Mark 8 · Verse 12

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.
Mark 8:12, King James Version

Mark 8:12 in other translations

BSBJesus 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.”
WEBHe 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.”
ASVAnd 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.
YLTand having sighed deeply in his spirit, he saith, ‘Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.'
DARBYAnd groaning in his spirit, he says, Why does this generation seek a sign? Verily I say unto you, A sign shall in no wise be given to this generation.
BBEAnd 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.
WebsterAnd he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek for a sign? Verily I say to you, There shall no sign be given to this generation.

What does Mark 8:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. And he sighed deeply in his spirit--The language is very strong. These glimpses into the interior of the Redeemer's heart, in which our Evangelist abounds, are more precious than rubies. The state of the Pharisaic heart, which prompted this desire for a fresh sign, went to His very soul. and saith, Why doth this generation--"this wicked and adulterous generation" (Mt 16:4). seek after a sign?--when they have had such abundant evidence already. There shall no sign be given unto this generation--literally, "If there shall be given to this generation a sign"; a Jewish way of expressing a solemn and peremptory determination to the contrary (compare He 4:5; Psa 95:11, Margin). "A generation incapable of appreciating such demonstrations shall not be gratified with them." In Mt 16:4 He added, "but the sign of the prophet Jonas." (See on Mt 12:39, 40.)

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Sighed deeply in his spirit. His soul, his heart, was deeply affected at their wickedness and hypocrisy. The word spirit, here, means human soul. He drew groans deeply from his breast.

No sign be given. That is, no such sign as they asked--to wit, a sign from heaven. He said a sign should be given, the same as was furnished by Jonas, Mt 16:1. But this was not what they asked, nor would it be given because they asked it.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit - Or having deeply groaned - so the word αναστεναξας properly means. He was exceedingly affected at their obstinacy and hardness of heart. See Mat 16:1-4.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · 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…

Read the full comment on Mark 8:11-21 →

Mark 8:12 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
ἀναστενάξαςanastenaxashaving sighed deeplyG389
τῷtōin theG3588
πνεύματιpneumatispiritG4151
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
λέγει·legeiHe says;G3004
τίtiWhyG5101
ἡhē<the>G3588
γενεὰgeneagenerationG1074
αὕτηhautēthisG3778
ζητεῖzēteiseeksG2212
σημεῖον;sēmeiona sign?G4592
ἀμὴνamēnAmenG281
λέγωlegōI sayG3004
ὑμῖν,huminto you,G4771
εἰeiifG1487
δοθήσεταιdothēsetaithere will be givenG1325
τῇtēato theG3588
γενεᾷgeneagenerationG1074
ταύτῃtautēthisG3778
σημεῖον.sēmeiona sign.G4592

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

Cross references for Mark 8:12

  • Matthew 12:39-40

    But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

  • Mark 7:34

    And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

  • John 12:37-43

    But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. …

  • Matthew 16:4

    A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

  • Luke 11:29-30

    And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

  • Mark 3:5

    And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

  • Luke 22:67-70

    Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

  • Isaiah 53:3

    He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

  • Mark 9:19

    He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

  • Luke 16:29-31

    Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

  • Luke 19:41

    And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

  • Mark 6:6

    And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he sighed.
3:5; 7:34; 9:19; Isa 53:3; Lu 19:41; Joh 11:33-38
Why.
6:6; Lu 16:29-31; 22:67-70; Joh 12:37-43
There.
Mt 12:39,40; 16:4; Lu 11:29,30

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Mark 8:13

    And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

Read all of Mark 8

Mark 8:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y gimiendo en su espíritu, dice: ¿Por qué pide señal esta generación? De cierto os digo que no se dará señal á esta generación.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et, soupirant en son esprit, il dit: Pourquoi cette génération demande-t-elle un signe? En vérité, je vous dis: il ne sera point donné de signe à cette génération.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und in seinem Geiste tief seufzend, spricht er: Was begehrt dieses Geschlecht ein Zeichen? Wahrlich, ich sage euch: Wenn diesem Geschlecht ein Zeichen gegeben werden wird!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et ingemiscens spiritu, ait: Quid generatio ista signum quærit? Amen dico vobis, si dabitur generationi isti signum.