Devine Scripture

Mark 2:21

What does Mark 2:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 2:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 2:21 means

Jesus used the parable of mending an old garment with a new, unshrunk piece of cloth. He explained that if one does so, the new patch will tear away from the old garment when it shrinks, creating a worse tear. This illustrates that Jesus' new teaching and covenant cannot be merged with the rigid, outworn forms of the old religious system without causing damage to both. It emphasizes the radical newness of His ministry.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

No man seweth a piece of undressed cloth on an old garment: else that which should fill it up taketh from it, the new from the old, and a worse rent is made.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

No man seweth a piece of undressed cloth on an old garment: else that which should fill it up taketh from it, the new from the old, and a worse rent is made.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

No man puts a bit of new cloth on an old coat: or the new, by pulling away from the old, makes a worse hole.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And no one a patch of undressed cloth doth sew on an old garment, and if not--the new filling it up doth take from the old and the rent doth become worse;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

No man seweth a piece of raw cloth to an old garment: otherwise the new piecing taketh away from the old, and there is made a greater rent.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

No one sews a patch of new cloth on an old garment: otherwise its new filling-up takes from the old [stuff], and there is a worse rent.

Context

This verse introduces one of two parables Jesus uses to further explain why His ministry doesn't fit into existing religious frameworks, following His discussion on fasting in verses 18-20. This parable of the new cloth on an old garment illustrates the incompatibility of the vibrant new life and teachings of Christ with the rigid, decaying structures of traditional Judaism. It sets up the parallel parable of new wine and old wineskins.

v.20But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.

v.21This passage

v.22And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the wine will burst the skins, and the wine perisheth, and the skins: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins.

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 9:16

    And no man putteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment; for that which should fill it up taketh from the garment, and a worse rent is made.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:13

    There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

  • Psalms 103:13

    Like as a father pitieth his children, So Jehovah pitieth them that fear him.

  • Isaiah 57:16

    For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made.

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