And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

MARK 5:37KJV
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Mark 5:37 (KJV)

What does Mark 5:37 mean?

Mark 5:37 means that Jesus did not allow anyone except Peter, James, and John (James’s brother) to go with him as he continued on his way. Only these three disciples were permitted to follow Jesus at this moment, while everyone else was told not to come along.

In this scene, Jesus is on his way to the house of Jairus, whose daughter is very sick. Up to this point, a crowd and his other disciples have been following him. Here, Jesus chooses just three of his closest disciples to witness what will happen next, setting them apart for a special experience that the others will not see.

The Greek behind Mark 5:37

  • The word "suffered" (ἀφῆκεν, aphēken) is often understood as "allowed" or "permitted." In this verse, it means Jesus actively decided who could come with him, showing he was in control of the situation.
  • The word "follow" (συνακολουθῆσαι, synakolouthēsai) means "to go along with" or "to accompany." This highlights that Jesus was selective about who would witness the next event, not just anyone could come.

Why Mark 5:37 matters

  • Mark 5:37 shows that Jesus sometimes chose only a few disciples for certain moments, which helps explain why Peter, James, and John often appear together at key events in the Gospels.
  • This verse emphasizes Jesus’s authority and intentionality—he decides who gets to see what happens, reminding readers that not every experience is shared with everyone.
  • It sets up the significance of what is about to happen at Jairus’s house, hinting that something important and private is about to take place.

Where else these words appear

“follow” Greek G4870 · used in 2 verses

  • Luke 23:49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

“James” Greek G2385 · used in 38 verses

  • Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
  • Mark 10:35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
  • Luke 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

“save” Greek G1508 · used in 87 verses

  • Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
  • Luke 4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
  • Romans 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

“John” Greek G2491 · used in 130 verses

  • Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
  • Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
  • John 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.