Mark 10 · Verse 38

Mark 10:38

But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
Mark 10:38, King James Version

Mark 10:38 in other translations

BSB“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?”
WEBBut Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
ASVBut Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I drink? or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
YLTand Jesus said to them, ‘Ye have not known what ye ask; are ye able to drink of the cup that I drink of, and with the baptism that I am baptized with--to be baptized?'
DARBYAnd Jesus said to them, Ye do not know what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup which I drink, or be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with?
BBEBut Jesus said to them, You have no knowledge of what you are saying. Are you able to take of my cup? or to undergo the baptism which I am to undergo?
WebsterBut Jesus said to them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

What does Mark 10:38 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
38. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask--How gentle the reply to such a request, preferred at such a time, after the sad announcement just made! can ye drink of the cup that I drink of?--To "drink of a cup" is in Scripture a figure for getting one's fill either of good (Psa 16:5; 23:5; 116:13; Jr 16:7) or of ill (Psa 75:8; Joh 18:11; Re 14:10). Here it is the cup of suffering. and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?--(Compare for the language, Psa 42:7). The object of this question seems to have been to try how far those two men were capable of the dignity to which they aspired and this on the principle that he who is able to suffer most for His sake will be the nearest to Him in His kingdom.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 38.

(y) "Ye know not what you ask" Jas 4:3 (z) "baptism" Lk 12:50

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 10:32-45

Christ's going on with his undertaking for the salvation of mankind, was, is, and will be, the wonder of all his disciples. Worldly honour is a glittering thing, with which the eyes of Christ's own disciples have many times been dazzled. Our care must be, that we may have wisdom and grace to know how to suffer with him; and we may trust him to provide what the degrees of our glory shall be. Christ shows them that…

Read the full comment on Mark 10:32-45 →

Mark 10:38 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.

ὉHo<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
εἶπενeipensaidG2036
αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846
οὐκoukNotG3756
οἴδατεoidateyou know
τίtiwhatG5101
αἰτεῖσθε.aiteistheyou ask.G154
δύνασθεdunastheAre you ableG1410
πιεῖνpieinto drinkG4095
τὸtotheG3588
ποτήριονpotērioncupG4221
ὃhowhichG3739
ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473
πίνωpinōdrinkG4095
ἢēorG2228
τὸtotheG3588
βάπτισμαbaptismabaptismG908
ὃhowhichG3739
ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473
βαπτίζομαιbaptizomaiam baptizedG907
βαπτισθῆναι;baptisthēnaito be baptized [with]?G907

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

Cross references for Mark 10:38

  • Luke 12:50

    But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

  • Matthew 20:21-22

    And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

  • John 18:11

    Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

  • James 4:3

    Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

  • Psalms 75:8

    For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

  • Luke 22:42

    Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

  • Romans 8:26

    Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

  • Isaiah 51:22

    Thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:

  • 1 Kings 2:22

    And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

  • Mark 14:36

    And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

  • Matthew 26:39

    And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

  • Jeremiah 45:5

    And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ye know not.
1Ki 2:22; Jer 45:5; Mt 20:21,22; Ro 8:26; Jas 4:3
drink of the.
14:36; Ps 75:8; Isa 51:22; Jer 25:15; Mt 26:39; Lu 22:42; Joh 18:11
baptized with the.
Lu 12:50

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

Context

  • Mark 10:37

    They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

  • Mark 10:38

    But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

  • Mark 10:39

    And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

Read all of Mark 10

Mark 10:38 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Entonces Jesús les dijo: No sabéis lo que pedís. ¿Podéis beber del vaso que yo bebo, ó ser bautizados del bautismo de que yo soy bautizado?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Jésus leur dit: Vous ne savez ce que vous demandez. Pouvez-vous boire la coupe que moi je bois, ou être baptisés du baptême dont moi je serai baptisé?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Jesus aber sprach zu ihnen: Ihr wisset nicht, um was ihr bittet. Könnt ihr den Kelch trinken, den ich trinke, oder mit der Taufe getauft werden, mit der ich getauft werde?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Jesus autem ait eis: Nescitis quid petatis: potestis bibere calicem, quem ego bibo, aut baptismo, quo ego baptizor, baptizari?