Mark 8 · Verse 11

Mark 8:11

And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
Mark 8:11, King James Version

Mark 8:11 in other translations

BSBThen the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven.
WEBThe Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven and testing him.
ASVAnd the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, trying him.
YLTand the Pharisees came forth, and began to dispute with him, seeking from him a sign from the heaven, tempting him;
DARBYAnd the Pharisees went out and began to dispute against him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
BBEAnd the Pharisees came out and put questions to him, requesting from him a sign from heaven, testing him.
WebsterAnd the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

What does Mark 8:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him--not in the least desiring evidence for their conviction, but hoping to entrap Him. The first part of the answer is given in Matthew alone (Mt 16:2, 3): "He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather; for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the sky is red and lowering [sullen, gloomy]. Hypocrites! ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" The same simplicity of purpose and careful observation of the symptoms of approaching events which they showed in common things would enable them to "discern the signs of the times"--or rather "seasons," to which the prophets pointed for the manifestation of the Messiah. The scepter had departed from Judah; Daniel's seventy weeks were expiring, &c.; and many other significant indications of the close of the old economy, and preparations for a freer and more comprehensive one, might have been discerned. But all was lost upon them.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 11-21. See this passage explained in Mt 16:1-12.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 8:11-21
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?

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Mark 8:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐξῆλθονexēlthonwent outG1831
οἱhoitheG3588
ΦαρισαῖοιPharisaioiPhariseesG5330
καὶkaiandG2532
ἤρξαντοērxantobeganG757
συζητεῖνsuzēteinto disputeG4802
αὐτῷautōwith HimG846
ζητοῦντεςzētountesseekingG2212
παρ᾽par᾽fromG3844
αὐτοῦautouHimG846
σημεῖονsēmeiona signG4592
ἀπὸapofromG575
τοῦtou<the>G3588
οὐρανοῦ,ouranouheaven,G3772
πειράζοντεςpeirazontestestingG3985
αὐτόν.¶autonHim.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 8:11

  • Matthew 12:38

    Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

  • John 4:48

    Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:9

    Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

  • Malachi 3:15

    And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

  • Luke 12:54-57

    And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

  • Luke 11:16

    And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:22-23

    For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

  • Exodus 17:7

    And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?

  • Deuteronomy 6:16

    Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

  • Mark 2:16

    And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

  • Matthew 22:34-35

    But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

  • Mark 12:15

    Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pharisees.
2:16; 7:1,2; Mt 12:38; 16:1-4; 19:3; 21:23; 22:15,18,23,34,35
Lu 11:53,54; Joh 7:48
seeking.
Lu 11:16; 12:54-57; Joh 4:48; 6:30; 1Co 1:22,23
tempting.
12:15; Ex 17:2,7; De 6:16; Mal 3:15; Lu 10:25; Ac 5:9; 1Co 10:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 8:10

    And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

  • Mark 8:11

    And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

  • Mark 8:12

    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.

Read all of Mark 8

Mark 8:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vinieron los Fariseos, y comenzaron á altercar con él, pidiéndole señal del cielo, tentándole.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les pharisiens sortirent et se mirent à disputer avec lui, demandant de lui un signe du ciel, pour l’éprouver.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Pharisäer kamen heraus und fingen an, mit ihm zu streiten, indem sie, ihn versuchend, ein Zeichen vom Himmel von ihm begehrten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et exierunt pharisæi, et cœperunt conquirere cum eo, quærentes ab illo signum de cælo, tentantes eum.