In working on Mark 1, I noticed that NIV rendered v41 as “Jesus was indignant.” I am more familiar with the verse rendered to be “Moved with compassion, Jesus …” and so I was a little taken aback and did a google search. Bill Mounce, President of Biblical Training, gave me some insights. The following are mostly based on his article which can be found here.
The issue is a variation in the Greek texts. The NIV is following the reading of ὀργισθείς, and everyone else reads σπλαγχνισθείς.
Basically external evidence support the compassion rendition. Also there are a few manuscripts that has the word for indignance. Parallel references in Matt 8:3 and Luke 5:13 did not use either indignance or compassion.
However, in Mark, the picture of Jesus indignant against “hardness of heart” can be found in Mark 3:5 and Mark 10:14. It is likely that faced with a choice, the NIV translators preferred internal consistence.
The compassion of Jesus is natural and provokes no controversy. Indignance at a leper demands our judgement. It could be that the leper was questioning Jesus’ willingness. Or Jesus’ indignance was against the ravages of sin on man. At least this little controversy makes us pause and think about our lack of indignance, grief and anger in a sinful and sin-ravaged world.
Personally I think “Moved with compassion …” is the more accurate translation and ESV wins my vote here.
(For a rigorous analysis advocating compassion, read here.)