The Meaning of Mark 8:16 Explained

Mark 8:16

KJV: And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

YLT: and they were reasoning with one another, saying -- 'Because we have no loaves.'

Darby: And they reasoned with one another, saying, It is because we have no bread.

ASV: And they reasoned one with another, saying, We have no bread.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  they reasoned  among  themselves,  saying,  [It is] because  we have  no  bread. 

What does Mark 8:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The disciples" interest in the problem of lack of food contrasts with Jesus" fervent concern over unbelief (cf. Mark 8:12; Mark 8:15). Spiritual truth failed to impress them because they had minds that were not open to it ( Mark 8:17).

Context Summary

Mark 8:1-21 - The Demand For Signs Rebuked
Notice the Master's tender considerateness, Mark 8:1-9. He would not have the people faint on their way home. There are distinct differences between this miracle and the feeding of the five thousand. Most of these are evident to the English reader, but that between the baskets used for the fragments is clear only from the original-those used in the case of the five thousand being quite different from the large ones used here, Mark 8:20; Matthew 15:37. Our Lord never repeats His work.
The Savior sighed in the previous chapter over physical need; here He sighs over moral obtuseness, Mark 8:10-21. The language is very strong, and gives a glimpse into the Redeemer's heart. Had the Pharisees been as willing to discern the signs of the age as to read the weather, they must have been able to recognize Him and His claims; but their foolish heart was darkened. Having sighed over the hard-heartedness of the Pharisees, might He not equally have done so over the obtuseness of the Twelve? They thought that He was referring to their carelessness in omitting to take bread. How little they realized that the cause lay far deeper! Let us be quick to read the divine intention in very simple incidents, and to learn that all God's past dealings contain lessons for the present! [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 8

1  Jesus feeds the people miraculously;
10  refuses to give a sign to the Pharisees;
14  admonishes his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod;
22  gives a blind man his sight;
27  acknowledges that he is the Jesus who should suffer and rise again;
34  and exhorts to patience in persecution for the profession of the gospel

Greek Commentary for Mark 8:16

They reasoned one with another [διελογιζοντο προς αλληλους]
(διελογιζοντο προς αλληλους — dielogizonto pros allēlous), implying discussion. Imperfect tense, kept it up. Matthew 16:7 has εν εαυτοις — en heautois in themselves or among themselves. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 8:16 mean?

And they were reasoning with one another because loaves not they have
καὶ διελογίζοντο πρὸς ἀλλήλους ὅτι ἄρτους οὐκ ἔχουσιν

διελογίζοντο  they  were  reasoning 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: διαλογίζομαι  
Sense: to bring together different reasons, to reckon up the reasons, to reason, revolve in one’s mind, deliberate.
ἀλλήλους  one  another 
Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλήλων  
Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἄρτους  loaves 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄρτος  
Sense: food composed of flour mixed with water and baked.
ἔχουσιν  they  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.

What are the major concepts related to Mark 8:16?

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