Keraia
Mark 9

Mark 9:50

Good Salt · Mark 9:49–50
Read Mark 9

Translations

Modern
Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Traditional
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Literal
The salt is good, but if the salt should become unsalty, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Latin
Bonum est sal: quod si sal insulsum fuerit, in quo illud condietis? Habete in vobis sal, et pacem habete inter vos.

Original

Greek
English
Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Notes

Mark 9:49–50

  • salted with fire: The fire of testing has a purifying effect, like salt (see also 1 Peter 1:7; 4:12; Revelation 3:18). Salt also refers to Christian character. Genuine Christian character will have a genuinely purifying influence.

  • but if the salt loses its saltiness: Salt from the Dead Sea often contained gypsum, a soft mineral. Because of this, it could look like good salt but still be useless. It did not taste salty, and people could not easily throw it away because it was not good for soil or other uses.

Mark 9:42–50

If anyone causes … sin: The repeated warning about causing sin connects these verses (9:42–43, 45, 47). Jesus did not mean that people should take these words literally. Cutting off a body part would not stop sin (see Matthew 15:10–20). Instead, Jesus warns that no sin is worth the punishment of hell. It is better to repent (turn away from sin), even when repentance is very painful, than to face hell.

Mark 9:33–50

The disciples did not understand the prediction Jesus made about his suffering. Because of this, they could not see what it meant for their own lives.

Mark 9:30–10:31

This section is the second cycle (see study note on 8:27–9:1) containing:

Theme notes and profiles

Following Jesus

Events

Parallels

Matthew 5:13–16 Luke 14:34–35

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Demon-Possession Mark, Gospel of

Topics

Backsliders: General Scriptures Concerning Commandments: Precepts of Jesus--Explicitly Stated, or Implied in Didactic Discourse Ecclesiasticism: Jewish, Rebuked by Jesus Holiness: General Scriptures Concerning Hypocrisy: General Scriptures Concerning Jesus, the Christ: Reproves the Ambition of his Disciples (At Capernaum) Meekness: General Scriptures Concerning Peace: Saints should Have, with Each Other Peace: Social Salt of Grace in the Heart Salt of the Saving Efficacy of the Ekklesia of Christ Salt: (Without Savour) Graceless Professors Salt: Characterised As Good and Useful Salt: Lost Its Savour when Exposed to the Air