independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
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The entry into Jerusalem — the colt and the Hosanna 11:1–11
vv. 1–3 — the commission: two disciples, a colt, and a password
1
Καὶ ὅτε ἐγγίζουσιν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα εἰς Βηθφαγὴ καὶ Βηθανίαν πρὸς τὸ ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν,conditional — temporal ὅτε (typed cnd; no temporal key) — historic present ἐγγίζουσιν; Olivet, the mount of the Messiah's appearing (Zech 14:4)
ἀποστέλλει δύο τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦindependent — historic present — the commission; Jesus stage-manages his own entry
2
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς·independent — historic present — the speech-frame for the instructions
Ὑπάγετε εἰς τὴν κώμην τὴν κατέναντι ὑμῶν,content — the dispatch — Mark's ὑπάγετε
καὶ εὐθὺς εἰσπορευόμενοι εἰς αὐτὴνparticipial — preposed participle inside the speech — leans on εὑρήσετε; εὐθύς even in instruction
εὑρήσετε πῶλον δεδεμένονcontent — predictive future — the foreknowledge; πῶλος, the colt of Zech 9:9
ἐφ’ ὃν οὐδεὶς οὔπω ἀνθρώπων ἐκάθισεν·relative — the unridden animal — fit for sacred use (cf. Num 19:2; 1 Sam 6:7)
λύσατε αὐτὸν καὶ φέρετε.content — the double imperative — the requisition
3
καὶ ἐάν τις ὑμῖν εἴπῃ·conditional — protasis inside quoted speech — leans forward on εἴπατε; the objection foreseen
Τί ποιεῖτε τοῦτο;content — the anticipated challenge — quoted within the quotation
εἴπατε·content — the apodosis — the commanded reply
Ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει,content — the password — ὁ κύριος: Jesus (his only self-designation as 'Lord' in Mark), or ambiguously the colt's owner
καὶ εὐθὺς αὐτὸν ἀποστέλλει πάλιν ὧδε.content — futuristic present — the promise of return; a borrowing, not a seizure
vv. 4–7 — found as he said: the errand fulfilled
4
καὶ ἀπῆλθονindependent — the errand begins
καὶ εὗρον πῶλον δεδεμένον πρὸς θύραν ἔξω ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀμφόδου,independent — the finding echoes the instruction word for word — εὑρήσετε become εὗρον
καὶ λύουσιν αὐτόν.independent — historic present — λύσατε of v. 2 performed
5
καί τινες τῶν ἐκεῖ ἑστηκότων ἔλεγον αὐτοῖς·independent — the predicted objection arrives (v. 3) — imperfect ἔλεγον
Τί ποιεῖτε λύοντες τὸν πῶλον;content — nearly verbatim the Τί ποιεῖτε Jesus foretold
6
οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτοῖςindependent — the reply given
καθὼς εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς,comparative — καθὼς εἶπεν — word and event align, Mark's fulfillment refrain
καὶ ἀφῆκαν αὐτούς.independent — the password works
7
καὶ φέρουσιν τὸν πῶλον πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν,independent — historic present — φέρετε of v. 2 performed
καὶ ἐπιβάλλουσιν αὐτῷ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν,independent — historic present — the improvised saddle
καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐπ’ αὐτόν.independent — ingressive aorist — the king mounts (Zech 9:9), the one aorist amid the presents
vv. 8–10 — garments, branches, and the Hosanna (Ps 118:25–26)
8
καὶ πολλοὶ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν ἔστρωσαν εἰς τὴν ὁδόν,independent — royal homage — garments under the king's feet (2 Kgs 9:13)
ἄλλοι δὲ στιβάδας κόψαντες ἐκ τῶν ἀγρῶν.independent — elliptical — ἔστρωσαν supplied; στιβάδες, cut greenery, not palm fronds (that is John)
9
καὶ οἱ προάγοντες καὶ οἱ ἀκολουθοῦντες ἔκραζον·independent — iterative imperfect — the sustained chant; the procession before and behind
Ὡσαννά·content — Ps 118:25 — Hebrew 'save now!' worn smooth into acclamation; verbless
Εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου·content — Ps 118:26 — the pilgrim benediction; ὁ ἐρχόμενος heard messianically
10
Εὐλογημένη ἡ ἐρχομένη βασιλεία τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Δαυίδ·content — beyond the psalm — the crowd's Davidic gloss: the kingdom, not yet the king, named
Ὡσαννὰ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις.content — the chant closes ring-wise — heaven summoned to join the praise
v. 11 — the anticlimax: a look around, and out to Bethany
11
Καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα εἰς τὸ ἱερόν·independent — the entry's true goal — not a throne but the temple (Mal 3:1)
καὶ περιβλεψάμενος πάντα,participial — preposed circumstantial — Mark's surveying περιβλεψάμενος; the inspection before tomorrow's action; leans on ἐξῆλθεν
ὀψίας ἤδη οὔσης τῆς ὥρας,participial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning; the pretext for the withdrawal
ἐξῆλθεν εἰς Βηθανίαν μετὰ τῶν δώδεκα.independent — the anticlimax — the acclaimed king simply leaves; the cleansing deferred a day
The fig tree cursed 11:12–14
12
Καὶ τῇ ἐπαύριον ἐξελθόντων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ Βηθανίαςparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on ἐπείνασεν; the sandwich's first layer opens
ἐπείνασεν.independent — ingressive aorist — one bare verb; the hunger that stages the acted parable
13
καὶ ἰδὼν συκῆν ἀπὸ μακρόθεν ἔχουσαν φύλλαparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἦλθεν; the leaves advertise fruit the tree does not bear
ἦλθενindependent — the approach
εἰ ἄρα τι εὑρήσει ἐν αὐτῇ,content — indirect question after the verb of motion — εἰ ἄρα, hopeful expectation kept in the future εὑρήσει
καὶ ἐλθὼν ἐπ’ αὐτὴνparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on εὗρεν
οὐδὲν εὗρεν εἰ μὴ φύλλα·independent — the failed inspection — foliage only; the temple of v. 11 in emblem
ὁ γὰρ καιρὸς οὐκ ἦν σύκων.cause — the narrator's γάρ — the notorious crux: the aside makes the act parabolic judgment on fruitlessness, not horticultural petulance; καιρός echoes 1:15
14
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶςparticipial — pleonastic Semitism — 'answering' a tree: replying to its false promise
εἶπεν αὐτῇ·independent — the curse-frame
Μηκέτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἐκ σοῦ μηδεὶς καρπὸν φάγοι.content — aorist optative of imprecation — φάγοι, Mark's one volitive optative; the curse
καὶ ἤκουον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ.independent — imperfect — the note that plants vv. 20–21; witnesses secured
The temple cleansed 11:15–19
vv. 15–16 — the driving out
15
Καὶ ἔρχονται εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα.independent — historic present — the return, inside the fig-tree frame
καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸνparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἤρξατο; the inspected precinct re-entered
ἤρξατο ἐκβάλλειν τοὺς πωλοῦντας καὶ τοὺς ἀγοράζοντας ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ,independent — ἐκβάλλειν — the exorcism verb (1:34, 39) turned on the traders; buyers expelled with sellers
καὶ τὰς τραπέζας τῶν κολλυβιστῶν καὶ τὰς καθέδρας τῶν πωλούντων τὰς περιστερὰς κατέστρεψεν,independent — fronted objects, verb last — the doves were the poor's offering (Lev 5:7; cf. Luke 2:24)
16
καὶ οὐκ ἤφιενindependent — customary imperfect — the sustained blockade; only Mark records it
ἵνα τις διενέγκῃ σκεῦος διὰ τοῦ ἱεροῦ.content — ἵνα of content after ἤφιεν — the court barred as a commercial shortcut; the precinct resacralized
v. 17 — Isaiah against Jeremiah: the scriptural indictment
17
καὶ ἐδίδασκενindependent — imperfect — the action interpreted by sustained teaching
καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς·independent — coordinate imperfect — the speech-frame
Οὐ γέγραπται ὅτιcontent — οὐ expecting yes — Scripture as indictment, with recitative ὅτι
Ὁ οἶκός μου οἶκος προσευχῆς κληθήσεται πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν;content — Isa 56:7 — Mark alone keeps 'for all the nations'; the court of the Gentiles is where the market stood
ὑμεῖς δὲ πεποιήκατε αὐτὸν σπήλαιον λῃστῶν.content — Jer 7:11 — emphatic ὑμεῖς; perfect πεποιήκατε, the settled result; λῃσταί, bandits, not mere cheats
vv. 18–19 — the plot and the evening exit
18
καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς,independent — the authorities hear — the word ignites the passion plot
καὶ ἐζήτουνindependent — iterative imperfect — the plotting begins (cf. 3:6) and continues
πῶς αὐτὸν ἀπολέσωσιν·content — indirect deliberative question — ἀπολέσωσιν: his death now the stated aim
ἐφοβοῦντο γὰρ αὐτόν,cause — first γάρ — fear is why they scheme rather than seize
πᾶς γὰρ ὁ ὄχλος ἐξεπλήσσετο ἐπὶ τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ.cause — second γάρ — the crowd's awe explains the fear; ἐξεπλήσσετο echoes 1:22
19
Καὶ ὅταν ὀψὲ ἐγένετο,conditional — temporal ὅταν (typed cnd; no temporal key) — iterative: the nightly rhythm of the week
ἐξεπορεύοντο ἔξω τῆς πόλεως.independent — customary imperfect — the evening exit; the city holds him only by day
The withered tree — faith, prayer, and forgiveness 11:20–25
vv. 20–21 — the tree found withered to the roots
20
Καὶ παραπορευόμενοι πρωῒparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on εἶδον; the sandwich's outer layer closes
εἶδον τὴν συκῆν ἐξηραμμένην ἐκ ῥιζῶν.independent — perfect participle — ἐκ ῥιζῶν, total judicial destruction; the frame's verdict on the temple it brackets
21
καὶ ἀναμνησθεὶςparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on λέγει; the curse of v. 14 recalled
ὁ Πέτρος λέγει αὐτῷ·independent — historic present — Peter again the spokesman
Ῥαββί, ἴδε ἡ συκῆ ἣν κατηράσω ἐξήρανται.content — ἴδε the attention-getter; internal relative ἣν κατηράσω; perfect ἐξήρανται — done, and staying done
vv. 22–25 — the reply: faith, the mountain, prayer, forgiveness
22
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶςparticipial — pleonastic Semitism — leans on λέγει
ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγει αὐτοῖς·independent — historic present — the frame for the whole saying of vv. 22–25
Ἔχετε πίστιν θεοῦ.content — πίστιν θεοῦ — objective genitive, 'faith in God' (the reading taken); the subjective 'God's faithfulness' is the noted rival
23
ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτιcontent — the ἀμήν-formula with ὅτι — the solemn warrant
ὃς ἂν εἴπῃ τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ·relative — conditional relative (ὃς ἄν ≈ ἐάν τις) — leans forward, protasis-like, on ἔσται; 'this mountain': Olivet (Zech 14:4), or the Temple Mount itself
Ἄρθητι καὶ βλήθητι εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν,content — the command to the mountain — two passive imperatives, quoted within the saying
καὶ μὴ διακριθῇ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦrelative — the relative chain continues, still leaning on ἔσται — διακριθῇ, inner wavering
ἀλλὰ πιστεύῃ ὅτιrelative — the positive counterpart — present subjunctive, sustained trust
ὃ λαλεῖ γίνεται,content — the belief's content — futuristic present γίνεται: faith treats the word as already taking effect
ἔσται αὐτῷ.content — the apodosis — two words after the long suspension; dative of advantage
24
διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑμῖν,content — διὰ τοῦτο — the mountain-saying generalized to all prayer
πάντα ὅσα προσεύχεσθε καὶ αἰτεῖσθε,phrase modifier — casus pendens — the object suspended before its command, resumed in ἐλάβετε
πιστεύετε ὅτιcontent — the command — present imperative, ongoing faith
ἐλάβετε,content — the bold proleptic aorist — the answer treated as already granted
καὶ ἔσται ὑμῖν.content — the promise — ἔσται ὑμῖν echoing ἔσται αὐτῷ of v. 23
25
καὶ ὅταν στήκετε προσευχόμενοι,conditional — temporal ὅταν (typed cnd) — the standing posture of prayer; leans forward on ἀφίετε
ἀφίετεcontent — one-word command — present imperative, habitual forgiving; prayer's precondition
εἴ τι ἔχετε κατά τινος,conditional — trailing protasis — anchored backward on its imperative; the grievance named as indefinitely as possible
ἵνα καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἀφῇ ὑμῖν τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν.purpose — purpose — καί, 'also': the reciprocity of forgiveness; the Lord's-Prayer echo, Mark's only 'your Father'
v. 26 — absent: the Matt 6:15 converse, read by later witnesses, is omitted by the critical text (om. א B L W Δ Ψ)
By what authority? — the question turned 11:27–33
vv. 27–30 — the challenge and the counter-question
27
Καὶ ἔρχονται πάλιν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα.independent — historic present — the third temple day opens
καὶ ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ περιπατοῦντος αὐτοῦparticipial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on ἔρχονται; he walks the courts he cleared
ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροιindependent — historic present — the three Sanhedrin estates in official deputation
28
καὶ ἔλεγον αὐτῷ·independent — the challenge-frame — inceptive imperfect
Ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιεῖς;content — the first prong — the kind of authority; ταῦτα: the entry and above all the cleansing
ἢ τίς σοι ἔδωκεν τὴν ἐξουσίαν ταύτηνcontent — the second prong — its source; ἐξουσία, the keyword since 1:22, now contested
ἵνα ταῦτα ποιῇς;purpose — epexegetic ἵνα — the authority defined by its exercise
29
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς·independent — the counter-move — δέ marks the turn
Ἐπερωτήσω ὑμᾶς ἕνα λόγον,content — the rabbinic counter-question — ἕνα λόγον, one word against their two
καὶ ἀποκρίθητέ μοι,content — the condition stated as command
καὶ ἐρῶ ὑμῖνcontent — the offer — answer for answer
ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιῶ·content — indirect question — their own words handed back
30
τὸ βάπτισμα τὸ Ἰωάννου ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἦν ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων;content — the dilemma — John's mandate and Jesus' stand or fall together; 'heaven,' the reverent circumlocution for God
ἀποκρίθητέ μοι.content — the demand repeated — the questioners now the questioned
vv. 31–33 — the trapped deliberation and the refusal
31
καὶ διελογίζοντο πρὸς ἑαυτοὺςindependent — imperfect — the huddle; Mark lets the reader overhear
λέγοντες·participial — pleonastic speech-participle — the frame for the whole calculation
Ἐὰν εἴπωμεν·conditional — first protasis — leaning forward on ἐρεῖ
Ἐξ οὐρανοῦ,content — the first horn quoted — verbless
ἐρεῖ·content — the apodosis — the riposte they foresee
Διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ;content — the unanswerable rebuke — unbelief toward John convicts them toward Jesus
32
ἀλλὰ εἴπωμεν·content — deliberative subjunctive — the second horn ventured
Ἐξ ἀνθρώπων; —content — aposiopesis — the unspeakable answer breaks off unfinished
ἐφοβοῦντο τὸν ὄχλον,independent — the narrator breaks in — the imperfect fear that decides the impasse (cf. v. 18)
ἅπαντες γὰρ εἶχον τὸν Ἰωάννην ὄντως ὅτι προφήτης ἦν.cause — γάρ with prolepsis — τὸν Ἰωάννην drawn forward before its ὅτι clause; ὄντως, 'really'
33
καὶ ἀποκριθέντες τῷ Ἰησοῦparticipial — preposed participle — leans on λέγουσιν
λέγουσιν·independent — historic present — the evasion delivered
Οὐκ οἴδαμεν.content — the evasion — Israel's teachers plead ignorance and forfeit their standing
καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγει αὐτοῖς·independent — historic present — the verdict-frame
Οὐδὲ ἐγὼ λέγω ὑμῖνcontent — emphatic ἐγώ — the refusal is itself the answer: self-authenticating authority owes them nothing
ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιῶ.content — indirect question — the chapter's keyword ἐξουσία left standing, unanswered
Analysis. Mark 11 keeps the narrative shape of chapter 1 — coordinate purple main clauses flush-left, historic presents flagged as they land (ἐγγίζουσιν, ἀποστέλλει, λέγει, φέρουσιν, ἔρχονται, λέγουσιν), preposed circumstantial participles and genitive absolutes leaning forward, anchor-less, on the verb below them (ἐξελθόντων αὐτῶν, ἰδὼν συκῆν, εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν, περιπατοῦντος αὐτοῦ) — but its drama is architectural: the cursing of the fig tree (vv. 12–14) and its discovery withered (vv. 20–21) bracket the temple action (vv. 15–19), Mark's signature sandwich, so that tree and temple interpret each other: leaves without fruit, courts without prayer. Speech hangs blue (cnt) beneath its verbs of saying: the colt instructions of vv. 2–3 (the ἐάν protasis leaning forward inside the quoted speech, the password Ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει beneath εἴπατε — κύριος meaning Jesus, or ambiguously the animal's owner), echoed nearly clause for clause in the finding of vv. 4–6; the Hosanna acclamations under ἔκραζον (Ps 118:25–26, plus the crowd's own un-psalmic gloss, 'the coming kingdom of our father David'); the Isa 56:7 citation under γέγραπται answered by the Jer 7:11 σπήλαιον λῃστῶν; the curse μηκέτι…φάγοι in Mark's one optative; and the amen-saying of vv. 23–25, where the conditional-relative chain ὃς ἂν εἴπῃ…καὶ μὴ διακριθῇ…ἀλλὰ πιστεύῃ leans forward, protasis-like, on its brief apodosis ἔσται αὐτῷ. Cruxes taken or named honestly: ὁ γὰρ καιρὸς οὐκ ἦν σύκων is kept as the narrator's own ground (cau) — the aside that makes the act parabolic judgment on the fruitless temple rather than horticultural petulance; πίστιν θεοῦ (v. 22) is glossed as objective genitive, 'faith in God,' with the subjective 'God's faithfulness' noted as the rival; τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ may face Olivet (Zech 14:4) or the Temple Mount itself; and v. 26 is absent — a harmonization to Matt 6:15 read by later witnesses but dropped by the critical text (om. א B L W Δ Ψ), so the chapter runs vv. 1–25, 27–33. The authority dialogue (vv. 27–33) closes the chapter in stacked speech-frames: the double question, the rabbinic counter-question, the trapped deliberation overheard beneath διελογίζοντο — its second horn breaking off unfinished (aposiopesis) before the narrator's ἐφοβοῦντο τὸν ὄχλον — the evasion Οὐκ οἴδαμεν, and the refusal that is itself the verdict.