And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

MARK 9:30KJV
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Mark 9:30 (KJV)

What does Mark 9:30 mean?

Mark 9:30 describes Jesus and his disciples leaving their previous location and traveling through the region of Galilee, while Jesus intentionally avoided drawing public attention to their movements. The verse highlights that Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were at this time.

In this scene, Jesus is leading his close followers away from crowds as they move through Galilee. The context shows that Jesus is seeking privacy, likely to teach his disciples important lessons without interruption. This moment sets up a private and focused time between Jesus and those closest to him, away from the larger public gatherings that often followed him.

The Greek behind Mark 9:30

  • "οὐκ ἤθελεν" (ouk ēthelen, "he would not"): The Greek here expresses a strong intention or desire not to allow something. This makes clear that Jesus was deliberately avoiding publicity, not just passively hoping for privacy.
  • "ἵνα" (hina, "that"): This word introduces the purpose—Jesus' intention was specifically that no one should know about their journey. The Greek construction emphasizes that this was a purposeful action, not just a side effect.

Why Mark 9:30 matters

  • Mark 9:30 shows that Jesus sometimes withdrew from public ministry to focus on teaching his disciples privately, which is a recurring theme in the Gospels.
  • The verse helps explain why the following teachings of Jesus happen in a more intimate setting, rather than in front of crowds.
  • This detail clears up any confusion about why Jesus was not always available to the public and highlights his intentional approach to preparing his disciples for what was ahead.

Where else these words appear

“passed” Greek G3899 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
  • Mark 2:23 And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.
  • Mark 11:20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

“thence” Greek G1564 · used in 27 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.
  • Matthew 14:13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
  • Luke 9:4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

“Galilee” Greek G1056 · used in 62 verses

  • Matthew 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
  • Mark 1:39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
  • Luke 23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.