Bible Commentaries
Mark 8

Verse 1

In . Greek. en . App-104 .

multitude = crowd, ae in Mark 7:33 .

nothing = not (Greek. me . App-105 ) anything.

Verse 2

on . Greek. epi. App-104 .

nothing = not (Greek. ou . App-105 ) anything.

Verse 3

if . An hypothetical condition. App-118 .

to = into. Greek. eis . App-104 .

by = in. Greek. en . App-104 .

divers, &c. = some of them are come from far. A Divine supplement, here.

Verse 4

in = on. Greek. epi. App-104 .

Verse 5

asked = began asking.

Verse 6

people = crowd.

on = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

brake . See notes on Matthew 14:19 . Isaiah 58:7 .

gave = kept giving.

Verse 8

baskets . Greek. Plural of spuris, a large basket or hamper. Occurs only here and in Mark 8:20 , Matthew 15:37 ; Matthew 16:10 and Acts 9:25 .

Verse 9

four thousand . Matthew 15:38 adds a Divine supplement:. "beside women and children".

Verse 10

straightway . See notes on Mark 1:10 , Mark 1:12 .

into. Greek. eis. App-104 .

a ship = the boat.

with = in company with, Greek. meta . App-104 . Same word as in verses: Mark 8:14 , Mark 8:38 . Not the same as in Mark 8:34 .

Dalmanutha , App-169 .

Verse 11

Pharisees . App-120 .

began . The beginnings of things are very often thus, emphasised in Mark. See Mark 1:1 , Mark 1:45 ; Mark 4:1 ; Mark 5:17 , Mark 5:20 ; Mark 6:2 , Mark 6:7 , Mark 6:34 , Mar 6:66 ; Mark 8:11 , Mark 8:31 , Mark 8:32 ;. Mark 10:28 , Mark 10:32 , Mark 10:41 , Mark 10:47 ; Mark 11:15 ; Mark 12:1 ; Mark 13:5 ; Mark 14:19 , Mark 14:33 , Mark 14:65 , Mark 14:69 , Mark 14:71 ; Mark 15:8 , Mark 15:18 .

of Greek. para. App-104 .

a sign , Compare Matthew 12:38 .

from . Greek. apo . App-104 .

heaven . Singular. See notes on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10

Verse 12

sighed deeply in His spirit . A Divine supplement, here.

spirit . Greek. pneuma. See App-101 .

Why , &c. Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-8 ). See note on Mark 8:17 .

seek = repeatedly seek.

Verse 13

verily = indeed. See note on Matthew 5:18 .

There shall no sign be , &c. = lf there shall be a sign given, &c. A Hebrew idiom; = ye will see a sign; but the sentence is left unfinished by the Figure of speech Aposiopesis ( App-6 ). The word "if" implies that there is no doubt about it. See App-118 . Compare Genesis 21:23 . Deu 1:35 . 1 Kings 1:51 .

Verse 14

Now, &c. See Matthew 16:5 , &c.

neither had they = and they had not ( App-105 ).

one loaf . A Divine supplement, here.

Verse 15

charged was charging. of = [and keep away] from. Greek apo. App-104 .

the leaven. Note the Figure of speech Hypocatastasis ( App-6 ), by which the word "doctrine "is implied. Compare Matthew 16:6 .

Herod. See Mark 3:6 and App-109 .

Verse 16

reasoned = were reasoning.

among = one with (Greek. (pros. App-104 .) another.

no . Greek ou. App-105 .

Verse 17

knew . App-132 .

Why reason ye . ? Note the Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), emphasizing the seven questions of verses: Mark 8:17 , Mark 8:18 . Compare Mark 8:12 and Mark 8:21 .

Verse 18

Having eyes , &c. Quoted from Jeremiah 5:21 .

see . Greek blepo. App-133 .

not . Greek. ou . App-105 .

Verse 19

among = to; or [and gave] to. Greek. eis . App-104 . Not the same word as in Mark 8:16 .

five = the five. baskets. Greek. kophinos = a Jewish wicker travelling hand-basket, of a definite capacity. From this comes our Eng. "coffin". Occurs in Matthew 14:20 ; Matthew 16:9 . Mat 6:43 ; Matthew 8:10 . Luke 9:17 . John 6:13 . Not the same word as in Mark 8:20 .

Verse 20

when = when. [I brake]. Supply the Ellipsis from Mark 8:19 .

four = the four. baskets. Greek. spuris , a large basket, or hamper. See note on Mark 8:8 , Mark 8:19 .

Verse 21

How is it . P Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ). See notes on verses: Mark 8:12 , Mark 8:17 .

Verse 22

And He cometh , &c. This miracle is a Divine supplement in this Gospel. The second part of the Lord's ministry was drawing to a close. The proclamation of His Person was reaching a climax (verses: Mark 8:17-20 ). Note the character of "this generation" brought out by the Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ) in verses: Mark 8:12 , Mark 8:17 , Mark 8:18 , Mark 12:21 ; the un belief of Bethsaida (Matthew 11:21 ), is symbolized by this, the last miracle of that period, which that town was not allowed to witness or be told of. Note also the seeming difficulty and the two stages of the miracle, as though symbolic of verses: Mark 8:17 , Mark 8:18 .

Betheaida. Where most of His miracles had been wrought. A town on the west shore of Galilee. See App-94 and App-169 .

Verse 23

took = took hold of. (So Tyndale.)

out of = outside of.

on = into. Greek. eis, App-104 .

put = laid.

asked = was asking. (Imperf.)

if he saw = can you see . . . ? Present Tense.

Verse 24

looked up . App-133 .

I see men, &c = I see the men [men they must be] for [I see them] as trees, walking.

men. Greek. anthropos. App-123 .

Verse 25

upon . Greek. epi. App-104 .

made him look up . T Tr. A WH and R read "the man looked steadily".

saw. Greek. emplepo. App-133 .

every man . L T Tr. A WH R read "everything".

clearly = distinctly; implying at a distance. Greek. telaugos (from tele , far, as in our telescope, telegram, &c.)

Verse 26

Neither go , &c. Note the determination of the Lord not to give Bethsaida any further evidence.

Verse 27

that I am. The second subject of the Lord's ministry (see the Structure on p. 1383 and App-119 ), as to His Person, was thus brought to a conclusion; as in Matthew 16:13-20 .

Verse 28

but some = and others. Greek alloi. App-124 .

Verse 29

h e saith unto them = He was further saying.

the Christ = the Messiah. App-98 . .

Verse 30

charged = strictly charged. This second subject of His ministry is thus closed. Sufficient testimony had been given to that generation, as to His Person.

of = concerning. Greek peri. App-104 .

Verse 31

He began . The third period and subject of His ministry: the rejection of Himself as King. See App-119 , and notes on Matthew 16:21-28 ; Luke 24:26 .

the Son of man . See App-98 .

must . For this necessity see Acts 3:15 ,

of . Greek. apo, as in Mark 8:15 . But all the texts read hupo = at the hands of. App-104 .

after . Greek. meta . App-104 . See App-148 .

Verse 32

openly : i.e. publicly: not as in John 2:19-21 or John 3:14 , in the earlier portion of His ministry.

rebuke = remonstrate with.

Verse 33

looked , &c. = saw ( App-133 .) His disciples, who might easily have been ledastray by Peter's remonstrance.

Get thee behind , &c. Compare Matthew 4:10 , regarding it as a Satanic temptation.

savourest = mindest.

God. App-98 .

Verse 34

And when, &c. The Lord now speaks to all who follow Him.

with = in association with. Greek sun. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: Mark 8:10 , Mark 8:14 , Mark 8:38 .

will come = is willing to come.

will . Greek. thelo. App-102 .

follow: i.e. habitually follow.

Verse 35

life . Greek. psuche.

App-110 . But here correctly rendered "life". See Mark 8:36 .

and the gospel's. A Divine supplement, here.

Verse 36

if he shall gain, &c. See App-118 .

world. Greek. kosmos. App-129 .

soul = life. Same word as life "in Mark 8:35 . See Matthew 16:26 .

Verse 37

in exchange = [as] an equivalent.

Verse 38

Whosoever therefore = For whosoever.

My words . Not of Christ only, but of His words. See note on Mark 9:32 .

this . . . generation. A Divine supplement, here. Note the frequent references to "this generation" as sinful above all others, and as being different from all others: verses: Mark 8:12 ; Mark 9:19 ; Mark 13:30 . See note on Matthew 11:16 .

him also. The "also" must be after 'the Son of man", not after "him",

cometh = may have come.

Father . See App-98 .