And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

MARK 14:27KJV
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Mark 14:27 (KJV)

What does Mark 14:27 mean?

Mark 14:27 records Jesus telling His disciples that all of them will fall away or be shaken because of Him that very night, fulfilling a prophecy that says the shepherd will be struck and the sheep will scatter. Jesus is warning them that they will abandon Him when He is arrested, just as Scripture foretold.

Jesus is speaking to His closest followers during the Last Supper, just before His arrest. He refers to a prophecy from the Hebrew Scriptures (Zechariah 13:7), using the image of a shepherd (Himself) being struck and the sheep (the disciples) scattering. This is not just a prediction but also a way of preparing them for the fear and confusion they will soon experience.

The Greek behind Mark 14:27

  • "Offended" (σκανδαλισθήσεσθε, skandalisthēsesthe): This Greek word means to stumble or fall away, often used for losing faith or being shaken. Here, Jesus is saying the disciples will be unsettled or lose their nerve because of what happens to Him.
  • "Smite" (πατάξω, pataxō): This verb means to strike or hit forcefully. Jesus quotes Scripture to show that His suffering is not random but part of God's plan.
  • "Shepherd" (ποιμένα, poimena) and "sheep" (πρόβατα, probata): These words paint a vivid picture. The shepherd stands for Jesus, and the sheep for His followers. The scattering shows how the disciples will be confused and frightened without their leader.
  • "Scattered" (διασκορπισθήσονται, diaskorpisthēsontai): This word means to be dispersed or driven apart, emphasizing how the disciples will be separated and disoriented after Jesus is taken.

Why Mark 14:27 matters

  • Mark 14:27 clears up any idea that the disciples’ failure was unexpected or outside of God’s knowledge; Jesus knew it would happen and even tied it to ancient prophecy.
  • This verse highlights the humanity and vulnerability of the disciples, showing that even those closest to Jesus could falter under pressure.
  • Mark 14:27 connects Jesus’ suffering to the larger story of Scripture, showing that His arrest and the disciples’ scattering were part of God’s plan, not a defeat or accident.

Where else these words appear

“scattered” Greek G1287 · used in 9 verses

  • Matthew 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
  • Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
  • Luke 16:1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

“smite” Greek G3960 · used in 10 verses

  • Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
  • Luke 22:50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
  • Acts 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

“shepherd” Greek G4166 · used in 17 verses

  • Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
  • Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
  • John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

“offended” Greek G4624 · used in 28 verses

  • Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
  • Matthew 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
  • Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: