The NIV and NET are alone at saying, “Jesus was indignant” (ὀργίζω). The NIV has a footnote, “Many manuscripts Jesus was filled with compassion” (σπλαγχνίζομαι). “Indignant” is a toned-down word for “be angry.” So was Jesus angry or compassionate?

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he came across a leper who said, “If you are willing, you can make me clean!” (Mark 1:40). The next verse gives an interesting insight into Jesus’ personality.

The NIV and NET are alone at saying, “Jesus was indignant” (ὀργίζω). The NIV has a footnote, “Many manuscripts Jesus was filled with compassion” (σπλαγχνίζομαι). “Indignant” is a toned-down word for “be angry.” So was Jesus angry or compassionate?

In Misquoting Jesus, Ehrman uses this as one of his main proof-texts that an early scribe changed our understanding of Jesus’ personality, even suggesting that Jesus was angry much of the time and only gave his time begrudgingly to help others. So this is an important question.

The Greek words are sufficiently different, so it is doubtful this was an unintentional change.

The external evidence is on the side of “compassion”; so if “indignant” was original, the change must have happened quite early.

Metzger suggests that the strong language of v 43 might have prompted the change from “compassion” to “indignant.” “Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning (ἐμβριμάομαι),” which was not an uncommon response of Jesus, who did not always want people to talk about his healing power.

But it seems more likely that “indignant” was original, and that a scribe thought Jesus’ response was inappropriate. After all, wasn’t Jesus a loving person?

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