Mark 8:28 kjv
And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
Mark 8:28 nkjv
So they answered, "John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets."
Mark 8:28 niv
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
Mark 8:28 esv
And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets."
Mark 8:28 nlt
"Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets."
Mark 8 28 Cross References
h2| Verse | Text | Reference ||------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|| Mk 6:14-16 | King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name... saying John the Baptist has been raised from the dead... Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” | Herod and others confused Jesus for John or a prophet || Lk 9:7-8 | Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done... saying that John had risen from the dead... others that Elijah had appeared; and others that one of the old prophets had risen. | Parallel account of public speculation on Jesus' identity || Mt 14:1-2 | At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus... "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead..." | Herod’s fear that Jesus was John the Baptist || Mal 4:5-6 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord..." | Prophecy of Elijah’s return before Messiah || Mt 11:13-14 | "For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come." | Jesus identifying John the Baptist as the prophetic Elijah || Mt 17:10-13 | And the disciples asked him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him..." | Jesus reiterates John as Elijah after the Transfiguration || Lk 1:17 | And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children... | Angel foretells John the Baptist’s role as Elijah's successor || Deut 18:15 | "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear..." | Prophecy of a prophet like Moses || Deut 18:18 | "I will raise up for them a Prophet from among their brethren, like you; and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him." | Prophecy of a prophet like Moses to whom Israel must listen || Jn 6:14 | Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” | After feeding the 5000, some see Jesus as "the Prophet" || Jn 7:40 | Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” | Further public identification of Jesus as "the Prophet" || Mt 21:11 | So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” | People recognize Jesus as a prophet entering Jerusalem || Lk 7:16 | Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us,” and, “God has visited His people.” | After raising the widow’s son, Jesus recognized as a great prophet || Acts 3:22-23 | "For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you...'” | Peter applies Deut 18:15,18 to Jesus, identifying Him as "the Prophet" || Mk 8:29 | He then asked them, “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” | Immediate context: Peter’s correct confession contrasting public opinion || Jn 1:41 | He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). | Andrew identifies Jesus as Messiah, stronger than a prophet || Heb 1:1-2 | God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son... | Contrasts prophetic revelation with God speaking through His Son || Lk 24:19 | "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people..." | Disciples on the road to Emmaus initially identify Jesus as a powerful prophet || Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | The ultimate true identity and exaltation of Jesus, far beyond any prophet || Col 1:15-17 | He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth... and in Him all things consist. | Jesus’ cosmic supremacy and divine nature, far above human perceptions || Jn 1:21 | And they asked him, "Who then are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." | John the Baptist clarifies he is neither Elijah nor "the Prophet" (like Moses) || Acts 7:37 | "This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren Him you shall hear.'" | Stephen also applies Deut 18:15 to Jesus during his discourse |
Mark 8 verses
Mark 8 28 Meaning
h2Mark 8:28 captures the popular perceptions of Jesus' identity among the general public at a pivotal moment in His ministry. When Jesus asks His disciples what people are saying about Him, they report a diverse range of answers, specifically identifying Him as John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. These answers reflect deeply held Jewish beliefs about powerful eschatological figures, but critically, none correctly identifies Jesus as the Messiah or Son of God. This revelation of public misconception sets the stage for Peter's divinely revealed confession in the very next verse, highlighting the profound difference between popular opinion and true spiritual understanding of Jesus' unique person and mission.
Mark 8 28 Context
h2Mark 8:28 is situated immediately after Jesus has miraculously healed a blind man at Bethsaida, an event that symbolically prepares the disciples' spiritual eyes to "see" His true identity. It occurs during Jesus' journey north into the region of Caesarea Philippi, a Gentile area, emphasizing the transition from His public ministry to a more concentrated teaching of His disciples about His impending suffering, death, and resurrection. This specific verse initiates a crucial dialogue with the disciples (Mk 8:27-29) by first eliciting common popular opinion about His identity, before prompting His disciples for their own conviction. It sets a critical theological contrast between widespread, incomplete human understanding and Peter's subsequent divinely revealed confession of Jesus as the Christ. Historically, the Jewish populace had various expectations for a deliverer, including a returning prophet like Elijah, or a new prophet like Moses, all of which fall short of Jesus' divine Sonship and Messiahship.
Mark 8 28 Word analysis
h2
They replied (οἱ δὲ ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ - hoi de apekrithēsan autō): "They" refers to the disciples who had been with Jesus. Their response indicates they had listened to public discourse about Jesus. The verb "replied" (ἀπεκρίθησαν) suggests a direct answer to Jesus' question about popular opinion.
Some say (τινὲς/ἄλλοι - tines/alloi): This plural pronoun indicates a variety of public views, signifying a lack of consensus. It highlights that no single, unified understanding of Jesus existed among the masses, foreshadowing the need for the disciples to have a clearer, unified understanding.
John the Baptist (Ἰωάννην τὸν βαπτιστήν - Iōannēn ton baptistēn): This refers to John, who had recently been executed by Herod. The association likely stemmed from Jesus' powerful teaching and, perhaps, the public's misunderstanding or belief that John had been resurrected with miraculous power (Mk 6:14-16). John was recognized as a significant prophet, making this a high estimation, though incorrect.
Elijah (Ἠλίαν - Ēlian): Elijah was a preeminent prophet, known for his dramatic departure from earth (2 Ki 2:11) and the prophecy that he would return before the "great and dreadful day of the Lord" (Mal 4:5-6). Many believed Elijah would usher in the Messianic age. Identifying Jesus as Elijah acknowledged His profound prophetic authority and perhaps an expectation of a great divine intervention. This recognition of Jesus as Elijah suggests that people viewed Him as a harbinger of significant eschatological events, aligning Him with a figure of immense power and divine appointment.
One of the prophets (ἕνα τῶν προφητῶν - hena tōn prophētōn): This is a broader category, signifying that people recognized Jesus' prophetic words, miracles, and moral authority as aligning Him with the great prophetic figures of Israel's past (like Jeremiah, Elisha, or even the prophet like Moses foretold in Deut 18:15). This perception acknowledged Jesus' extraordinary nature, recognizing Him as a messenger of God and a spiritual leader.
Words-group analysis:
- "John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets": This list reveals the extent of human speculation about Jesus, confined within existing categories of Israel's prophetic and eschatological traditions. While these figures were revered and anticipated, none embodied the full truth of Jesus' divine Sonship or His identity as the Christ. The commonality among these answers is the recognition of Jesus as a prophet, someone deeply connected to God and performing signs, yet it remains an incomplete understanding that needs divine revelation for true recognition. This collection of answers signifies popular respect for Jesus, placing Him among the greatest figures in Israelite history, but falls short of recognizing His unique, divine status as the promised Messiah and Son of God, a revelation reserved for Peter and the disciples in the subsequent verse.
Mark 8 28 Bonus section
h2This verse participates in what scholars term the "Messianic Secret" in Mark's Gospel. While Jesus often commanded demons or those He healed not to reveal His identity, here He actively solicits views about Himself from the public. The incorrect and incomplete popular opinions create a stark contrast, preparing the audience for Peter's direct and divinely inspired confession of Jesus as "the Christ" (Mk 8:29). This conversation acts as a pedagogical moment for the disciples, clarifying that true understanding of Jesus comes not from popular speculation, but from revelation, leading them closer to the understanding of His divine nature and ultimate redemptive mission, which would entail suffering rather than immediate triumphalism. The sequence of healing the blind man, this dialogue about public perception, and then Peter's confession, suggests a spiritual progression for the disciples from partial sight to full spiritual understanding of Jesus' person.
Mark 8 28 Commentary
h2Mark 8:28 is a critical pivot in Jesus' ministry narrative, moving from public acclaim to the private revelation of His true identity to His disciples. The responses offered by the disciples—John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets—reflect deeply ingrained Jewish messianic and eschatological expectations. People recognized Jesus' extraordinary power, wisdom, and miraculous deeds, thus placing Him among the most revered figures in Israel's history. Herod, consumed by guilt, believed Jesus was John resurrected. Many devout Jews anticipated Elijah's return as a precursor to the Messiah. The general identification as "one of the prophets" affirmed Jesus' spiritual authority and divine connection, especially after observing His profound teachings and miracles. However, none of these perceptions, though high praise, captured Jesus' unique divine essence as the Christ, the Son of the living God. This serves to highlight the limitations of human perception based on past experiences and expectations, setting the stage for Peter's Spirit-inspired confession. It underscores that truly knowing Jesus' identity requires more than external observation; it demands revelation.