Mark 14 · Verse 2

Mark 14:2

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.
Mark 14:2, King James Version

Mark 14:2 in other translations

BSB“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
WEBFor they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot among the people.”
ASVfor they said, Not during the feast, lest haply there shall be a tumult of the people.
YLTand they said, ‘Not in the feast, lest there shall be a tumult of the people.'
DARBYFor they said, Not in the feast, lest perhaps there be a tumult of the people.
BBEBut they said, Not while the feast is going on, for fear there may be trouble among the people.
WebsterBut they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there should be an uproar of the people.

What does Mark 14:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. But they said, Not on the feast day--rather, not during the feast; not until the seven days of unleavened bread should be over. lest there be an uproar of the people--In consequence of the vast influx of strangers, embracing all the male population of the land who had reached a certain age, there were within the walls of Jerusalem at this festival some two million people; and in their excited state, the danger of tumult and bloodshed among "the people," who for the most part took Jesus for a prophet, was extreme. See Josephus [Antiquities, 20.5.3]. What plan, if any, these ecclesiastics fixed upon for seizing our Lord, does not appear. But the proposal of Judas being at once and eagerly gone into, it is probable they were till then at some loss for a plan sufficiently quiet and yet effectual. So, just at the feast time shall it be done; the unexpected offer of Judas relieving them of their fears. Thus, as Bengel remarks, did the divine counsel take effect. The Supper and the Anointing at Bethany Six Days before the Passover (Mr 14:3-9). The time of this part of the narrative is four days before what has just been related. Had it been part of the regular train of events which our Evangelist designed to record, he would probably have inserted it in its proper place, before the conspiracy of the Jewish authorities. But having come to the treason of Judas, he seems to have gone back upon this scene as what probably gave immediate occasion to the awful deed.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 14:1-11

Did Christ pour out his soul unto death for us, and shall we think any thing too precious for him? Do we give him the precious ointment of our best affections? Let us love him with all the heart, though it is common for zeal and affection to be misunderstood and blamed; and remember that charity to the poor will not excuse any from particular acts of piety to the Lord Jesus. Christ commended this woman's pious…

Read the full comment on Mark 14:1-11 →

Mark 14:2 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.

ἔλεγονelegonThey were sayingG3004
γάρ·garfor;G1063
μὴmēNot [take Him]G3361
ἐνenduringG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
ἑορτῇhe'ortēafeastG1859
μήποτεmēpoteotherwiseG3361
ἔσταιestaithere will beG1510
θόρυβοςthorubosan uproarG2351
τοῦtouof theG3588
λαοῦ.¶laoupeople.G2992

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

Cross references for Mark 14:2

  • John 7:40

    Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

  • Mark 11:18

    And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

  • Proverbs 21:30

    There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

  • Mark 11:32

    But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

  • Luke 20:6

    But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

  • John 12:19

    The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

  • Lamentations 3:27

    It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

  • Matthew 26:5

    But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

  • Proverbs 19:21

    There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Not.
Pr 19:21; 21:30; La 3:27; Mt 26:5
lest.
11:18,32; Lu 20:6; Joh 7:40; 12:19

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

Context

  • Mark 14:1

    After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.

  • Mark 14:2

    But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

  • Mark 14:3

    And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

Read all of Mark 14

Mark 14:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y decían: No en el día de la fiesta, porque no se haga alboroto del pueblo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car ils disaient: Non pas pendant la fête, de peur qu’il n’y ait du tumulte parmi le peuple.
German
Elberfelder 1871		denn sie sagten: Nicht an dem Feste, damit nicht etwa ein Aufruhr des Volkes entstehe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dicebant autem: Non in die festo, ne forte tumultus fieret in populo.