Mark 1:40

λεπρός. The physician (Luke 5:12) says that he was “full of leprosy,” which perhaps shows that he was not ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 13:12-13), and therefore was able to approach Christ. But his misery might make him desperate, and those near Christ would draw away when the leper approached.

[καὶ γονυπετῶν]. Cf. Mark 10:17. The humble prostration is in all three, but differently expressed: Mt. προσεκύνει (his favourite word), Lk. πεσὼν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον. If καὶ γονυπετῶν had been an interpolation ([216][217][218][219] omit), we should probably have had a word taken from Mt. or Lk. The combination of participles is in Mk’s style.

[216] Codex Vaticanus. 4th cent., but perhaps a little later than א. In the Vatican Library almost since its foundation by Pope Nicolas V., and one of its greatest treasures. The whole Gospel, ending at Mark 16:8. Photographic facsimile, 1889.

[217] Codex Bezae. 6th cent. Has a Latin translation (d) side by side with the Greek text, and the two do not quite always agree. Presented by Beza to the University Library of Cambridge in 1581. Remarkable for its frequent divergences from other texts. Contains Mark, except Mark 16:15-20, which has been added by a later hand. Photographic facsimile, 1899.

[218] Codex Seidelianus I. 9th or 10th cent. Contains Mark 1:13 to Mark 14:18; Mark 14:25 to Mark 16:20.

[219] Codex Oxoniensis. 9th cent. Contains Mark, except Mark 3:35 to Mark 6:20.

Ἐὰν θέλῃς. He fears that Jesus may judge him to be unworthy of so enormous a boon. De voluntate Domini non quasi pietatis incredulus dubitavit, sed quasi colluvionis suae conscius non praesumpsit (Bede). Contrast the father’s εἴ τι δύνῃ (Mark 9:22).

δύνασαί με καθαρίσαι. Leprosy was believed to be incurable, except by Him who had inflicted this “stroke.” The man’s faith, therefore, is great, esp. if this was the first instance of Christ’s healing a leper. The form δύνασαι (Matthew 5:36; Matthew 8:2; Luke 5:12; Luke 6:42; John 13:36) is well attested here, though [220] has δύνῃ, which is right in Mark 9:22-23; Luke 16:2.

[220] Codex Vaticanus. 4th cent., but perhaps a little later than א. In the Vatican Library almost since its foundation by Pope Nicolas V., and one of its greatest treasures. The whole Gospel, ending at Mark 16:8. Photographic facsimile, 1889.

καθαρίσαι. After δύναμαι the aor. infin. is, normal; Mark 1:45; Mark 2:4; Mark 3:20; Mark 3:24-27; Mark 5:3; Mark 6:5; Mark 6:19; Mark 7:15. In Leviticus 13:6-7; Leviticus 13:13, etc., καθαρίζειν is used of the priest pronouncing the leper to be clean; here, as elsewhere in N.T., it is used of the actual cleansing.