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Read the Bible

Legacy Standard Bible

Mark 2:9

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your mat and walk'?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Miracles;   Unbelief;   Scofield Reference Index - Forgiveness;   Parables;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Miracles of Christ, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Miracle;   Palsy;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jesus christ;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Forgiveness;   Jesus Christ;   Miracle;   Salvation;   Sin;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Palsy;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Diseases;   Forgiveness;   Mark, the Gospel of;   Pallet;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Peter, First Epistle of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Almsgiving ;   Authority of Christ;   Bed;   Brotherhood (2);   Character;   Consciousness;   Cures;   Impotence;   Logia;   Lord's Supper (Ii);   Miracles (2);   Paralysis;   Perplexity;   Questions and Answers;   Salvation;   Walk (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bed, Bedstead;   Miracles;   Palsy;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Bed;   Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Naphtali;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Forgiveness;   Mark, the Gospel According to;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for June 8;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Which is easier:
King James Version (1611)
Whether is it easier to say to the sicke of the palsie, Thy sinnes be forgiuen thee: or to say, Arise, and take vp thy bed and walke?
King James Version
Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
English Standard Version
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk'?
New American Standard Bible
"Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'?
New Century Version
Which is easier: to tell this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to tell him, ‘Stand up. Take your mat and walk'?
Amplified Bible
"Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your mat and walk'?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'?
Berean Standard Bible
"Which is easier: to say to a paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'?
Contemporary English Version
Is it easier for me to tell this crippled man that his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and pick up his mat and go on home?
Complete Jewish Bible
Which is easier to say to the paralyzed man? ‘Your sins are forgiven'? or ‘Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk'?
Darby Translation
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, [Thy] sins are forgiven [thee]; or to say, Arise, and take up thy couch and walk?
Easy-to-Read Version
The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. But how can I prove this to you? Maybe you are thinking it was easy for me to say to the crippled man, ‘Your sins are forgiven.' There's no proof it really happened. But what if I say to the man, ‘Stand up. Take your mat and walk'? Then you will be able to see if I really have this power or not." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man,
Geneva Bible (1587)
Whether is it easier to say to the sicke of the palsie, Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee? or to say, Arise, and take vp thy bed, and walke?
George Lamsa Translation
Which is the easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Rise, take up your quilt-bed and walk?
Good News Translation
Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'?
Lexham English Bible
Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say ‘Get up and pick up your stretcher and walk'?
Literal Translation
Which is easier? To say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven to you, or to say, Rise up and take your cot and walk?
American Standard Version
Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
Bible in Basic English
Which is the simpler, to say to a man who is ill, You have forgiveness for your sins, or, Get up, take up your bed, and go?
Hebrew Names Version
Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?'
International Standard Version
Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, pick up your cot, and walk'?Matthew 9:5;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Forgiven are thy sins, or to say, Arise, lift up thy couch, and walk ?
Murdock Translation
Which is the easier, to say to a paralytic, Thy sins are forgiven thee? or to say, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Whether is it easyer to say to the sicke of the paulsie, thy synnes be forgeuen thee: or to say, aryse, take vp thy bedde, and walke?
English Revised Version
Whether is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
World English Bible
Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven;' or to say, 'Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Which is easier? To say to the paralytic, Thy sins are forgiven thee?
Weymouth's New Testament
Which is easier?--to say to this paralytic, `Your sins are pardoned,' or to say, `Rise, take up your mat, and walk?'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
What is liyter to seie to the sijk man in palesie, Synnes ben foryouun to thee, or to seie, Ryse, take thi bed, and walke?
Update Bible Version
Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?
Webster's Bible Translation
Which is easier, to say to the sick with the palsy, [Thy] sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
New English Translation
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk'?
New King James Version
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, "Arise, take up your bed and walk'?
New Living Translation
Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk'?
New Life Bible
Which is easier to say to the sick man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Get up, take your bed, and start to walk?'
New Revised Standard
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk'?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Which is easier - to say unto the paralytic, Forgiven are thy sins, or to say, Rise, and take up thy couch, and be walking?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy: Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say: Arise, take up thy bed and walk?
Revised Standard Version
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk'?
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Whether is it easyer to saye to ye sicke of ye palsie thy synnes are forgeven the or to saye aryse take vp thy beed and walke?
Young's Literal Translation
which is easier, to say to the paralytic, The sins have been forgiven to thee? or to say, Rise, and take up thy couch, and walk?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Whether is easier to saye to the sicke of the palsye: Thy synnes are forgeue the, or to saye: aryse, take vp thy bed and walke.
Mace New Testament (1729)
is it not as easy to say to the paralytic, thy sins are forgiven: as to say, arise, and take up your bed and walk?
Simplified Cowboy Version
Is it easier to say that a man's sins are forgotten or is it easier to tell him to get up and walk?

Contextual Overview

1And when He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3And they *came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4And being unable to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof over where He was; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the mat where the paralytic was lying. 5And Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven." 6But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, *said to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your mat and walk'? 10But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—He *said to the paralytic,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

is it: Matthew 9:5, Luke 5:22-25

Thy sins: Mark 2:5

Reciprocal: Luke 5:23 - General John 5:11 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
And Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.
Genesis 2:9
And out of the ground Yahweh God caused to grow every tree that is desirable in appearance and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:17
but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat from it; for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."
Genesis 3:3
but from the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said, ‘You shall not eat from it, and you shall not touch it, lest you die.'"
Deuteronomy 6:25
And it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to do all this commandment before Yahweh our God, just as He commanded us.
Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to those who seize her,And all those who hold her fast are blessed.
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,And he who is wise wins souls.
Isaiah 44:25
Causing the omens of boasters to be annulled,And making fools out of diviners,Causing wise men to turn back,And making foolishness out of their knowledge,
Isaiah 47:10
You felt secure in your evil and said,‘No one sees me,'Your wisdom and your knowledge have turned you astray;So you have said in your heart,‘I am, and there is no one besides me.'
Ezekiel 31:16
I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall when I made it go down to Sheol with those who go down to the pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, all the well-watered ones, were comforted in the earth beneath.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy,.... This question was put to them by Christ, in order to prove his deity, and clear himself from the charge of blasphemy; for he that could cure the sick of the palsy, by a word speaking, had power to forgive him his sins: and therefore proposes it to them, which was easiest to say,

thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? Both of them were easy to say, but not with power and effect: they were both instances of divine power, and proofs of deity; and only he that could do the one, could do the other, and the one was as easy to be performed, by a divine person, as the other: and though it may be hard to say which is the greatest instance of power, or the strongest proof of deity, to pardon a sinner, or to cure a paralytic by a word speaking; perhaps forgiveness of sin may be the greatest evidence of divine power and goodness; however, it is certain, it is a greater blessing to be pardoned, than to be cured of a palsy; yet curing of a palsy, in the manner in which Christ did it, was a more sensible proof of his deity to the Scribes and Pharisees, than pronouncing a man's sins forgiven; because this was visible, and could not be denied; whereas the other, though pronounced, they might question whether it had its effect: but by the one, which they would see done before their eyes, there would be left no room for them to doubt of the reality of the other;

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this miracle explained in Matthew 9:2-8.

Palsy - See the notes at Matthew 4:24.

Borne of four - Carried upon a couch Matthew 9:2 by four men.

Mark 2:4

The press - The crowd, the multitude of people. Jesus was probably in the large open area or hall in the center of the house. See the notes at Matthew 9:2. The people pressed into the area, and blocked up the door so that they could not have access to him.

They uncovered the roof where he was - See the notes at Matthew 9:2.

When they had broken it up - When they had removed the awning or covering, so that they could let the man down. See the notes at Matthew 9:2.

Mark 2:5

Their faith - Their confidence or belief that he could heal them.

Son - Literally, “child.” The Hebrews used the words “son” and “child” with a great latitude of signification. They were applied to children, to grandchildren, to adopted children, to any descendants, to disciples, followers, young people, and to dependents. See the notes at Matthew 1:1. In this place it denotes affection or kindness. It was a word of consolation - an endearing appellation, applied by the Saviour to the sick man to show his “compassion,” to inspire confidence, and to assure him that he would heal him.



We never saw it on this fashion - Literally, “We never saw it so.” We never saw anything like this.


 
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