Mark 8 13

Mark 8:13 kjv

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

Mark 8:13 nkjv

And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side.

Mark 8:13 niv

Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

Mark 8:13 esv

And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

Mark 8:13 nlt

So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.

Mark 8 verses

Mark 8 13 Meaning

Mark 8:13 describes Jesus' immediate and decisive action of leaving the Pharisees and Herodians after their demand for a sign from heaven, demonstrating His refusal to engage further with their hardened unbelief. He then physically separates Himself by crossing the Sea of Galilee, signaling a shift in His focus and ministry from fruitless confrontation with His adversaries to concentrated teaching with His disciples.

Mark 8 13 Context

Mark 8:13 follows directly from Jesus' encounter with the Pharisees and Herodians in Dalmanutha/Magadan (Mark 8:10-12). They had challenged Him, demanding a miraculous sign from heaven to authenticate His messianic claims, despite the many undeniable miracles He had already performed (e.g., healing, feeding multitudes twice). Jesus responded with a deep sigh, expressing His profound grief over their spiritual blindness and stubborn unbelief. This verse marks His decisive withdrawal from such futile confrontations. Geographically, "the other side" (east of the Sea of Galilee) typically signified a move towards regions with mixed Jewish and Gentile populations, or perhaps a less hostile Jewish environment compared to where He had just been. The larger narrative context shows Jesus increasingly shifting His ministry from widespread public miracles to more intimate teaching with His disciples about His impending suffering and the true nature of the Kingdom of God, preparing them for His ultimate sacrifice in Jerusalem.

Mark 8 13 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ, Kai): A common conjunction, here serves to immediately connect Jesus' action to the previous incident, emphasizing His prompt and conclusive response to the Pharisees' demand. It signifies continuity of the narrative flow but a decisive break in engagement.
• leaving (ἀφεὶς, apheis): Aorist participle of the verb aphiēmi (ἀφίημι). This word signifies to dismiss, send away, let go, or even abandon. In this context, it carries a strong implication of deliberate and decisive separation, indicating Jesus’ refusal to engage further with those who persistently demand signs and refuse to believe despite abundant evidence. It is a pedagogical departure as much as a physical one, turning away from those unwilling to learn.
• them (αὐτοὺς, autous): Refers specifically to the Pharisees and those aligned with them (Herodians from Mark 8:15). It highlights the specific group Jesus is leaving behind due to their obstinate disbelief.
• He got into (ἐμβὰς, embas): Aorist participle of embainō (ἐμβαίνω), meaning "to step into" or "to embark." It denotes the immediate action Jesus took, transitioning from the land to His means of travel across the sea. It suggests purposefulness and readiness for departure.
• the boat (εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, eis to ploion): Refers to the boat that Jesus and His disciples regularly used for travel across the Sea of Galilee. It was a familiar vehicle for His ministry and movements.
• again (πάλιν, palin): This adverb is significant, indicating a repetitive action or return to a previous mode of operation. It implies that Jesus had done this before, entering the boat after a ministry event or conflict (e.g., Mk 6:45 after the feeding of the 5,000). It shows His consistent itinerant ministry, often using the lake for transit between different regions.
• and departed (ἀπῆλθεν, apēlthen): Aorist indicative of aperchomai (ἀπέρχομαι), meaning "to go away" or "to depart." This active verb emphasizes Jesus' own deliberate decision and physical act of removing Himself from the hostile environment. It conveys finality in that interaction.
• to the other side (εἰς τὸ πέραν, eis to peran): A fixed phrase meaning "to the opposite side" or "to the far shore" of the Sea of Galilee. This geographical relocation indicates a shift in setting and often a change in the nature of His interactions or teachings. From the western shore (typically Jewish territory where Dalmanutha was located) to the eastern shore (often associated with Gentile areas or less religiously orthodox Jewish settlements like the Decapolis region), it symbolically represents a turn from outright public ministry or confrontation to a different phase.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And leaving them": This phrase encapsulates Jesus' resolute and unyielding response to persistent unbelief. His "leaving" them is not merely a physical exit but a powerful statement of divine patience reaching its boundary. It signifies the end of His direct engagement with those who deliberately reject truth despite abundant evidence. This action aligns with a divine principle: truth will not be endlessly forced upon closed hearts.
• "He got into the boat again": This highlights Jesus' consistent, purposeful itineration. The repetition ("again") shows a return to His accustomed method of moving between ministry locations. It emphasizes His proactive control over His ministry schedule, choosing to withdraw from unspiritual demands and redirecting His focus and energy elsewhere.
• "and departed to the other side": This describes Jesus' swift and complete physical disengagement from the area of conflict. The geographical movement signifies a broader shift in His ministerial strategy. From confronting entrenched religious opposition, He turns to cultivate and instruct His disciples in a more intimate and less adversarial environment, away from public challenges, foreshadowing His coming passion and resurrection.

Mark 8 13 Bonus section

This departure by boat foreshadows the upcoming scene where Jesus teaches His disciples about the "leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod" (Mark 8:14-21). Their journey across the lake provides the immediate setting for this important lesson, highlighting that Jesus' withdrawal from His opponents was a deliberate act of redirecting His teaching to those who were open, even if slow, to understand. It emphasizes a progressive hardening of the religious establishment against Jesus, and concurrently, Jesus' intentionality in dedicating more time and deeper instruction to His chosen followers. This verse marks a turning point in Mark's narrative, transitioning from public ministry focused on miracles to more concentrated teaching for the inner circle about discipleship and the suffering Messiah.

Mark 8 13 Commentary

Mark 8:13 vividly portrays Jesus' profound sorrow and firm resolve in the face of spiritual stubbornness. Having performed countless miracles, healed the sick, and fed thousands, Jesus encounters a cynical demand for "a sign from heaven." His deep sigh in the preceding verse (Mk 8:12) underscores His grief over the Pharisees' hardheartedness – their inability or unwillingness to discern God's active presence in their midst, always seeking spectacular proof while rejecting the self-evident.

By immediately "leaving them" and crossing the sea, Jesus illustrates a critical principle of divine wisdom: persistent engagement with willful unbelief becomes fruitless. He refuses to entertain the unrighteous demands of those who resist the Spirit. This departure is not a retreat of weakness but a strategic reallocation of His divine presence and teaching. It signifies a pivotal moment where Jesus shifts His focus from trying to convince the hostile religious leaders to intensively training His disciples. The journey to "the other side" often symbolizes a move towards new territory or a new phase of ministry, away from confrontation and towards more intimate revelations about His suffering, death, and resurrection, which are central to Mark's gospel from this point forward.

Example: Imagine trying to teach someone who constantly demands proof for every basic statement, even after seeing consistent demonstrations. At some point, a wise teacher moves on to those who are receptive and eager to learn, investing their time where it will yield fruit. This is analogous to Jesus' action in Mark 8:13; He withdrew His presence and shifted His efforts to His disciples.