Mark 1:43
And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 6
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐμβριμησάμενος
he straitly charged
G1690
ἐμβριμησάμενος
he straitly charged
Strong's:
G1690
Word #:
2 of 6
to have indignation on, i.e., (transitively) to blame, (intransitively) to sigh with chagrin, (specially) to sternly enjoin
αὐτόν
him
G846
αὐτόν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
3 of 6
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Cross References
Matthew 9:30And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.Mark 5:43And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.Mark 3:12And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.Mark 7:36And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;Luke 8:56And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
Historical Context
Popular messianic expectations in first-century Judaism centered on military deliverance from Rome. A leper's healing would fuel dangerous political speculation about a miracle-working deliverer. Christ's ministry required careful management to avoid premature confrontation with authorities before His appointed time.
Questions for Reflection
- Why would Christ sometimes want His miracles kept quiet, and what does this teach us about God's timing?
- How does Christ's stern warning challenge our assumption that more publicity always serves God's purposes?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Christ's 'straitly charged' (Greek: embrimaomai, sternly warned with emotion) seems paradoxical—why command silence after such a public miracle? This reflects the 'Messianic secret' theme in Mark: Christ controlled the timing and nature of His revelation to prevent premature political messianic movements. His stern warning shows the seriousness of following His instructions precisely, even when they seem counterintuitive.