ChristsWords.com -- The original Greek and its symbolic meaning

Mar 11:17 Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but you have made it a den of thieves.
Alternative: Was it not written, "My house will be called all people's meeting place of prayer? Bit you make it a pirate's cave.

This verse is identical in form to the version in Matthew covered here.

Mar 11:14 No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.
Alternative: I hope that nobody will eat fruit from you any more in this life.

This verse is interesting because it uses a uncommon vocabulary and different a verb form than we normally see in Christ's words.

Mar 11:3 And if any man say unto you, Why do you this? say you that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
Alternative: And if someone says to you: What are you doing there?  Say that the Master has need of him and immediately he will send him here.

Mar 11:2 Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as you be entered into it, you shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring [him].
Alternative: Go over the the village opposite from you and immediate as you enter it, you will discover a fettered foal upon which no man has ridden. Having released him and bring him.

Mar 10:52 Go your way; your faith has made you whole.
Alternative: Go away, your faith has rescued you.

Like the last verse, this verse echoes an earlier one, Mar 5:34.  Taken in the larger context of the chapter, being of service to others, it demonstrates the deeper form of healing offered by Christ.  In both cases, the person was p

Mar 10:51 What will you that I should do unto you?
Alternative: What do you desire that I might do to you?

This phrase relates directly to the theme of this chapter, serving others.

This is the second time that Christ has asked a similar question in this chapter. The first was Mar 10:36, in answering James and John.  The main vocabulary is the same.

Mar 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Alternative: Since even the Son of man set out not to be served but to serve and to give his breath in compensation for the sake of many.

Mar 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Alternative: And whoever of you desires to become the best will be everyone's slave.

Mar 10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Alternative: But it will not be that way among you, but whoever wants to become important among you shall be your servant.

This verse starts by contrasting the idea of "becoming" against the idea of "seeming" in the previous verse.  While a nation's leaders seem better than others, real leader are

Mar 10:42 You know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
Alternative: You see that those imagined to be the nation's foremost lord over them and their strong have power over them.

This verse has a wealth of wordplay and subtle meaning in the Greek that is lost in English translation.