THE FIVE SIGNS OF MARK 16
The words that I have
given the Greek words and definitions for are color-coded. My conclusion of the
way this verse could be read using the original Greek meanings is at the end.
KJV - Mark 16:17-18 - And these signs shall follow
them that believe; In my name shall
they cast out devils; they shall speak
with new tongues; [18] They shall
take up serpents; and if
they drink any deadly thing, it shall
not hurt them; they shall lay hands
on the sick, and they shall recover.
(1) Signs -
semeion, say-mi'-on, Greek 4592; neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of
Greek 4591 (semaino); an indication, especially cerimonial or supernatural :- miracle, sign,
token, wonder.
(2) Follow - parakoloutheo,
par-ak-ol-oo-theh'-o, Greek 3877; from Greek 3844 (para) and Greek 190
(akoloutheo); to follow near, i.e.
(figurative) attend (as a result), trace out, conform
to :- attain, follow, fully know, have understanding.
(3) Name - onoma, on'-om-ah, Greek
3686; from a presumed derivative of the base of Greek 1097 (ginosko) (compare
Greek 3685 (oninemi)); a "name"
(literal or figurative) [authority, character] :- called, (+ sur-)
name (-d).
(4) Cast - ekballo,
ek-bal'-lo, Greek 1544; from Greek 1537 (ek) and Greek 906 (ballo); to eject
(literal or figurative) :- bring forth, cast
(forth, out), drive (out), expel, leave, pluck (pull, take, thrust) out, put
forth (out), send away (forth, out).
(5) Devils - daimonion,
dahee-mon'-ee-on, Greek 1140; neuter of a derivative of Greek 1142 (daimon); a d'monic being; by extensive a deity :- devil,
god.
(6) Speak - laleo, lal-eh'-o, Greek 2980; a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words :- preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare Greek 3004 (lego).
(7) New - kainos, kahee-nos', Greek 2537;
of uncertain affinity; new (especially in
freshness; while Greek 3501 (neos) is properly so with respect to
age) :- new.
(8) Tongues - glossa,
gloce-sah', Greek 1100; of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication a language (specially one naturally
unacquired) :- tongue.
(9) Take - airo, ah'ee-ro, Greek
142; a primary verb; to lift; by implication to take
up or away; figurative to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind); specially to sail
away (i.e. weigh anchor); by Hebrew [compare Hebrew 5375 (nasa')] to expiate
sin :- away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose,
make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up).
(10) Serpents - ophis,
of'-is, Greek 3789; probably from Greek 3700 (optanomai) (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake, figurative (as a type of sly cunning) an
artful malicious person, especially Satan :- serpent.
(11) Deadly - thanasimos,
than-as'-ee-mos, Greek 2286; from Greek 2288 (thanatos); fatal, i.e. poisonous :-
deadly.
(12) Hands - cheir, khire, Greek
5495; perhaps from the base of Greek 5494 (cheimon) in the sense of its
congener the base of Greek 5490 (chasma) (through the idea of hollowness for
grasping); the hand (literal or figurative
[power]; especially [by Hebrew] a means or instrument) :- hand.
(13) Recover - kalos, kal-oce', Greek
2573; adverb from Greek 2570 (kalos); well
(usually moral) :- (in a) good
(place), honestly, + recover, (full) well.
I have long believed that there is a dual meaning to the
Scriptures and especially since Jesus mostly spoke in parables to the people in
general and that seems to bear out when you get into the Hebrew and Greek. Such
as, you can be sick physically or mentally or morally. Laying on of hands could
be through prayer or even surgery. Ingesting poison could be physical poison or
mental poison. Tongues or languages could be either the natural languages of
men or supernatural tongues of angels. Taking up serpents could be literally
picking up a snake by accident as in Paul's case or handling a sly, cunning
spirit in a person.
So this is the way I came out with this scripture:
KJV - Mark 16:17-18 - And these (1) ceremonial or supernatural signs shall (2)
come close to them that believe; In my (3)
name or authority shall they (4)
drive out, expel or send away (5)
demonic beings, evil deities or gods,;
they shall (6) preach, talk, tell or utter
with (7) new - fresh (8) languages and especially ones they never knew or studied. [18] They shall
(9) put away, remove or take away (10) sly, cunning, artful, and malicious persons,
especially Satan; and if they drink any (11) fatal or poisonous thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay (12) hands or an
instrument on the sick, and they
shall (13) get well physically, mentally or
morally.