Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent, [1886], at sacred-texts.com
Mark Chapter 10
Tempting
See on Mat 6:13.
Bill (βιβλίον)
See on Mat 19:7. Diminutive. Lit., a little book; Lat., libellus, from which comes our word libel, a written accusation. Accordingly Wyc. has a libel of forsaking, and Tynd. a testimonial of her divorcement.
Shall cleave
See on Mat 19:5. Tynd., bide by.
Shall be one flesh (ἔσονται εἰς σάρκα μίαν)
Lit., "shall be unto one flesh." The preposition expresses more graphically than the A. V. the becoming of one from two. So Rev., shall become.
What
Regarding the two as one.
They brought (προσέφερον)
Imperfect tense; they were bringing, as he went on his way. Similarly, were rebuking, as they were successively brought.
Took them in his arms
See on Mar 9:36.
Put his hands upon them and blessed them
The best texts read κατευλόγει τιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας ἐπ' αὐτά, blessed them, laying his hands upon them; including the laying on of hands in the blessing. The compound rendered blessed occurs only here in the New Testament. It is stronger than the simple form, and expresses the earnestness of Christ's interest. Alford renders fervently blessed.
Running and kneeled
Two details peculiar to Mark.
Why callest thou, etc
Compare Mat 19:17. The renderings of the A. V. and Rev. here are correct. There is no change of reading as in Matthew, where the text was altered to conform it to Mark and Luke.
He was sad (στυγνάσας)
Applied to the sky in Mat 16:3; lowering. The word paints forcibly the gloom which clouded his face.
Needle (ῥαφίδος)
A word stigmatized by the grammarians as unclassical. One of them (Phrynichus) says, "As for ῥαφίς, nobody would know what it is." Matthew also uses it. See on Mat 19:24. Luke uses βελόνης, the surgical needle. See on Luk 18:25.
Houses, etc
These details are peculiar to Mark. Note especially with persecutions, and see Introduction. With beautiful delicacy the Lord omits wives; so that Julian's scoff that the Christian has the promise of a hundred wives is without foundation.
Were amazed
The sudden awe which fell on the disciples is noted by Mark only.
Which are accounted to rule
Wyc., that seem to have princehead on folks.
Minister
See on Mar 9:35.
For many (ἀντὶ πολλῶν)
For, in the sense of over against, instead of; not on behalf of.
Son of Timaeus
Mark, as usual, is particular about names.
Blind
Diseases of the eye are very common in the East. Thomson says of Ramleh, "The ash-heaps are extremely mischievous; on the occurrence of the slightest wind the air is filled with a fine, pungent dust, which is very injurious to the eyes. I once walked the streets counting all that were either blind or had defective eyes, and it amounted to about one-half the male population. The women I could not count, for they are rigidly veiled" ("Land and Book"). Palgrave says that ophthalmia is fearfully prevalent, especially among children. "It would be no exaggeration to say that one adult out of every five has his eyes more or less damaged by the consequences of this disease" ("Central and Eastern Arabia").
Beggar
See on Mat 5:3.
Rose (ἀναστὰς)
The best texts read ἀναπήδησας leaped up, or, as Rev., sprang up.