Devine Scripture

Mark 8:30

What does Mark 8:30 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 8:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 8:30 means

Jesus strictly charged His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ. This command, known as the "Messianic Secret," was likely given to prevent premature or misled public enthusiasm for a political Messiah, as many expected, rather than the suffering servant He was destined to be. It also allowed Him to continue His ministry without immediate interference from the authorities and to reveal His identity on His own terms and timing.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he put them under orders not to say this of him to anyone.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he strictly charged them that they may tell no one about it,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he strictly charged them that they should not tell any man of him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he charged them straitly, in order that they should tell no man about him.

Context

This verse immediately follows Peter's profound confession of Jesus as the Christ, introducing a crucial element of Jesus' strategy. It sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent teaching on His suffering and death, underscoring that the disciples' understanding of the Messiah's role was still incomplete and needed further instruction.

v.29And he asked them, But who say ye that I am? Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

v.30This passage

v.31And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 8:26

    And he sent him away to his home, saying, Do not even enter into the village.

  • Matthew 16:20

    Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ.

  • Matthew 8:4

    And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

  • Mark 7:36

    And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it.

  • Luke 9:21

    But he charged them, and commanded them to tell this to no man;

  • Mark 9:9

    And as they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, save when the Son of man should have risen again from the dead.

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