Mark 2:9
New International Version
Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat 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’?

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’?

Berean Standard Bible
“Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?

Berean Literal Bible
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Arise, and take up your mat, and walk'?

King James Bible
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?

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 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’?

NASB 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 ‘?

NASB 1977
“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your pallet and walk’?

Legacy Standard Bible
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up 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’?

Christian Standard Bible
Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, Get up, pick up your mat, 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?

Contemporary English Version
Is it easier for me to tell this man his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and pick up his mat and go on home?

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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, pick up your cot, 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'?

International Standard Version
"Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'?

Majority Standard Bible
“Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?

NET Bible
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk'?

New Heart English Bible
Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, '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?

Weymouth New Testament
Which is easier?--to say to this paralytic, 'Your sins are pardoned,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your mat, 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?’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Which is easier? To say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Rise, and take up your pallet, and walk?

Berean Literal Bible
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Arise, and take up your mat, and walk'?

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?

Smith's Literal Translation
Why is it easier to say to the paralytic, Sins have been remitted to thee? or to say, Arise, lift up thy couch, and walk?
Catholic Translations
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?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up, take up your stretcher, and walk?’

New American Bible
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?

New Revised Standard Version
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Which is the easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Rise, take up your quilt-bed and walk?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“What is easier to say to the paralytic: 'Your sins are forgiven you', or to say,'Arise, take your litter, and walk?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, take up your bed and walk?

Godbey New Testament
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take thy bed, and walk about?

Haweis New Testament
Which is the easier thing, to say to a paralytic, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and take up thy couch, and walk away?

Mace New Testament
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?

Weymouth New Testament
Which is easier?--to say to this paralytic, 'Your sins are pardoned,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your mat, and walk?'

Worrell New Testament
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?'

Worsley New Testament
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Rise, take up thy couch, and walk?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
8At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked. 9“Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, 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,…

Cross References
Matthew 9:5-6
Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ / But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

Luke 5:23-24
Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ / But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

John 5:8-9
Then Jesus told him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.” / Immediately the man was made well, and he picked up his mat and began to walk. Now this happened on the Sabbath day,

Matthew 12:13
Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored to full use, just like the other.

Luke 6:10
And after looking around at all of them, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and it was restored.

John 9:6-7
When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. / Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.

Acts 3:6-8
But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” / Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. / He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God.

Acts 9:34
“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,

Isaiah 35:5-6
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. / Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

Psalm 103:3
He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases,

Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Exodus 15:26
saying, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, then I will not bring on you any of the diseases I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

2 Kings 5:10-14
Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.” / But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy. / Are not the Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not have washed in them and been cleansed?” So he turned and went away in a rage. ...

2 Chronicles 7:14
and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.


Treasury of Scripture

Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?

is it.

Matthew 9:5
For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

Luke 5:22-25
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? …

Thy sins.

Mark 2:5
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Jump to Previous
Arise Bed Couch Easier Forgiven Forgiveness Ill Mat Pallet Palsy Paralytic Pardoned Pick Rise Sick Simpler Sins Walk Whether Your
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Arise Bed Couch Easier Forgiven Forgiveness Ill Mat Pallet Palsy Paralytic Pardoned Pick Rise Sick Simpler Sins Walk Whether Your
Mark 2
1. Jesus followed by multitudes,
3. heals a paralytic;
13. calls Matthew;
15. eats with tax collectors and sinners;
18. excuses his disciples for not fasting;
23. and for picking the heads of grain on the Sabbath day.














Which is easier
This phrase challenges the listener to consider the nature of divine authority and power. In the Greek, "easier" (εὐκοπώτερον) implies not just simplicity but also the perception of effortlessness. Jesus is addressing the scribes' skepticism, highlighting that both forgiving sins and healing require divine authority. Historically, the Jewish leaders believed only God could forgive sins, thus Jesus is subtly asserting His divine identity.

to say
The act of speaking in biblical terms often signifies authority and power. In Genesis, God speaks creation into existence. Here, Jesus uses speech to demonstrate His authority over both the physical and spiritual realms. The Greek word "λέγειν" (to say) emphasizes the performative power of Jesus' words, which are not mere sounds but actions that bring about real change.

to the paralytic
The term "paralytic" (παραλυτικός) refers to one who is physically incapacitated, symbolizing humanity's spiritual paralysis due to sin. In the historical context, physical ailments were often seen as a consequence of sin. By addressing the paralytic, Jesus is not only concerned with physical healing but also with the deeper spiritual restoration.

Your sins are forgiven
This declaration is central to the Gospel message. The Greek word for "forgiven" (ἀφίενται) means to send away or release, indicating the complete removal of sin's burden. In the Jewish tradition, forgiveness was sought through sacrifices and rituals, but Jesus offers it freely, signifying the new covenant. This statement challenges the religious leaders' understanding of sin and forgiveness, pointing to Jesus as the ultimate High Priest.

or to say
Reiterating the power of speech, Jesus contrasts the visible act of healing with the invisible act of forgiveness. Both require divine intervention, yet forgiveness is the greater miracle as it addresses eternal consequences. This rhetorical question forces the audience to recognize the authority inherent in Jesus' words.

Get up
The command "Get up" (ἔγειρε) is a call to action, symbolizing resurrection and new life. In the context of the paralytic, it signifies not just physical healing but a spiritual awakening. This mirrors the call to rise from spiritual death to life in Christ, a theme prevalent throughout the New Testament.

pick up your mat
The mat, or "κράβαττον," represents the man's former life of paralysis and dependence. By instructing him to pick it up, Jesus is signifying a complete transformation and the end of his old life. This act serves as a public testimony to the power of Christ, encouraging believers to leave behind their past burdens.

and walk
Walking (περιπάτει) in biblical terms often symbolizes living a life of faith and obedience. This command not only restores the man's physical ability but also invites him into a new way of living. Historically, walking was a sign of freedom and autonomy, and spiritually, it represents the believer's journey with God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“Which
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

easier:
εὐκοπώτερον (eukopōteron)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - Comparative
Strong's 2123: Easier. Comparative of a compound of eu and kopos; better for toil, i.e. More facile.

to say
εἰπεῖν (eipein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to a paralyzed man,
παραλυτικῷ (paralytikō)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3885: Afflicted with paralysis. From a derivative of paraluo; as if dissolved, i.e. 'paralytic'.

‘Your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

sins
ἁμαρτίαι (hamartiai)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 266: From hamartano; a sin.

are forgiven,’
Ἀφίενταί (Aphientai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 863: From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

to say,
εἰπεῖν (eipein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

‘Get up,
Ἔγειρε (Egeire)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1453: (a) I wake, arouse, (b) I raise up. Probably akin to the base of agora; to waken, i.e. Rouse.

pick up
ἆρον (aron)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 142: To raise, lift up, take away, remove.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

mat,
κράβαττόν (krabatton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2895: A bed, mattress, mat of a poor man. Probably of foreign origin; a mattress.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

walk’?
περιπάτει (peripatei)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4043: From peri and pateo; to tread all around, i.e. Walk at large; figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow.


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NT Gospels: Mark 2:9 Which is easier to tell the paralytic (Mar Mk Mr)
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