Gospel of Mark 1.7 · 1.7

<p><span class="gk">κηρύσσω</span> is what a herald does. The <span class="gk">κῆρυξ</span> is the herald himself. It occurs <strong>14 times</strong> in this gospel, counted in our frozen text. A herald carries someone else's words and has no authority of his own — the verb makes John a courier rather than an author.</p><p>Rabbinic sources record that a Hebrew slave could not be required to remove his master's sandals — the task was reserved for gentile slaves and for disciples as a voluntary act of devotion. John places himself below the lowest rung. Matthew and Luke have "carry" rather than "loose"; Mark and John have "loose." The difference is visible in every version in our stack.</p>

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