What Does Mark 15:5 Mean in the King James?
But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
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 one with power to question becomes the one whose inner state changes: the silence makes Pilate marvel.
THE MEANING
When no answer is given, the silence still changes what is happening: Pilate is the one left astonished. The verse makes the lack of speech active in the room, even while Jesus says nothing.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Silence does not always mean that nothing is happening; here it leaves the one questioning astonished.
THE ROOT
θαυμάζειν
thaumazein
GROWS FROM
θαυμ-
thaum-
Wonder, astonishment; being struck with wonder.
“marvelled” in this verse is thaumazein. The narrator uses the wonder-word family for Pilate’s reaction: the silence does not leave a blank where an answer should be; it produces astonishment. The word family links what is wondered at with what is called wondrous, giving the silence force in the scene.
ALSO GROWS
thauma: A wonder or marvel that draws astonishment.
θαῦμα
This branch shows the kind of response the silence produces in Pilate.
thaumastos: Marked by wonder or astonishment.
θαυμαστός
This branch gives the quality that the verse’s silence seems to take on through Pilate’s reaction.
ἀπεκρίθη
apekrithē
GROWS FROM
κρίνω
krinō
To distinguish, decide, or judge; in the compound answering verb, to respond.
“answered” in this verse is apekrithē. The verb here means “answer” or “respond,” while its Greek word family also names judgment and the judge. That shared stem places answering beside judging in this courtroom scene, a resonance the English word alone does not show.
ALSO GROWS
krisis: A judgment or decision.
κρίσις
This branch echoes the judgment surrounding the unanswered question.
kritēs: A person who judges or decides.
κριτής
This branch links the answer-word’s root to the role Pilate holds in the scene.
THE PATTERN
Across accusation and suffering, withholding an answer or counterattack leaves violence unanswered rather than echoed.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:THE THREAD
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?The same Greek answer-word appears when Jesus gives no answer before the high priest. That repeated silence carries into the hearing before Pilate, where the verse names its effect: Pilate marvels.
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