Mark 1:40

Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — A leper approaches Jesus in Galilee during His circuit of synagogue preaching and demon expulsion, kneeling to address Him directly.

The words — The participle παρακαλῶν (parakalōn) literally means “imploring” or “begging,” describing the leper’s persistent petition to Jesus.

The thread — This encounter parallels the healing accounts in Luke 5:12 and Matthew 8:2, where lepers similarly approach Jesus with petitions for cleansing.

Why it lands — The text records a petitioner who acknowledges Jesus’ absolute power while submitting to His sovereign choice, requiring the reader to examine a posture of faith that trusts both capability and will.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ΚαὶKaiAnd ἔρχεταιerchetaicomes πρὸςprosto αὐτὸνautonHim λεπρὸςleprosa leper παρακαλῶνparakalōnimploring αὐτὸνautonHim καὶkaiand γονυπετῶνgonupetōnkneeling down αὐτὸνautonto him καὶkaiand λέγωνlegōnsaying αὐτῷautōto Him ὅτιhotithat ἐὰνeanIf θέλῃςthelēsYou may be willing δύνασαίdunasaiYou are able μεmeme καθαρίσαι.katharisaito cleanse.

King James Version

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Cross-references

Luke 5:12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Matthew 8:2 Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Leviticus 13:1 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
2 Samuel 3:29 May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”
Matthew 17:14 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him.
Mark 9:22 “It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Deuteronomy 24:8 In cases of infectious skin diseases, be careful to diligently follow everything the Levitical priests instruct you. Be careful to do as I have commanded them.
Mark 10:17 As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Genesis 18:14 Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”
Numbers 12:10 As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous,