And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

MARK 11:7KJV
Know the Bible

Mark 11:7 (KJV)

What does Mark 11:7 mean?

Mark 11:7 describes the moment Jesus begins riding toward Jerusalem on a young donkey. His followers place their garments on the animal before he sits on it. Their actions prepare Jesus for the public entry that follows.

After the colt is brought in verse 6, the garments provide a covering for Jesus to sit on. The KJV’s “him” refers first to the colt and then, at the end of the sentence, to the same animal.

The Greek behind Mark 11:7

  • “colt” — πῶλος (pōlos): The word means a young animal, often a young donkey or horse. The surrounding account points to a donkey, and Mark 11:2 says no one had yet ridden this colt.
  • “garments” — ἱμάτια (himatia): The word refers to articles of clothing, especially outer garments. The people use clothing they have with them as a covering on the colt.

Why Mark 11:7 matters

  • The ride follows Jesus’ own instructions. Earlier, Jesus sent two disciples to fetch the colt (Mark 11:1–2), and verse 7 shows the colt being brought to him for that purpose.
  • The garments on the colt are distinct from the clothing spread on the road. Verse 7 places garments on the animal; verse 8 describes many people spreading garments in Jesus’ path.
  • Jesus’ choice of a young donkey connects the entry with a passage in Zechariah 9:9, which pictures Jerusalem’s king coming humbly and riding on a donkey’s colt.

Where else these words appear

“colt” Greek G4454 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 21:2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
  • Mark 11:2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
  • Luke 19:30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

“cast” Greek G1911 · used in 18 verses

  • Matthew 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
  • Luke 5:36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
  • John 7:44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

“sat” Greek G2523 · used in 46 verses

  • Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
  • Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
  • Acts 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

“garments” Greek G2440 · used in 59 verses

  • Matthew 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
  • Mark 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
  • John 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.