They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

MARK 16:18KJV
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Mark 16:18 (KJV)

What does Mark 16:18 mean?

Mark 16:18 describes how Jesus says that those who believe in him will be able to pick up serpents, drink something deadly without being harmed, and heal the sick by laying hands on them. These statements are meant to show the powerful signs that would accompany believers as evidence of their faith.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples after his resurrection, telling them what will happen as they go out to share his message. The verse lists dramatic signs—handling snakes, surviving poison, and healing the sick—to illustrate the kind of protection and authority believers would have as they spread the gospel. The language is vivid and points to God’s power at work among those who trust in him.

The Greek behind Mark 16:18

  • "serpents" (ὄφεις, ophis): This word means snakes. In the ancient world, snakes were seen as dangerous and sometimes symbolic of evil or chaos, so the mention of handling them safely highlights divine protection.
  • "deadly" (θανασίμον, thanasimon): This word means something that causes death, like poison. The verse uses it to emphasize that even the most dangerous threats would not harm the believers.
  • "hurt" (βλάψῃ, blapsē): This word means to injure or harm. Its use here underlines the promise that believers would remain unharmed by these dangers.
  • "recover" (καλῶς ἔξουσιν, kalōs exousin): This phrase means to become well or healthy again. The verse uses it to describe the result of believers laying hands on the sick.

Why Mark 16:18 matters

  • Mark 16:18 is often misunderstood as a command to seek out danger, but in context, it describes signs of God’s protection rather than instructions for risky behavior.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage where Jesus is sending his followers out into the world, promising that God’s power will be with them in visible ways.
  • This verse helps clarify that early Christian communities saw miraculous signs as confirmation of their message, but the focus remains on God’s ability to protect and heal, not on testing faith through dangerous acts.

Where else these words appear

“hurt” Greek G984 · used in 2 verses

  • Luke 4:35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.

“sick” Greek G732 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
  • Mark 6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
  • Mark 6:13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

“if” Greek G2579 · used in 13 verses

  • Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
  • Luke 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
  • Acts 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

“serpents” Greek G3789 · used in 14 verses

  • Matthew 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
  • Luke 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
  • Revelation 9:19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.