Translation commentary on Mark 1:12

Exegesis:

to pneuma ‘the (Holy) Spirit,’ ‘the Spirit (of God).’

ekballei ‘drives out’: the historic present is characteristic of Mark’s style. In Mark ekballō ‘drive out’ always denotes strong and, at times, violent action being used mainly of the expulsion of demons (1.34, 39; 3.15, 22, 23; 6.13; 7.26; 9.18, 28, 38; 16.9, 17); where people are involved force is always indicated (1.43; 5.40; 11.15; 12.8), while once it is used of the removal of an eye (9.47). In the present passage, the parallels in Matthew (anagesthai ‘be led’) and Luke (agesthai ‘be led’) may argue in favor of force for the Marcan ekballei ‘drives out.’ Cf. Jerome expellit and in English “drive” (King James Version, American Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, Moffatt, Berkeley); Zürcher Bibel treiben.

Force is certainly involved. There is no need, however, of inferring resistance or unwillingness on the part of Jesus.

tēn erēmon (cf. v. 4) ‘uninhabited places,’ traditionally the haunt of evil powers.

Translation:

In this context it is quite important that one make sure that a word used for ‘Spirit’ carries the proper connotation, for ‘driving one out into an uninhabited region’ is precisely what demons are usually credited with doing. Hence, in many translations ‘Spirit of God’ or ‘Holy Spirit’ should be used here (Balinese, Kpelle, South Bolivian Quechua, Shipibo-Conibo).

There is no doubt about the fact that the Greek word ekballō implies a strong action, but it is possible to translate this word in such a way as to give quite a wrong impression. In one language in West Africa the term used meant literally ‘to chase him away’ and in one Eskimo dialect the word was one generally used of ‘driving dogs.’ The force of this Greek verb applies primarily to the psychological compulsion, not any physical violence, and hence to use an expression which emphasizes the physical aspects may ultimately result in a distortion of the meaning. Accordingly, many translations simply use a causative form, ‘the Holy Spirit made him go’ or ‘caused him to go.’ In Balinese the expression is ‘by the might of the Holy Spirit, Jesus went,’ meaning that the Holy Spirit was the force which caused Jesus to go.

For a discussion of “wilderness” see 1.3.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 1:12

Section 1:12–13

Jesus refused Satan’s temptations

In this section Satan tried to persuade Jesus to sin, but Jesus refused to do what Satan wanted. It is good to translate this section before you decide on a section heading.

Here are some other options for this section heading:

The temptation of Jesus
-or-
Satan tempts Jesus

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 4:1–11 and Luke 4:1–13.

Paragraph 1:12–13

1:12

At once: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as At once is literally “And immediately.” It indicates that this event is the next thing that happened to Jesus. It also indicates that this event is an important new event in the story. See the note in 1:10a on the phrase “As soon as….”

The phrase At once here does not imply that the Holy Spirit hurried to send Jesus out into the wilderness. It also does not imply that the Holy Spirit sent Jesus into the wilderness at the exact time that God finished speaking in 1:11.

the Spirit: The phrase the Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit. It is recommended that you use the same term here as you used in 1:10c and 1:8b. See the notes there.

drove Jesus: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drove can be used in many ways. It is often used of expelling demons, but in other verses it means to send out or lead out of a place.

Here are some other ways that English versions translate it in this context:

drove him out (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
compelled (New Living Translation)
-or-
made him/Jesus go (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version)
-or-
sent/sent out (New Century Version, New International Version)

It is good to use an expression that implies some compulsion or forcefulness but not too much. Do not imply that the Holy Spirit treated Jesus cruelly or that Jesus resisted the Holy Spirit and had to be forced to go.

into the wilderness: The word wilderness refers to a wild, desolate area where few people lived. This word was also used in 1:3a. You should translate it the same way here.

Jesus and John were already in the wilderness. So this verse must mean that the Holy Spirit sent him to a different place in the wilderness.

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