Mark 1 · Verse 2

Mark 1:2

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mark 1:2, King James Version

Mark 1:2 in other translations

BSB	As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”
WEB	As it is written in the prophets, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you:
ASV	Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way;
YLT	As it hath been written in the prophets, ‘Lo, I send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee,' --
DARBY	as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way.
BBE	Even as it is said in the book of Isaiah the prophet, See, I send my servant before your face, who will make ready your way;
Webster	As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee;

What does Mark 1:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Mark 1:2-3

2-3. As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee--(Mal 3:1; Is 40:3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verses 2,3 As it is written in the prophets. He mentions prophets, here, without specifying which. The places are found in Mal 3:1; and in Isa 40:3. Mt 3:3.

(b) "in the prophets" Mal 3:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 2 As it is written in the prophets - Rather, As it is written by Isaiah the prophet. I think this reading should be adopted, instead of that in the common text. It is the reading of the Codex Bezae, Vatican, and several other MSS. of great repute. It is found also in the Syriac, Persic, Coptic, Armenian, Gothic, Vulgate, and Itala versions, and in several of the fathers. As this prophecy is found both in Isaiah and Malachi, probably the reading was changed to τοις προφηταις, the prophets, that it might comprehend both. In one of Asseman's Syriac copies, both Isaiah and Malachi are mentioned. See all the authorities in Griesbach, 2d edit.; and see the parallel place in Matthew, Mat 3:3, where the Prophet Isaiah is mentioned, which seems fully to establish the authority of this reading.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 1:1-8

Isaiah and Malachi each spake concerning the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the ministry of John. From these prophets we may observe, that Christ, in his gospel, comes among us, bringing with him a treasure of grace, and a sceptre of government. Such is the corruption of the world, that there is great opposition to his progress. When God sent his Son into the world, he took care, and when he sends him…

Read the full comment on Mark 1:1-8 →

Mark 1:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καθὼςkathōsEven asG2531

γέγραπταιgegraptaiit has been writtenG1125

ἐνeninG1722

τῷtō<the>G3588

ἨσαΐᾳĒsaiaIsaiahG2268

τῷtōin theG3588

προφήτῃ·prophētēprophet:G4396

ἰδοὺidouBeholdG2400

ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473

ἀποστέλλωapostellōsendG649

τὸνtontheG3588

ἄγγελόνangelonmessengerG32

μουmouof MineG3165

πρὸprobeforeG4253

προσώπουprosōpoufaceG4383

σου,souof You,G4771

ὃςhoswhoG3739

κατασκευάσειkataskeuaseiwill prepareG2680

τὴνtēntheG3588

ὁδόνhodonwayG3598

σουsouof YouG4771

ἔμπροσθένemprosthenbeforeG1715

σου.souof you.G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 1:2

Malachi 3:1
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
Luke 1:76
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
Matthew 11:10
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Matthew 3:1-11
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. …
Luke 1:15-17
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Luke 7:27-28
This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Luke 1:70
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
Psalms 40:7
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
Matthew 26:31
Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
Matthew 26:24
The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Luke 3:2-16
Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; …
Luke 18:31
Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

written.
Ps 40:7; Mt 2:5; 26:24,31; Lu 1:70; 18:31
in.Several MSS. have, "by Isaiah the prophet." See the parallel texts.
Behold.
Mal 3:1; Mt 11:10; Lu 1:15-17,76; 7:27,28

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Mark 1:1
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
Mark 1:2
As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Mark 1:3
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Read all of Mark 1

Mark 1:2 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Como está escrito en Isaías el profeta: He aquí yo envío á mi mensajero delante de tu faz, que apareje tu camino delante de ti.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	comme il est écrit dans Ésaïe le prophète: « Voici, moi j’envoie mon messager devant ta face, lequel préparera ton chemin ».
German Elberfelder 1871	wie geschrieben steht in Jesaias, dem Propheten: "Siehe, ich sende meinen Boten vor deinem Angesicht her, der deinen Weg bereiten wird".
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Sicut scriptum est in Isaia propheta: Ecce ego mitto angelum meum ante faciem tuam, qui præparabit viam tuam ante te.