And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

MARK 14:52KJV
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Mark 14:52 (KJV)

What does Mark 14:52 mean?

Mark 14:52 describes a young man escaping from the people who have seized him during Jesus’ arrest. He gets away by leaving his linen cloth behind, so he runs off naked. The moment shows how sudden and frightening the arrest scene has become.

The previous verse introduces the young man as someone following Jesus with a linen cloth wrapped around his body. Mark tells the scene as part of his account, rather than presenting it as words spoken by Jesus or the young man. The loose cloth becomes the means by which the young man escapes their grasp.

The Greek behind Mark 14:52

  • “cloth” — σινδών (sindōn): This word refers to a linen cloth or sheet. It suggests a piece of fabric wrapped around the body, rather than a fitted garment.
  • “left” — καταλείπω (kataleipō): This word can mean to leave something behind. Here it pictures the young man abandoning the cloth in the hands of those who had caught him.

Why Mark 14:52 matters

  • The young man’s escape is separate from the disciples’ flight. Mark says the disciples had already left Jesus and fled in verse 50, before introducing the young man in verse 51.
  • The young man’s identity is not established by Mark. He is introduced simply as “a certain young man” in verse 51, so the account does not identify him as one of the named disciples.

Where else these words appear

“cloth” Greek G4616 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
  • Mark 14:51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
  • Mark 15:46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

“naked” Greek G1131 · used in 15 verses

  • Matthew 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
  • Mark 14:51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
  • Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

“left” Greek G2641 · used in 25 verses

  • Matthew 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
  • Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
  • Acts 25:14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

“fled” Greek G5343 · used in 31 verses

  • Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
  • Mark 16:8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.