Mark 8:16
What does Mark 8:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Mark 8:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Mark 8:16 means
The disciples misunderstood Jesus' warning about "leaven," interpreting it literally as a concern about their lack of bread for the journey. They began to discuss among themselves, "We have no bread." This demonstrates their spiritual dullness, failing to grasp the deeper, symbolic meaning of Jesus' words and immediately focusing on their physical predicament, again revealing their short-term memory of His power.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they reasoned one with another, saying, We have no bread.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they reasoned one with another, saying, We have no bread.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they said to one another, We have no bread.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they were reasoning with one another, saying--`Because we have no loaves.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they reasoned among themselves, saying: Because we have no bread.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they reasoned with one another, [saying], It is because we have no bread.
Context
This verse highlights the disciples' confusion and literal-mindedness. It follows Jesus' warning about the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, directly setting up Jesus' subsequent exasperated questions designed to expose their lack of spiritual perception and understanding.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 16:7
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, We took no bread.
- Luke 20:5
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why did ye not believe him?
- Luke 9:46
And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them was the greatest.
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