responsibility back to the crowd and to show the absurdity of the charges against Jesus by phrasing the offer in regal terms.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
KJV
King James Version · 1611But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Pilate said in answer to them, Is it your desire that I let the King of the Jews go free?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and Pilate answered them, saying, `Will ye <FI>that<Fi> I shall release to you the king of the Jews?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Pilate answered them and said: Will you that I release to you the king of the Jews?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But Pilate answered them saying, Will ye that I release to you the King of the Jews?
Context
This follows the crowd’s request for a prisoner’s release. Pilate’s question reframes the choice and anticipates the leaders’ envy as motive. It dramatizes the tension between Pilate’s recognition of Jesus and the crowd’s pressure, preparing for the chief priests’ manipulation and the crowd’s response.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 3:13
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.
- John 18:39
But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
- John 19:14
Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King!
- John 19:4
And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him.
- Matthew 27:17
When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?
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