And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

MARK 3:5KJV
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Mark 3:5 (KJV)

What does Mark 3:5 mean?

Mark 3:5 describes Jesus looking at the people around him with anger and sadness because of how stubborn and unfeeling they were, then telling a man with a withered hand to stretch it out; when the man obeyed, his hand was completely healed. This verse shows both Jesus’ strong emotional response to hard-heartedness and his power to restore what is broken.

In this scene, Jesus is in a synagogue, surrounded by people who are watching to see if he will heal on the Sabbath so they can accuse him. Jesus is deeply troubled by their "hardness of heart," meaning their unwillingness to care or understand. He tells the man with the disabled hand to stretch it out, and as the man does, his hand is made whole, just like his other hand.

The Greek behind Mark 3:5

  • ὀργή (orgē, "anger"): This word is often understood as a strong, righteous indignation. The verse highlights that Jesus’ anger is not uncontrolled rage but a deep, moral response to stubbornness and lack of compassion.
  • συλλυπέω (sullypeō, "grieved"): The Greek here carries the sense of being deeply saddened or distressed. Jesus is not just angry but also hurt by the people's refusal to be open-hearted.
  • πώρωσις (pōrōsis, "hardness"): This word refers to a kind of stubbornness or spiritual insensitivity, like a hardening or callousing of the heart. It shows that the problem is not just intellectual disagreement but a deep unwillingness to respond to what is good.
  • ἀποκαθίστημι (apokathistēmi, "restored"): This word means to return something to its original state. The healing is complete, not partial; the man’s hand is made whole as if it had never been damaged.

Why Mark 3:5 matters

  • Mark 3:5 makes clear that Jesus’ anger is directed at the hardness of heart, not at the people themselves, showing his emotional depth and his care for both truth and compassion.
  • The verse emphasizes that Jesus’ miracles are not just displays of power but are closely tied to his concern for human suffering and his frustration with spiritual stubbornness.
  • This moment sets up the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders, highlighting that the real issue is not the law itself but the attitude with which people approach it.

Where else these words appear

“hardness” Greek G4457 · used in 3 verses

  • Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
  • Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

“about” Greek G4017 · used in 7 verses

  • Mark 3:34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
  • Mark 9:8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
  • Mark 11:11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

“restored” Greek G600 · used in 8 verses

  • Matthew 12:13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
  • Mark 8:25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
  • Luke 6:10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

“forth” Greek G1614 · used in 14 verses

  • Matthew 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
  • Matthew 26:51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
  • Luke 22:53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.