Mark 10 — Clausal Layout (English)

independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended

Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)

Marriage, divorce, and what God has joined 10:1–12

vv. 1–9 — the test question answered from creation

And rising from there,participial — preposed circumstantial — breaking camp southward; leans on ἔρχεται

he comes into the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan,independent — historic present — the journey to Judea via Perea opens

and crowds gather to him again,independent — historic present — the converging throngs

and, as was his custom,comparative — parenthetic comparison — the pluperfect of settled habit; leans on ἐδίδασκεν

he again taught them.independent — customary imperfect — sustained teaching resumed

And Pharisees, coming up,participial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἐπηρώτων

kept asking himindependent — durative imperfect — the interrogation set in motion

whether it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife,content — indirect question — the Deut 24 test case

testing him.participial — purpose participle following its verb — the hostile intent named (cf. 6:18, John's fate on this very question)

And he answered and said to them:independent — pleonastic ἀποκριθείς — the Semitic reply-frame

'What did Moses command you?'content — counter-question — ἐνετείλατο, command; they will answer with a permission

And they said:independent — the reply-frame

'Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.'content — Deut 24:1 — ἐπέτρεψεν, a concession cited as if a warrant

But Jesus said to them:independent — the answer-frame for vv. 5–9

'For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.content — the concession relocated — πρὸς τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν, written for hard hearts (Deut 10:16)

But from the beginning of creation he made them male and female.content — Gen 1:27 — the Creator's design set over against the concession

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mothercontent — Gen 2:24 — marriage as leaving; gnomic future

and shall be joined to his wife,content — Gen 2:24 continued — the cleaving clause, absent from ℵ B, printed here

and the two shall become one flesh.content — Gen 2:24 — εἰς with the Semitic 'become'

So they are no longer two but one flesh.purpose — ὥστε + indicative — Jesus' own inference from the citation (typed pur; no result key)

What therefore God has yoked together, let no man separate.'content — the climactic aphorism — συνέζευξεν, God the yoker; third-person prohibition

vv. 10–12 — in the house: the both-directions ruling

And in the house the disciples again asked him about this.independent — Mark's private house-instruction (cf. 7:17; 9:28)

And he says to them:independent — historic present — the ruling

'Whoever divorces his wife and marries anotherrelative — conditional-relative protasis inside the ruling — leans on μοιχᾶται

commits adultery against her,content — ἐπ’ αὐτήν — against his first wife: the divorce itself wrongs the woman

and if she, divorcing her husband, marries another,conditional — the mirrored protasis — the wife as initiator, a Greco-Roman possibility; only Mark's form is this evenhanded

she commits adultery.'content — the both-directions apodosis — one standard for husband and wife

Letting the children come 10:13–16

And they kept bringing children to himindependent — iterative imperfect — the stream of little ones

that he might touch them;purpose — the touch of blessing sought

but the disciples kept rebuking them.independent — durative imperfect — ἐπιτιμάω, the rebuke-verb misaimed

But Jesus, seeing it,participial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἠγανάκτησεν

was indignantindependent — ἠγανάκτησεν — Jesus' indignation, recorded only by Mark

and said to them:independent — the speech-frame

'Let the children come to me;content — the permit-command

do not hinder them,content — the negative counterpart — stop hindering

for to such belongs the kingdom of God.cause — the γάρ-ground — τῶν τοιούτων fronted: of such, the kingdom

Truly I say to you,content — the amen-formula — the solemn seal

whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a childrelative — conditional-relative — δέξηται: the kingdom received, not achieved; leans on εἰσέλθῃ

will never enter it.'content — οὐ μή + subjunctive — the strongest denial

And taking them in his arms,participial — ἐναγκαλισάμενος — only Mark (cf. 9:36); leans on κατευλόγει

he blessed them fervently,independent — κατ-ευλόγει — intensive compound, iterative imperfect: child after child

laying his hands on them.participial — means participle following its verb — the gesture of blessing

The rich man, the camel and the needle, and the hundredfold 10:17–31

vv. 17–22 — the rich man: one thing lacking

And as he was setting out on the road,participial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning; the ὁδός motif of the journey chapter

a man, running up and kneeling before him,participial — double preposed participle — eagerness and reverence before the verb strikes

began to ask him:independent — inceptive imperfect

'Good Teacher, what shall I docontent — deliberative subjunctive — eternal life assumed to be a doing

that I may inherit eternal life?'purpose — inheritance language — the life of the age to come

And Jesus said to him:independent — the reply-frame

'Why do you call me good?content — the famous crux — the epithet pressed to its source, not disowned; the christological edge left open

No one is good except one — God.content — verbless maxim — εἷς ὁ θεός, the Shema's One

You know the commandments:content — the second table recited

Do not murder,content — Exod 20:13 — the sixth

Do not commit adultery,content — the seventh — fresh from vv. 11–12

Do not steal,content — the eighth

Do not bear false witness,content — the ninth

Do not defraud,content — not in the Decalogue — perhaps the tenth commandment aimed at wealth wrongly held

Honor your father and mother.'content — Exod 20:12 — the fifth, closing the list

And he said to him:independent — the reply-frame

'Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.'content — the claim — 'good' quietly dropped; sincere, and about to be searched

And Jesus, looking intently at him,participial — preposed circumstantial — the searching gaze; leans on ἠγάπησεν

loved himindependent — only here is Jesus said to love an individual — a love that demands

and said to him:independent — the speech-frame

'One thing you lack:content — the single decisive lack

go,content — the command-chain opens

sell whatever you havecontent — the divestment — ὅσα ἔχεις fronted

and give to the poor,content — the transfer — to the beggar-poor

and you will have treasure in heaven;content — the promise inside the commands — wealth relocated, not annihilated

and come, follow me.'content — the goal — discipleship; some witnesses add ἄρας τὸν σταυρόν, 'taking up the cross'

But he, his face falling at the saying,participial — στυγνάσας — the darkened countenance; leans on ἀπῆλθεν

went away grieving,independent — the only man in Mark to leave Jesus' call sorrowing

for he had many possessions.cause — narrator's γάρ — periphrastic imperfect; the possessions possessed him

vv. 23–27 — the camel and the needle

And Jesus, looking around,participial — περιβλεψάμενος — the Markan sweeping gaze; leans on λέγει

says to his disciples:independent — historic present

'How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!'content — exclamatory πῶς — wealth as obstacle, against the age's assumption of blessing

And the disciples were amazed at his words.independent — θαμβέω — the saying lands as scandal

But Jesus, answering again,participial — pleonastic participle — leans on λέγει

says to them:independent — historic present — the saying restated, harder

'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!content — now absolute — the majority's softening τοὺς πεποιθότας ἐπὶ χρήμασιν ('those who trust in riches') is absent from ℵ B; the shorter text followed

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needlecontent — the hyperbole — largest beast, smallest opening; impossibility, not mere difficulty

than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'comparative — the ἤ-member — elliptical second term of the comparison

And they were exceedingly astonished,independent — περισσῶς — astonishment past measure

saying to one another:participial — the speech-participle

'Then who can be saved?'content — consecutive καί — if not the blessed rich, who? the right question at last

Jesus, looking at them,participial — the fixed gaze again (v. 21); leans on λέγει

says:independent — historic present

'With men it is impossible,content — verbless verdict — the impossibility conceded, not softened

but not with God;content — the turn — παρά, in God's sphere of reckoning

for all things are possible with God.'cause — the ground (Gen 18:14; Job 42:2) — salvation is grace, not achievement; verbless

vv. 28–31 — the hundredfold, with persecutions

Peter began to say to him:independent — Mark's 'began to' — the spokesman ventures

'Behold, we have left everythingcontent — emphatic ἡμεῖς — we, unlike the rich man

and have followed you.'content — perfects — the abiding break and the abiding following

Jesus said:independent — the answer-frame

'Truly I say to you,content — the amen-formula

there is no onecontent — the sweeping negative awaiting its exception

who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,relative — the catalogue of leavings — 'and for the gospel,' Mark's addition

who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time —conditional — exceptive ἐὰν μή completing οὐδείς (typed cnd, anchored backward) — no leaver goes unrepaid

houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions —phrase modifier — apposition — the list returns without 'fathers' (God alone is Father now), and with the sober μετὰ διωγμῶν

and in the age to come eternal life.phrase modifier — the second gift — the rich man's own question (v. 17) answered for the leavers

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.'content — the chiastic reversal — a caution even for those who left all

The third passion prediction 10:32–34

And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem,independent — periphrastic imperfect — ἡ ὁδός now runs straight to the cross

and Jesus was going on ahead of them,independent — second periphrastic — προάγων, resolutely out front

and they were amazed,independent — numinous awe at his resolve

while those who followed were afraid.independent — amazement in front, fear behind — the road's double mood

And taking the Twelve aside again,participial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἤρξατο; the third such taking-aside

he began to tell them the things about to happen to him:independent — the most detailed of the three predictions follows

'Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,content — recitative ὅτι — the 'we' includes the fearful followers

and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,content — παραδοθήσεται — divine passive; the passion's keyword

and they will condemn him to deathcontent — the Sanhedrin's sentence (14:64)

and hand him over to the Gentiles,content — the new detail — the Roman trial foretold (15:1)

and they will mock himcontent — fulfilled at 15:20

and spit on himcontent — fulfilled at 14:65; 15:19

and scourge himcontent — fulfilled at 15:15

and kill him;content — fulfilled at 15:37

and after three days he will rise.'content — the catena of futures ends in resurrection (16:6)

The request of James and John; the Son of Man came to serve 10:35–45

vv. 35–40 — the cup, the baptism, and the seats

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come up to him,independent — historic present — hard on the heels of the passion prediction

saying to him:participial — the speech-participle

'Teacher, we wantcontent — the wish stated first

that whatever we ask of you, you do for us.'content — ἵνα-content of θέλομεν — a blank check requested

And he said to them:independent — the counter-question frame

'What do you want me to do for you?'content — the question Bartimaeus will hear verbatim (v. 51)

And they said to him:independent — the request-frame

'Grant uscontent — the imperative to the master

that we may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.'content — the seats of honor in the coming glory — thrones without the cross

But Jesus said to them:independent — the reply-frame

'You do not knowcontent — the diagnosis

what you are asking.content — indirect question — the middle αἰτεῖσθε, asking for themselves

Are you able to drink the cup that I drink,content — the cup — the OT cup of suffering (Isa 51:17; cf. 14:36)

or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?'content — the second member — δύνασθε carried over; baptism as engulfing death

And they said to him:independent — the reply-frame

'We are able.'content — the glib confidence — accepted, in a sober sense

And Jesus said to them:independent — the answer resumed

'The cup that I drink you will drink,content — granted — James martyred (Acts 12:2), John's long endurance

and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized,content — the shared immersion in suffering

but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant,content — the articular-infinitive subject — the disclaimer; εὐωνύμων, the euphemistic 'left'

but is for those for whom it has been prepared.'relative — headless relative — ἡτοίμασται, divine passive: the Father's appointing

vv. 41–45 — greatness as service; the ransom

And the ten, hearing it,participial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἤρξαντο

began to be indignant at James and John.independent — the same ambition, wounded — the whole Twelve need what follows

And Jesus, calling them to him,participial — preposed circumstantial — leans on λέγει

says to them:independent — historic present — the community's charter

'You knowcontent — the appeal to what they see everywhere

that those who are reputed to rule the Gentiles lord it over them,content — κατακυριεύουσιν — the κατά of domination; δοκοῦντες, 'reputed' rulers

and their great ones wield authority over them.content — the parallel — κατεξουσιάζουσιν, power pressed downward

But it is not so among you.content — the sharp break — present ἐστιν printed where ἔσται/ἔστω alternate: the community's standing fact

Rather, whoever would become great among yourelative — conditional-relative protasis — leans on ἔσται

shall be your servant,content — imperatival future — διάκονος, the table-waiter

and whoever would be first among yourelative — the intensified protasis — leans on ἔσται

shall be slave of all.content — δοῦλος πάντων — beneath even the servant: total self-giving

for even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,cause — καὶ γάρ — the christological ground of the whole ethic

and to give his life as a ransom for many.'purpose — λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν — ἀντί read as substitution, 'in place of' (Isa 53:10–12 behind it); the chapter's, and the Gospel's, heart

Blind Bartimaeus 10:46–52

vv. 46–48 — the cry from the roadside

And they come to Jericho.independent — historic present — the last stop before Jerusalem

And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a considerable crowd,participial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on ἐκάθητο

Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting beside the road.independent — a named suppliant — rare in Mark; παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, beside the way, against ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ (v. 52)

And hearingparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἤρξατο

that it was Jesus the Nazarene,content — the report that reaches the blind man

he began to cry out and to say:independent — the crying begins

'Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!'content — the first open 'Son of David' in Mark — the blind man sees the Messiah

And many kept rebuking him,independent — the crowd's muzzle — ἐπιτιμάω again (10:13)

that he should be silent;purpose — the content of the rebuke

but he kept crying out all the more:independent — iterative imperfect — opposition only raises the volume

'Son of David, have mercy on me!'content — the cry unchanged, louder

vv. 49–52 — called, healed, following

And Jesus, stopping,participial — στάς — the procession to Jerusalem halts for a beggar; leans on εἶπεν

said:independent — the command-frame

'Call him.'content — the summons relayed through the crowd

And they call the blind man,independent — historic present — the relay: φωνήσατε, φωνοῦσιν, φωνεῖ

saying to him:participial — the speech-participle

'Take heart; get up,content — the crowd's rebuke turned encouragement

he is calling you.'content — the third φωνέω — the call lands

And he, throwing off his cloak and springing up,participial — two preposed aorist participles — the beggar's one possession abandoned

came to Jesus.independent — the call answered — contrast the rich man's ἀπῆλθεν (v. 22)

And Jesus answered him and said:independent — pleonastic ἀποκριθείς

'What do you want me to do for you?'content — verbatim the question to James and John (v. 36) — faith answers where ambition asked

And the blind man said to him:independent — the reply-frame

'Rabbouni, that I may see again.'content — ραββουνι — the heightened Aramaic 'my master' (cf. John 20:16); elliptical ἵνα of request

And Jesus said to him:independent — the dismissal-frame

'Go;content — the dismissal that becomes a following

your faith has saved you.'content — σέσωκεν — perfect: healed and saved at once (cf. 5:34); no touch, only the word

And immediately he saw again,independent — the chapter's one εὐθύς — saved for the healing

and he followed him on the way.independent — inceptive imperfect — from παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν to ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ: the model disciple, following toward the cross

Analysis. Mark 10 is the journey chapter — Galilee behind, Jerusalem ahead (Ἦσαν δὲ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ἀναβαίνοντες, v. 32) — and the layout keeps Mark's flush-left paratactic column while the blue speech-blocks grow long: this is a chapter of exchanges, and nearly every purple main verb is a verb of asking or answering (ἐπηρώτων, εἶπεν, λέγει — the historic presents flagged as they land), with the preposed circumstantial participles and genitive absolutes still leaning forward, anchorless, on the verbs below them. In the divorce dispute the Pharisees' test hangs as an indirect question under ἐπηρώτων, the counter-question and the Deut 24 reply trade single lines, and Jesus' answer climbs from the σκληροκαρδία-concession through the Gen 1:27 and Gen 2:24 citations to the ὃ οὖν ὁ θεὸς συνέζευξεν aphorism; in the house the ὅς-ἄν and ἐάν clauses lean forward, protasis-style, on their shared μοιχᾶται — the both-directions ruling of vv. 11–12 (the wife too can divorce and be the adulterer, a Greco-Roman possibility unique to Mark's form of the saying) is kept evenhanded and unsoftened. The rich man's scene owns two cruxes named in the tags: Τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; (v. 18) is laid out as deflection-to-the-source, not denial — the christological edge left open; and at v. 24 the layout follows the shorter text of ℵ B ('how hard it is to enter,' absolutely) where the majority adds τοὺς πεποιθότας ἐπὶ χρήμασιν, 'those who trust in riches'; v. 7's cleaving-clause (absent ℵ B) and v. 21's ἄρας τὸν σταυρόν addition are likewise flagged. Peter's ἀφήκαμεν draws the chapter's deepest chain — οὐδείς ἐστιν … ὃς ἀφῆκεν … ἐὰν μὴ λάβῃ, the exceptive protasis hanging anchored beneath the catalogue, with its hundredfold apposition and the sober μετὰ διωγμῶν. The third passion prediction runs as a flat cnt catena of futures — handed over, condemn, hand over, mock, spit, scourge, kill, rise — each verb a draft the passion narrative will honor. The Zebedee scene sets the cup-and-baptism questions against the τὸ δὲ καθίσαι disclaimer and grounds the servant-sayings in the ransom word: λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν is tagged with ἀντί read as genuinely substitutionary ('in place of,' Isa 53:10–12 in the background) — the side the layout takes, while the broader 'on behalf of' reading is acknowledged. Bartimaeus closes the chapter as the model disciple: his cries hang under κράζειν and ἔκραζεν, the summons relays down three lines (φωνήσατε — φωνοῦσιν — φωνεῖ σε), Jesus' τί σοι θέλεις ποιήσω; repeats verbatim the question asked of James and John, and the frame is the chapter's quiet inclusio — the beggar παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν (v. 46) ends ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ (v. 52), following, on the verse where the chapter's single εὐθύς fires.