Translation commentary on Mark 15:14

Exegesis:

ti gar epoiēsen kakon; ‘why, what evil (thing) has he done?’: in such a question gar means ‘why!’ ‘how so!’

kakos (cf. 7.21) ‘evil deed,’ ‘bad thing.’

perissōs (cf. 10.26) ‘exceedingly,’ ‘all the more.’

Translation:

Said to them may require modification to ‘asked them.’

Why may be expanded slightly in order to be an equivalent expression of concern, e.g. ‘why so’ or ‘why say that.’

What evil has he done may be paralleled by ‘what sin has he committed’ or ‘what bad deed has he done.’

All the more is a kind of comparative, indicating at the same time a high degree of activity, e.g. ‘yelled more, more’ or ‘shouted so much greater.’

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 15:14

15:14a

Why?…What evil has He done?: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Why?…What evil has He done? is literally “What evil has he done?” (as in the Revised Standard Version). It is only one question in Greek.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

What wrong has he done? (New Century Version)
-or-
What has he done wrong? (NET Bible)
-or-
What illegal thing has he done?
-or-
Of what crime is he guilty?

evil: The word evil in this context refers to bad/wrong behavior that was against Roman law. The New International Version translates this word as “crime.”

asked Pilate: The Berean Standard Bible inserts the words asked Pilate in the middle of Pilate’s question. In the Greek, these words are at he beginning of 15:14. For example:

And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” (English Standard Version)

However, the New International Version places these words at the end of Pilate’s question:

“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate (New International Version, 2011 edition).

Place the words asked Pilate where it is most natural in your language.

15:14b

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”: Even though Pilate asked a real question, the crowd did not give him a real answer. They ignored his question and repeated their demand. They shouted to Pilate even louder than before. They were probably getting angry.

shouted all the louder: The phrase shouted all the louder means they “shouted more loudly” and “more insistently” than the first time.

Here is another way to translate this:

they yelled even louder (Contemporary English Version)

Crucify Him!: Translate Crucify Him! in the same way you translated it in 15:13.

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