Mark 8 · Verse 16

Mark 8:16

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
Mark 8:16, King James Version

Mark 8:16 in other translations

BSBSo they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.
WEBThey reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.”
ASVAnd they reasoned one with another, saying, We have no bread.
YLTand they were reasoning with one another, saying--‘Because we have no loaves.'
DARBYAnd they reasoned with one another, saying, It is because we have no bread.
BBEAnd they said to one another, We have no bread.
WebsterAnd they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

What does Mark 8:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread--But a little while ago He was tried with the obduracy of the Pharisees; now He is tried with the obtuseness of His own disciples. The nine questions following each other in rapid succession (Mr 8:17-21) show how deeply He was hurt at this want of spiritual apprehension, and worse still, their low thoughts of Him, as if He would utter so solemn a warning on so petty a subject. It will be seen, however, from the very form of their conjecture, "It is because we have no bread," and our Lord's astonishment that they should not by that time have known better with what He took up His attention--that He ever left the whole care for His own temporal wants to the Twelve: that He did this so entirely, that finding they were reduced to their last loaf they felt as if unworthy of such a trust, and could not think but that the same thought was in their Lord's mind which was pressing upon their own; but that in this they were so far wrong that it hurt His feelings--sharp just in proportion to His love--that such a thought of Him should have entered their minds! Who that, like angels, "desire to look into these things" will not prize such glimpses above gold?

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · 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 8:16 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
διελογίζοντοdielogizontothey were reasoningG1260
πρὸςproswithG4314
ἀλλήλουςallēlousone anotherG240
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
ἄρτουςartousloavesG740
οὐκouknotG3756
ἔχουσιν.echousinthey have.G2192

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

Cross references for Mark 8:16

  • Luke 20:5

    And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

  • Luke 9:46

    Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

  • Matthew 16:7-8

    And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mt 16:7,8; Lu 9:46; 20:5

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

Context

  • Mark 8:15

    And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

  • Mark 8:16

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

  • Mark 8:17

    And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

Read all of Mark 8

Mark 8:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y altercaban los unos con los otros diciendo: Pan no tenemos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ils raisonnaient entre eux, disant: C’est parce que nous n’avons pas de pains.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie überlegten miteinander und sprachen: Weil wir keine Brote haben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et cogitabant ad alterutrum, dicentes: quia panes non habemus.