Mark 14:1 (KJV)

What does Mark 14:1 mean?

Mark 14:1 sets the scene just two days before the Jewish festival of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, explaining that the chief priests and scribes were plotting to arrest Jesus by cunning means and have him killed. This verse highlights both the timing and the secretive intentions of the religious leaders as the Passover approached.

Mark is narrating the events leading up to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion for his readers. The verse notes the religious leaders’ deliberate planning and their use of “craft” or trickery, rather than open confrontation, to capture Jesus. This sets a tense and urgent mood, showing that Jesus’ fate is being decided behind closed doors, right as Jerusalem prepares for one of its most important religious celebrations.

The Greek behind Mark 14:1

• The word for “craft” is δόλῳ (dolō), which means trickery, deceit, or cunning. This word emphasizes that the chief priests and scribes were not planning to arrest Jesus openly, but rather through secretive or underhanded methods.
• The word for “sought” is ἐζήτουν (ezētoun), which means to seek or look for. This shows that the leaders were actively searching for a way to carry out their plan, not just considering it passively.
• The term for “put him to death” is ἀποκτείνωσιν (apokteinōsin), meaning to kill or put to death. This makes clear that their goal was not just to silence Jesus, but to end his life entirely.

Why Mark 14:1 matters

• Mark 14:1 clarifies that the plot against Jesus was premeditated and intentional, not a sudden reaction or a result of public pressure.
• The verse connects Jesus’ impending death directly to the Passover, foreshadowing the significance of the timing in the larger story of his crucifixion.
• By mentioning both the chief priests and scribes, Mark shows that the opposition to Jesus came from the highest levels of religious authority, not just a fringe group.