What Does Mark 15:11 Mean in the King James?
But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The crowd’s desire looks like its own, but the Greek verb says it has been shaken into motion.
THE MEANING
Now, a crowd’s request can be real and still be shaped by those who stir it; influence can move desire before a choice is voiced. Here, the chief priests direct that desire toward Barabbas’s release.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the assumption that a choice is independent simply because many people make it together.
THE ROOT
ἀνέσεισαν
aneseisan
GROWS FROM
σείω
seíō
to shake or cause to tremble
The verb ἀνασείω (anaseíō, to shake up or stir) carries more force than quiet persuasion: the leaders agitate the crowd into a direction. The same shake-root can describe physical upheaval, so “moved” hides the force in the scene.
ALSO GROWS
seismós: earthquake, shaking
σεισμός
This word for a shaking disturbance shares the root and makes the force behind “moved” more visible.
kataseíō: to motion or beckon by moving the hand
κατασείω
In Acts 12:17, Peter beckons with his hand; the same root can describe a gesture that directs a group, as here it describes leaders stirring one.
ἀπολύσῃ
apolýsē
GROWS FROM
λύω
lýō
to loosen or untie
Release is a loosening from what holds someone; the word names the freeing itself, not a judgment about the person’s worth. Barabbas (Βαραββᾶς, Barabbas) is commonly parsed from Aramaic בַּר (bar, son) and אַבָּא (ʾabbā, father), meaning “son of the father”, a name that adds irony as this man is released and Jesus is handed over.
ALSO GROWS
lýō: to loosen, untie
λύω
In John 11:44, Jesus says, “Loose him, and let him go”; that concrete unbinding lies beneath the release named here.
apólysis: release or dismissal
ἀπόλυσις
This related noun carries the same sense of letting go or sending away, showing how the root extends from loosening a bond to release.
THE PATTERN
Influential voices can capture or agitate public desire until a crowd mistakes a shaped preference for its own.
And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.THE THREAD
Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.The same Greek verb ἀπολύω (apolýō, release) appears in both verses; here it is ἀπολύσῃ (apolýsē, release). Mark 15:6 establishes release as an available choice, and this verse shows the crowd being stirred toward whom to free.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
You can read any verse this way in the app, keep it as a card, and send it on.
A Bible app where you send verses from your keyboard and in Messages, and every verse has a Deep Dive.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us