Mark 2 · Verse 4

Mark 2:4

And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

Mark 2:4, King James Version

Mark 2:4 in other translations

BSB	Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
WEB	When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.
ASV	And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay.
YLT	and not being able to come near to him because of the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was, and, having broken it up, they let down the couch on which the paralytic was lying,
DARBY	and, not being able to get near to him on account of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was, and having dug it up they let down the couch on which the paralytic lay.
BBE	And when they were unable to get near him because of all the people, they got the roof uncovered where he was: and when it was broken up, they let down the bed on which the man was.
Webster	And when they could not come nigh to him by reason of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed on which the sick with the palsy lay.

What does Mark 2:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press--or, as in Luke (Lu 5:19), "when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude," they "went upon the housetop"--the flat or terrace-roof, universal in Eastern houses. they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed--or portable couch wherein the sick of the palsy lay--Luke (Lu 5:19) says, they "let him down through the tilling with his couch into the midst before Jesus." Their whole object was to bring the patient into the presence of Jesus; and this not being possible in the ordinary way, because of the multitude that surrounded Him, they took the very unusual method here described of accomplishing their object, and succeeded. Several explanations have been given of the way in which this was done; but unless we knew the precise plan of the house, and the part of it from which Jesus taught--which may have been a quadrangle or open court, within the buildings of which Peter's house was one, or a gallery covered by a veranda--it is impossible to determine precisely how the thing was done. One thing, however, is clear, that we have both the accounts from an eye-witness.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. The press. The crowd, the multitude of people. Jesus was probably in the large open area, or hall, in the centre of the house. Mt 9:2. The people pressed into that area, and blocked up the door, so that they could not have access to him.

They uncovered the roof where he was. Mt 9:2. Houses were flat. In cities they joined each other, and the roofs constituted an agreeable place for walking. It is not improbable that they ascended a neighbouring house, and came over the hall, where Jesus was. They removed the curtain or awning, drawn over the area, where Jesus was, so that they might let the man down before him.

When they had broken it up. When they had removed the awning, and a part of the banisters, so that they could let the man down.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 They uncovered the roof - The houses in the east are generally made flat-roofed, that the inhabitants may have the benefit of taking the air on them; they are also furnished with battlements round about, Deu 22:8; Jdg 16:27; and 2Sam 11:2, to prevent persons from falling off; and have a trap door by which they descend into the house. This door, it appears, was too narrow to let down the sick man and his couch; so they uncovered the roof, removed a part of the tiles; and having broken it up, taken away the laths or timber, to which the tiles had been attached, they then had room to let down the afflicted man. See Luk 5:19, and on Mat 10:27 (note); Mat 24:17 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 2:1-12

It was this man's misery that he needed to be so carried, and shows the suffering state of human life; it was kind of those who so carried him, and teaches the compassion that should be in men, toward their fellow-creatures in distress. True faith and strong faith may work in various ways; but it shall be accepted and approved by Jesus Christ. Sin is the cause of all our pains and sicknesses. The way to remove the…

Read the full comment on Mark 2:1-12 →

Mark 2:4 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532

μὴmēnotG3361

δυνάμενοιdunamenoibeing ableG1410

προσενέγκαιprosenegkaito bring toG4374

αὐτῷautōto HimG846

διὰdiaon account ofG1223

τὸνtontheG3588

ὄχλονochloncrowdG3793

ἀπεστέγασανapestegasanthey removedG648

τὴνtēntheG3588

στέγηνstegēnroofG4721

ὅπουhopouwhereG3699

ἦνēnHe wasG1510

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐξορύξαντεςexoruxanteshaving broken up [it]G1846

χαλῶσινchalōsinthey let downG5465

τὸνtontheG3588

κράβαττονkrabattonpalletG2895

ὅπουhopouwhereG3699

ὁhotheG3588

παραλυτικὸςparalutikosparalyticG3885

κατέκειτο.katekeitowas lying.G2621

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

Cross references for Mark 2:4

Luke 5:19
And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Deuteronomy 22:8
When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

they uncovered.
De 22:8; Lu 5:19

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

Context

Mark 2:3
And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Mark 2:4
And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
Mark 2:5
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Read all of Mark 2

Mark 2:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y como no podían llegar á él á causa del gentío, descubrieron el techo de donde estaba, y haciendo abertura, bajaron el lecho en que yacía el paralítico.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et ne pouvant s’approcher de lui, à cause de la foule, ils découvrirent le toit du lieu où il était; et l’ayant percé, ils descendirent le petit lit sur lequel le paralytique était couché.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und da sie wegen der Volksmenge nicht nahe zu ihm kommen konnten, deckten sie das Dach ab, wo er war; und als sie es aufgebrochen hatten, ließen sie das Ruhebett hinab, auf welchem der Gelähmte lag.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et cum non possent offerre eum illi præ turba, nudaverunt tectum ubi erat: et patefacientes submiserunt grabatum in quo paralyticus jacebat.