# Mark 2.7

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [Mark](/codex/john-mark/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 5. And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, <span class="rl-speech">Son, thy sins are forgiven.</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,</span>
>
> **7. <span class="rl-speech">Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, even God?</span>**
>
> 8. <span class="rl-speech">And straightway Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, saith unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?</span> 9. <span class="rl-speech">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?</span> (Mark 2:5-9, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 5. <span class="rl-speech">Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,</span>
>
> **7. <span class="rl-speech">“Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”</span>**
>
> 8. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts? 9. Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’ (Mark 2:5-9, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 5. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, <span class="rl-speech">Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,</span>
>
> **7. <span class="rl-speech">Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?</span>**
>
> 8. And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">Why reason ye these things in your hearts?</span> 9. <span class="rl-speech">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?</span> (Mark 2:5-9, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 5. <span class="rl-speech">and Jesus having seen their faith, saith to the paralytic, 'Child, thy sins have been forgiven thee.'</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">And there were certain of the scribes there sitting, and reasoning in their hearts,</span>
>
> **7. <span class="rl-speech">'Why doth this one thus speak evil words? who is able to forgive sins except one, God?'</span>**
>
> 8. And immediately Jesus, having known in his spirit that they thus reason in themselves, said to them, 'Why these things reason ye in your hearts? 9. 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? (Mark 2:5-9, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** Mark / John Mark (traditionally, on Peter's preaching) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** Gentile-Roman Christian audience (heavy explanation of Jewish customs)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); Rome (likely composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 55-70

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G0266 - hamartia](/codex/g0266-hamartia/), *hamartia* (Strong's G266). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.21](/codex/matthew-1-21/), [Matthew 9.4-8](/codex/matthew-9-4-8/), [Matthew 12.31-32](/codex/matthew-12-31-32/).
- [G1520 - heis](/codex/g1520-heis/), *heis* (Strong's G1520). Also appears in: [Matthew 5.17-18](/codex/matthew-5-17-18/), [Matthew 6.24](/codex/matthew-6-24/), [Matthew 6.25-34](/codex/matthew-6-25-34/).
- [G2316 - theos](/codex/g2316-theos/), *theos* (Strong's G2316). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.23](/codex/matthew-1-23/), [Matthew 3.16](/codex/matthew-3-16/), [Matthew 5.9](/codex/matthew-5-9/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Anointing Implies Subordination Objection Defeater](/codex/anointing-implies-subordination-objection-defeater/), via [Mark 2.5-10](/codex/mark-2-5-10/)
- [Cumulative Case for the Deity of Christ](/codex/cumulative-case-for-the-deity-of-christ/), via [Mark 2.5-12](/codex/mark-2-5-12/)
- [Jesus Never Claimed to Be God Objection Defeater](/codex/jesus-never-claimed-to-be-god-objection-defeater/), via [Mark 2.5-12](/codex/mark-2-5-12/)
- [Jesus Said Only God Is Good Objection Defeater](/codex/jesus-said-only-god-is-good-objection-defeater/), via [Mark 2.5-7](/codex/mark-2-5-7/)
- [Liar Lunatic or Lord](/codex/liar-lunatic-or-lord/)
- [Paul Invented Christianity Objection Defeater](/codex/paul-invented-christianity-objection-defeater/), via [Mark 2.5-7](/codex/mark-2-5-7/)
- [Religious Pluralism Objection Defeater](/codex/religious-pluralism-objection-defeater/), via [Mark 2.5-12](/codex/mark-2-5-12/)
- [Unitarian Oneness Binitarian Objection Defeater](/codex/unitarian-oneness-binitarian-objection-defeater/), via [Mark 2.5-10](/codex/mark-2-5-10/)

**Concepts:**

- [Angel of the LORD](/codex/angel-of-the-lord/)
- [Christ is God](/codex/christ-is-god/), via [Mark 2.5-10](/codex/mark-2-5-10/), [Mark 2.5-7](/codex/mark-2-5-7/)
- [Christianity](/codex/christianity/), via [Mark 2.5-7](/codex/mark-2-5-7/)
- [Christology](/codex/christology/), via [Mark 2.5-10](/codex/mark-2-5-10/)
- [Christs Deity](/codex/christs-deity/), via [Mark 2.5-12](/codex/mark-2-5-12/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Mark 2.5-11](/codex/mark-2-5-11/)
- [Lesson 2.4, Christology in One Lesson](/codex/lesson-2-4-christology-in-one-lesson/), via [Mark 2.5-10](/codex/mark-2-5-10/)
- [The Muslim Defense](/codex/the-muslim-defense/), via [Mark 2.5-7](/codex/mark-2-5-7/)

**People:**

- [Bart Ehrman](/codex/bart-ehrman/), via [Mark 2.5-12](/codex/mark-2-5-12/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G0863 - aphiemi](/codex/g0863-aphiemi/)
- [G2758 - kenoo](/codex/g2758-kenoo/), via [Mark 2.5-11](/codex/mark-2-5-11/)
- [G3004 - lego](/codex/g3004-lego/)

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