Mark 2:5

Authorized King James Version

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
ἰδὼν
saw
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
#2
δὲ
When
but, and, etc
#3
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#4
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
#5
τὴν
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#6
πίστιν
faith
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
#7
αὐτῶν
their
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
#8
λέγει
he said
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
#9
τῷ
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#10
παραλυτικῷ
unto the sick of the palsy
as if dissolved, i.e., "paralytic"
#11
Τέκνον
Son
a child (as produced)
#12
ἀφέωνται
be forgiven
to send forth, in various applications (as follow)
#13
σοι
thee
to thee
#14
αἱ
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#15
ἁμαρτίαι
sins
a sin (properly abstract)
#16
σου
thy
of thee, thy

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing faith central to epistemology and the means by which humans receive divine revelation and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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