Bible Strands
Mark 3:12
But He warned them sternly not to make Him known.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus issues a command to the unclean spirits immediately after they fall down and declare His identity, directing them to keep His messianic status concealed before He withdraws to a mountain to appoint disciples.
The words — The verb ἐπετίμα (epetima) means He was rebuking or warning sternly, coupled with the purpose clause ἵνα μὴ (hina mē) to prevent Him from becoming φανερὸν (phaneron), "known" or publicly exposed.
The thread — This prohibition against publicizing His identity appears in Matthew 12:16 and repeats the pattern found in Mark 1:25 and Mark 1:34 where Jesus silences demonic testimony.
Why it lands — The text records Jesus actively restricting the timing of His revelation, requiring readers to submit to His authority over when and how His identity is disclosed rather than demanding premature confirmation.
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
King James Version
And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
Cross-references
- Matthew 12:16 warning them not to make Him known.
- Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”
- Mark 1:34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
- Matthew 8:4 Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”
- Acts 16:18 She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.