MARK 8:12 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) [ref]Yeshua grieved inside and asked, “Why do you people need to see a miracle before you’ll believe me? Actually, no miracle will be done for this generation.”

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And having sighed greatly in his spirit, he says, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say to you, if a sign will be given to this generation …”

UST Jesus groaned to himself. Then he said, “You people who are alive right now should not ask me to perform a miracle that proves that God sent me. I will never do that kind of miracle for you people! What I have said is true.”

BSB [Jesus] 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.”

MSB [Jesus] sighed deeply in His spirit [and] said, “Why [does] this generation seek after[fn] a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

BLB And having sighed deeply in His spirit, He says, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."

AICNT And sighing deeply in his spirit, he says, “Why does this generation seek a sign? [Truly][fn] [I say][fn] to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

8:12, Truly: Absent from some manuscripts including P45, B(03)(03), and W(032).

8:12, I say: Absent from some manuscripts including P45 and W(032).

OEB Sighing deeply, Jesus said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? I tell you, no sign will be given it.’

WEBBE He sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation[fn] seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

8:12 The word translated “generation” here (genea) could also be translated “people”, “race”, or “family”.

WMBB (Same as above including footnotes)

NET Sighing deeply in his spirit he said, “Why does this generation look for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to this generation.”

LSV and having sighed deeply in His spirit, He says, “Why does this generation seek after a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

FBV Jesus sighed deeply, and asked, “Why do you people[fn] want a sign? I tell you the truth: I will not give you a sign.”

8:12 Literally, “this generation.”

TCNT Sighing deeply in his spirit, he said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I say [fn]to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

8:12 to you 99.5% ¦ — WH 0.3%

T4T Jesus sighed quietly to himself, and then he said, “I am disgusted that [RHQ], even though you people have seen how I have healed people, you keep asking me to perform miracles! Note this: Such a miracle will certainly not be shown {I will certainly not show such a miracle} just for you people!”

LEB And sighing deeply in his spirit, he said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation!”

BBE And 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.

Moff But he sighed in spirit and said,
⇔ "Why does this generation demand a Sign?
⇔ I tell you truly, no Sign shall be given this generation."

Wymth Heaving a deep and troubled sigh, He said, "Why do the men of to-day ask for a sign? In solemn truth I tell you that no sign will be given to the men of to-day."

ASV And 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.

DRA And sighing deeply in spirit, he saith: Why doth this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, a sign shall not be given to this generation.

YLT and 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.'

Drby And 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.

RV And 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.
(And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith/says, Why doth/does this generation seek a sign? verily/truly I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. )

SLT And having sighed deeply in spirit, he says, Why seeks this generation for a sign Verily I say to you, shall a sign be given to this generation.

Wbstr And 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.

KJB-1769 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.
(And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith/says, Why doth/does this generation seek after a sign? verily/truly I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. )

KJB-1611 And he sighed deepely in his spirit, and saith, Why doeth this generation seeke after a signe? Uerely I say vnto you, There shall no signe be giuen vnto this generation.
(And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith/says, Why doth/does this generation seek after a signe? Verily/Truly I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.)

Bshps And when he had sighed depely in his spirite, he sayth: Why doth this generatio seke a signe? Ueryly I say vnto you, there shall no signe be geue vnto this generation.
(And when he had sighed depely in his spirit, he saith/says: Why doth/does this generatio seek a signe? Verily/Truly I say unto you, there shall no sign be give unto this generation.)

Gnva Then hee sighed deepely in his spirit, and saide, Why doeth this generation seeke a signe? Verely I say vnto you, a signe shall not be giuen vnto this generation.
(Then he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, Why doth/does this generation seek a signe? Verily/Truly I say unto you, a sign shall not be given unto this generation. )

Cvdl And he sighed in his sprete, and sayde: Why doth this generacion seke a token? Verely I saye vnto you: There shal no toke be geue vnto this generacion.
(And he sighed in his spirit, and said: Why doth/does this generation seek a token? Verily/Truly I say unto you: There shall no took be give unto this generation.)

TNT And he sygthed in his sprete and sayde: why doth this generacion seke a signe? Verely I saye vnto you ther shall no signe be geven vnto this generacion.
(And he sygthed in his spirit and said: why doth/does this generation seek a signe? Verily/Truly I say unto you there shall no sign be given unto this generation. )

Wycl And he sorewynge `with ynne in spirit, seide, What sekith this generacioun a tokne? Treuli Y seie to you, a tokene schal not be youun to this generacioun.
(And he sorewing within in spirit, said, What seeketh/seeks this generation a tokne? Truly I say to you, a token shall not be given to this generation.)

Luth Und er seufzete in seinem Geist und sprach: Was sucht doch dies Geschlecht Zeichen? Wahrlich, ich sage euch, es wird diesem Geschlecht kein Zeichen gegeben.
(And he sighed in his spirit and spoke: What searches though/but this/these descendant sign? Truly, I said you, it becomes this_one descendant no/not sign given.)

ClVg Et ingemiscens spiritu, ait: Quid generatio ista signum quærit? Amen dico vobis, si dabitur generationi isti signum.[fn]
(And sighns in_spirit, he_said: What generation these_(ones) sign/signal seeks? Amen I_mean/say to_you(pl), when/but_if will_be_given generationi these sign/signal. )

8.12 Si dabitur. AUG. De concordia evangelistarum. In Marco ita scriptum esse dicit: et signum non dabitur ei. BEDA. Generationi isti, id est tentantium Deum et contradicentium verbis ejus, non dabitur signum de cœlo, quod tentantes, etc., usque ad ad impositionem manuum apostolorum gratiam sancti Spiritus de cœlo plurimis credentibus infudit.

8.12 When/But_if will_be_given. AUG. From/About concordia evangelistrum. In Marco so/thus written to_be he_says: and sign/signal not/no will_be_given to_him. BEDA. Generationi these, that it_is tentantium God and contradicentium with_words his, not/no will_be_given sign/signal from/about sky, that tempting, etc., until to imposition hands of_the_apostles grace holy Spirit from/about sky very_many to_believers poured_in.

UGNT καὶ ἀναστενάξας τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ λέγει, τί ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη ζητεῖ σημεῖον? ἀμὴν, λέγω ὑμῖν, εἰ δοθήσεται τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ σημεῖον.
(kai anastenaxas tōi pneumati autou legei, ti haʸ genea hautaʸ zaʸtei saʸmeion? amaʸn, legō humin, ei dothaʸsetai taʸ genea tautaʸ saʸmeion.)

SBL-GNT καὶ ἀναστενάξας τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ λέγει· Τί ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη ⸂ζητεῖ σημεῖον⸃; ἀμὴν λέγω ⸀ὑμῖν, εἰ δοθήσεται τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ σημεῖον.
(kai anastenaxas tōi pneumati autou legei; Ti haʸ genea hautaʸ ⸂zaʸtei saʸmeion⸃; amaʸn legō ⸀humin, ei dothaʸsetai taʸ genea tautaʸ saʸmeion.)

RP-GNT Καὶ ἀναστενάξας τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ λέγει, Τί ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη σημεῖον ἐπιζητεῖ; Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, εἰ δοθήσεται τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ σημεῖον.
(Kai anastenaxas tōi pneumati autou legei, Ti haʸ genea hautaʸ saʸmeion epizaʸtei; Amaʸn legō humin, ei dothaʸsetai taʸ genea tautaʸ saʸmeion.)

TC-GNT Καὶ ἀναστενάξας τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ λέγει, Τί ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη [fn]σημεῖον ἐπιζητεῖ; Ἀμὴν λέγω [fn]ὑμῖν, εἰ δοθήσεται τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ σημεῖον.
(Kai anastenaxas tōi pneumati autou legei, Ti haʸ genea hautaʸ saʸmeion epizaʸtei; Amaʸn legō humin, ei dothaʸsetai taʸ genea tautaʸ saʸmeion. )

8:12 σημειον επιζητει ¦ ζητει σημειον CT

8:12 υμιν 99.5% ¦ — WH 0.3%

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:11–13: The Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign from heaven

According to 8:10, Jesus and his disciples traveled in a boat to the region of Dalmanutha. Some time after they arrived, some Pharisees came to Jesus. We do not know the specific time or place. They demanded that he show them a sign from heaven, but Jesus refused and left their area.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The demand of the Pharisees for a sign from heaven

The Pharisees demand a miraculous sign

There is a parallel passage for this section in Matthew 16:1–4.

8:12a

Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said,

Jesus sighed with intense feeling and said,
Distressed by their unbelief, he groaned and said to them,

Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as sighed deeply in His spirit is literally “having sighed-deeply in his spirit.” The words in His spirit indicate that Jesus sighed because of the strong emotions that he felt in his inner being. In this context, he sighed because he was feeling disturbed and disappointed over the Pharisees’ attitude. The Greek verb that is used here is a more intense form of the verb that was translated as “sighed deeply” in 7:34b.

In some languages a literal translation of the words in His spirit would wrongly imply that Jesus had another spirit that he was communicating with. In other languages it would sound unnatural. If this is true in your language, you may leave these words implicit. Be sure to communicate the idea of strong emotion in a way that is natural in your language.

8:12b

“Why does this generation demand a sign?

“Why do the people who are living now/today demand to see a sign from heaven?
“You^(plur) people should not be asking to see a miracle that shows that God is the one who has given me power.

Why does this generation demand a sign?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to rebuke the Pharisees because they asked Jesus to perform a special miracle just to satisfy them. There are at least two ways to translate this rebuke:

As a rhetorical question. For example, the NCV says:
Why do you people ask for a miracle as a sign?
As a statement. For example:
You people should not be asking for a miraculous sign.

Use whichever form is most natural to express this rebuke in your language.

this generation: In this context, the phrase this generation refers to the adults who lived at the same time as Jesus. It does not refer only to the Pharisees who were arguing with him.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

the people of this day (GNT)

these people (GW)

you people of this generation

a sign: The Greek word that the BSB translates as sign is the same word that it translated as “sign” in 8:11b. It refers to the sign from heaven that the Pharisees demanded to see.

8:12c

Truly I tell you,

Here is the truth about that:
I sincerely/earnestly declare to you that

Truly I tell you: Jesus used the phrase Truly I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and totally reliable, and that people should listen carefully to it. Jesus used this phrase eight times in Mark. Sometimes it introduces a serious warning or prediction. Here this phrase introduces the fact that Jesus refused to give the Pharisees a sign.

See how you translated this expression in 3:28a. In some languages you may need to translate the phrase differently in different contexts. Do not translate in a way that implies that Jesus had not been telling the truth at other times.

Here are some ways that English versions have translated the phrase in this context:

I can guarantee this truth: (GW)

No, I tell you! (GNT)

I assure you (NLT96)

I can promise you that (CEV)

8:12d

no sign will be given to this generation.”

no miraculous sign will be shown to you.^(plur)”
I will not do any miracle to show you that God has given me power.”

no sign will be given to this generation: The clause no sign will be given to this generation indicates that the adults who were alive at that time would not be given a miraculous sign. This clause is passive. Jesus was saying that he refused to perform a special miracle for the Pharisees. In some languages you may need to use an active verb and supply a subject. For example, the NLT says:

I will not give this generation any such sign.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

ἀναστενάξας τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ

˓having˒_sighed_deeply ˱in˲_the spirit ˱of˲_him

When Jesus sighed greatly, it indicated that he was sad and upset about what the Pharisees had asked him to do. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to how people in your culture express sadness or frustration nonverbally, or you could explain the meaning of what Jesus did. Alternate translation: [having breathed out loudly] or [having shown that he was upset by sighing greatly]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ

˱in˲_the spirit ˱of˲_him

Here, the word spirit refers to the nonphysical part of people. Mark means that Jesus sighed inwardly, to himself. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [in his heart] or [within himself]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

τί ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη ζητεῖ σημεῖον? ἀμὴν, λέγω ὑμῖν, εἰ δοθήσεται τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ σημεῖον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἀναστενάξας τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ λέγει Τί ἡ γενεά αὕτη ζητεῖ σημεῖον Ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν εἰ δοθήσεται τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ σημεῖον)

Jesus is speaking about his audience in the third person instead of directly addressing them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use the second person here instead. Alternate translation: [Why do you who are of this generation seek a sign? Truly I say to you, if a sign will be given to you who are of this generation …]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη ζητεῖ σημεῖον?

Jesus is using the question form to rebuke the Pharisees. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [This generation has no reason to seek a sign.] or [I am surprised that this generation seeks a sign!]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη ζητεῖ & τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ

¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἀναστενάξας τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ λέγει Τί ἡ γενεά αὕτη ζητεῖ σημεῖον Ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν εἰ δοθήσεται τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ σημεῖον)

Here, generation represents the people who are part of the generation, which means that they are adults who are currently alive. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [do today’s people seek … to today’s people] or [do the people of this generation seek … to the people of this generation]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

(Occurrence -1) σημεῖον

Here, just as in [8:11](../08/11.md), the implication is that the sign is a miracle that proves that Jesus’ authority comes from God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [a sign that shows that my authority is from God … such a sign]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-condition-contrary

εἰ δοθήσεται τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ σημεῖον

never ˓will_be_being˒_given ¬the ˱to˲_generation this ˓a˒_sign

Here Jesus uses the word if to introduce a statement that he knows will not be true. What the form means is that a sign will definitely not be given to this generation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a strong negation. Alternate translation: [A sign will never be given to this generation!]

Note 7 topic: writing-oathformula

εἰ δοθήσεται τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ σημεῖον

never ˓will_be_being˒_given ¬the ˱to˲_generation this ˓a˒_sign

The phrase if a sign will be given to this generation is an oath formula. This kind of oath does not complete the condition, but it implies that something bad will happen to the speaker if the condition actually happens. Use a natural way in your language to express an oath. Alternate translation: [I will be accursed if a sign will be given to this generation!] or [I swear that a sign will not be given to this generation!]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

δοθήσεται & σημεῖον

˓will_be_being˒_given & ˓a˒_sign

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who would do the action, it could be: (1) Jesus. Alternate translation: [I will give a sign] (2) God the Father. Alternate translation: [God will give a sign]

Parallel MARK 8:12

Section 8:11–13: The Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign from heaven

8:12a

8:12b

8:12c

8:12d