Mark 8:12

He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

He sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

BSB

Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

KJV

And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

ASV

And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

BBE

And he was very sad in spirit, and said, Why is this generation looking for a sign? truly, I say to you, No sign will be given to this generation.

Original Greek

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Καὶ Kai And G2532 ἀναστενάξας anastenaxas having sighed deeply G389 τῷ tō in the G3588 πνεύματι pneumati spirit G4151 αὐτοῦ autou of Him G846 λέγει legei He says G3004 τί ti Why G5101 ἡ hē (the) G3588 γενεὰ genea generation G1074 αὕτη hautē this G3778 ζητεῖ zētei seeks G2212 σημεῖον; sēmeion a sign G4592 ἀμὴν amēn Amen G281 λέγω legō I say G3004 ὑμῖν humin to you G4771 εἰ ei if G1487 δοθήσεται dothēsetai there will be given G1325 τῇ tēa to the G3588 γενεᾷ genea generation G1074 ταύτῃ tautē this G3778 σημεῖον sēmeion a sign G4592

The early church

(ubi sup.) When, as related above, He was about to refresh the believing multitude, He gave thanks, so now, on account of the foolish petition of the Pharisees, He groans; because, bearing about with Him the feelings of human nature, as He rejoices over the salvation of men, so He grieves over their errors. Wherefore it goes on, And he groaned in spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you, If a sign shall be given to this generation. That is, no sign shall be given; as it is written in the Psalms, (Ps. 89:36) I have sworn once by my holiness, if I shall fail David, that is, I will not fail David.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
(ubi sup.) For a sign from heaven was not to be given to a generation of men, who tempted the Lord; but to a generation of men seeking the Lord, He shows a sign from heaven, when in the sight of the Apostles He ascended into heaven. It goes on, And he left them, and entering into a ship again, he departed to the other side.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Now the reason why the Lord did not listen to them was, that the time of signs from heaven had not arrived, that is, the time of the second Advent, when the powers of the heaven shall be shaken, and the moon shall not give her light. But in the time of the first Advent, all things are full of mercy, and such things do not take place.
Theophylact of Ohrid · d. 1107Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
Let no one, however, be perplexed that the answer which Mark says was given to them, when they sought a sign from heaven, is not the same as that which Matthew relates, namely, that concerning Jonah. He says that the Lord's answer was, that no sign should be given to it; by which we must understand such an one as they asked for, that is, one from heaven; but he has omitted to say, what Matthew has related.
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 11–21

Obstinate unbelief will have something to say, though ever so unreasonable. Christ refused to answer their demand. If they will not be convinced, they shall not. Alas! what cause we have to lament for those around us, who destroy themselves and others by their perverse and obstinate unbelief, and enmity to the gospel! When we forget the works of God, and distrust him, we should chide ourselves severely, as Christ here reproves his disciples. How is it that we so often mistake his meaning, disregard his warnings, and distrust his providence?

Read Matthew Henry on Mark 8 →

Parallel passages

3

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 12:39Matthew 16:4Luke 11:29

Cross-references

13

Topics

UnbeliefReproofSign

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.