I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

MARK 2:11KJV
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Mark 2:11 (KJV)

What does Mark 2:11 mean?

Mark 2:11 records Jesus speaking to a man who could not walk. Jesus tells him to get up, carry the mat he had been lying on, and go home. The command calls for a visible change in the man’s condition, not merely a change in how others regard him.

After speaking about his authority to forgive sins in verse 10, Jesus addresses the man directly. The KJV word “bed” describes the bedding on which the man had been carried to Jesus, rather than necessarily a bed like one found in a bedroom.

The Greek behind Mark 2:11

  • “Arise” — ἐγείρω (egeirō): The word carries the sense of getting up or being raised. Here Jesus uses it to address a man who had been lying down because he could not walk.
  • “bed” — κράβαττος (krabattos): The word refers to a mat or portable bed. It helps explain how the man could carry what had previously carried him.

Why Mark 2:11 matters

  • The command gives the people watching something they can see. Jesus has linked his words about forgiveness with the man’s ability to get up and walk (Mark 2:9–10).
  • The next verse shows the man responding to Jesus’ command. He gets up, takes his bed, and goes out in front of everyone, leaving the crowd amazed (Mark 2:12).

Where else these words appear

“bed” Greek G2895 · used in 12 verses

  • Mark 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
  • Mark 6:55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
  • John 5:11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

“way” Greek G5217 · used in 77 verses

  • Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
  • Mark 7:29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
  • John 11:8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

“up” Greek G142 · used in 98 verses

  • Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
  • Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
  • John 5:10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

“house” Greek G3624 · used in 106 verses

  • Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
  • Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
  • Acts 11:13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;