Mark 8 · Verse 34

Mark 8:34

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mark 8:34, King James Version

Mark 8:34 in other translations

BSBThen Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
WEBHe called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
ASVAnd he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
YLTAnd having called near the multitude, with his disciples, he said to them, ‘Whoever doth will to come after me--let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow me;
DARBYAnd having called the crowd with his disciples, he said to them, Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.
BBEAnd turning to the mass of people with his disciples, he said to them, If any man has the desire to come after me, let him give up all other desires, and take up his cross and come after me.
WebsterAnd when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, he said to them, Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

What does Mark 8:34 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 34.

(l) "Whosoever" Mt 10:38, 16:24, Lk 9:23, 14:27, Tit 2:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 34 Whosoever will come after me - It seems that Christ formed, on the proselytism of the Jews, the principal qualities which he required in the proselytes of his covenant. The first condition of proselytism among the Jews was, that he that came to embrace their religion should come voluntarily, and that neither force nor influence should be employed in this business. This is also the first condition required by Jesus Christ, and which he considers as the foundation of all the rest: - If a man be willing to come after me. The second condition required in the Jewish proselyte was, that he should perfectly renounce all his prejudices, his errors, his idolatry, and every thing that concerned his false religion; and that he should entirely separate himself from his most intimate friends and acquaintances. It was on this ground that the Jews called proselytism a new birth, and proselytes new-born, and new men; and our Lord requires men to be born again, not only of water, but by the Holy Ghost. See Joh 3:5. All this our Lord includes in this word, Let him renounce himself. To this the following scriptures refer: Mat 10:33; Joh 3:3, Joh 3:5, 2Cor 5:17. The third condition on which a person was admitted into the Jewish Church as a proselyte was, that he should submit to the yoke of the Jewish law, and bear patiently the inconveniences and sufferings with which a profession of the Mosaic religion might be accompanied. Christ requires the same condition; but, instead of the yoke of the law, he brings in his own doctrine, which he calls his yoke, Mat 11:29 : and his cross, the taking up of which not only implies a bold profession of Christ crucified, but also a cheerful submitting to all the sufferings and persecutions to which he might be exposed, and even to death itself. The fourth condition was, that they should solemnly engage to continue in the Jewish religion, faithful even unto death. This condition Christ also requires; and it is comprised in this word, Let him Follow me. See the following verses; and see, on the subject of proselytism, Rut 1:16, Rut 1:17 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 8:34-38
Frequent notice is taken of the great flocking there was to Christ for help in various cases. All are concerned to know this, if they expect him to heal their souls. They must not indulge the ease of the body. As the happiness of heaven with Christ, is enough to make up for the loss of life itself for him, so the gain of all the world in sin, will not make up for the ruin of the soul by sin. And there is a day coming, when the cause of Christ will appear as glorious, as some now think it mean and contemptible. May we think of that season, and view every earthly object as we shall do at that great day.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Mark 8:34 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
προσκαλεσάμενοςproskalesamenoshaving called to [Him]G4341
τὸνtontheG3588
ὄχλονochloncrowdG3793
σὺνsunwithG4862
τοῖςtoistheG3588
μαθηταῖςmathētaisdisciplesG3101
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
εἶπενeipenHe saidG2036
αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846
εἴeiIfG1487
τιςtisanyoneG5100
θέλειtheleidesiresG2309
ὀπίσωopisōafterG3694
μουmouMeG3165
ἀκολουθεῖν,akoloutheinto follow,G190
ἀπαρνησάσθωaparnēsasthōhe should denyG533
ἑαυτὸνhe'autonhimselfG1438
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀράτωaratōhe should take upG142
τὸνtontheG3588
σταυρὸνstauroncrossG4716
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀκολουθείτωakoloutheitōhe should followG190
μοι.moiMe.G3165

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

Cross references for Mark 8:34

  • Matthew 10:38

    And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

  • Luke 14:26-27

    If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

  • John 10:27

    My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

  • Galatians 5:24

    And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

  • Galatians 2:20

    I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

  • 1 Kings 14:8

    And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes;

  • 1 John 3:16

    Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

  • Numbers 14:24

    But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

  • Matthew 16:24

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Philippians 3:10

    That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

  • Luke 9:23

    And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

  • Romans 8:17

    And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
called.
7:14; Lu 9:23; 20:45
Whosoever.
9:43-48; Mt 5:29,30; 7:13,14; 16:24; Lu 13:24; 14:27,33; Ro 15:1-3
1Co 8:13; 9:19; Php 3:7; Tit 2:12
take.
10:21; Mt 10:38; 27:32; Joh 19:17; Ac 14:22; Ro 6:6; 8:17; 1Co 4:9-13
1Co 15:31; Ga 2:20; 5:24; 6:14; Php 3:10; Col 1:24; 3:5; 2Th 3:11
1Pe 4:1,13; Re 2:10
follow.
Nu 14:24; 1Ki 14:8; Lu 14:26; 18:22; Joh 10:27; 13:36,37; 21:19,20
Heb 13:13; 2Pe 1:14; 1Jo 3:16

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

Context

  • Mark 8:33

    But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

  • Mark 8:34

    And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Mark 8:35

    For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

Read all of Mark 8

Mark 8:34 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y llamando á la gente con sus discípulos, les dijo: Cualquiera que quisiere venir en pos de mí, niéguese á sí mismo, y tome su cruz, y sígame.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ayant appelé la foule avec ses disciples, il leur dit: Quiconque veut venir après moi, qu’il se renonce soi-même, et qu’il prenne sa croix, et me suive:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als er die Volksmenge samt seinen Jüngern herzugerufen hatte, sprach er zu ihnen: Wer irgend mir nachkommen will, verleugne sich selbst und nehme sein Kreuz auf und folge mir nach.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et convocata turba cum discipulis suis, dixit eis: Si quis vult me sequi, deneget semetipsum: et tollat crucem suam, et sequatur me.