Mark 15:37
And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 7
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
3 of 7
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
φωνὴν
voice
G5456
φωνὴν
voice
Strong's:
G5456
Word #:
5 of 7
a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language
Cross References
John 19:30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.Matthew 27:50Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.Luke 23:46And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Historical Context
Crucifixion death typically took days, as victims slowly asphyxiated when too weak to push up on nailed feet to breathe. That Jesus died after six hours (9 AM–3 PM) surprised Pilate (Mark 15:44). The 'loud cry' was medically anomalous—suggesting Jesus retained physical strength and died not from gradual physiological collapse but from voluntary surrender. Ancient physicians and modern forensic pathologists note this cry as evidence of volitional death. The exact time (ninth hour, 3 PM) coincided with the temple's evening sacrifice.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus' volitional death ('gave up' His spirit) deepen your understanding of His active role in atonement?
- What does Christ's retained strength at death (crying loudly) reveal about His sovereign control over the crucifixion?
- In what ways should understanding Christ actively laid down His life for you (not merely passively suffered) affect your devotion?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost—The phrase aphēken to pneuma (ἀφῆκεν τὸ πνεῦμα, literally 'dismissed the spirit') is striking. The aorist tense of aphiēmi (ἀφίημι, 'release/send away') indicates volitional action. Jesus didn't succumb to death; He actively dismissed His spirit. The phōnē megalē (φωνή μεγάλη, loud voice) is significant—crucifixion victims died by asphyxiation, unable to breathe deeply or speak loudly. That Jesus shouted demonstrated retained strength.
This fulfills John 10:17-18: 'I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.' Jesus' death was voluntary sacrifice, not forced execution. The 'loud voice' showed He didn't die from weakness but from deliberate choice. The centurion recognized this (Mark 15:39), saying 'Truly this man was the Son of God'—deaths from crucifixion were slow, weak whimperings, not powerful shouts.