The Meaning of Mark 1:8 Explained

Mark 1:8

KJV: I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

YLT: I indeed did baptize you with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'

Darby: I indeed have baptised you with water, but he shall baptise you with the Holy Spirit.

ASV: I baptized you in water; But he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I  indeed  have baptized  you  with  water:  but  he  shall baptize  you  with  the Holy  Ghost. 

What does Mark 1:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 1:1-20 - The Beginning Of Jesus' Ministry
The ministry of John the Baptist, Mark 1:1-8. Always the message of John precedes that of Jesus Christ; first the changed attitude of the will, then faith. The greatness of the Baptist revealed itself in his humility. He saw what we must see, that a negative religion, symbolized by water, is not enough: we need to be set on fire.
The opening pages of Christ's public life, Mark 1:9-20. Jesus was recognized by the Baptist, who beheld the opened heavens and the descending Spirit. If the Lord was thus anointed ere He commenced His life-work, how much more must we be! Hast thou become united with Him in His death, made one with Him in His resurrection, and anointed by that same Spirit? Then be sure that thou, too, must be tempted. Sons of men must go the way of the Son of man, now under the opened heavens, then tempted of the devil; on one side the wild beasts, on the other the angels; now driven to loneliness, and then to the crowded street of the cities, there to gather disciples by the energy and beauty of a victorious life. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 1

1  The office of John the Baptist
9  Jesus is baptized;
12  tempted;
14  he preaches;
16  calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John;
23  heals one that had a demon;
29  Peter's mother in law;
32  many diseased persons;
40  and cleanses the leper

Greek Commentary for Mark 1:8

With water [υδατι]
So Luke (Luke 3:16) the locative case, in water. Matthew (Matthew 3:11) has εν — en (in), both with (in) water and the Holy Spirit. The water baptism by John was a symbol of the spiritual baptism by Jesus. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 1:8

John 1:33 He said [εκεινος ειπεν]
Explicit and emphatic pronoun as in John 1:8, referring to God as the one who sent John (John 1:6). With the Holy Spirit “In the Holy Spirit.” Here again one needs the background of the Synoptics for the contrast between John‘s baptism in water (John 1:26) and that of the Messiah in the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8; Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16). [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 1:8 mean?

I baptized you with water He however will baptize with [the] Spirit Holy
ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ‹ἐν› Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ

ἐβάπτισα  baptized 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: βαπτίζω  
Sense: to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk).
ὕδατι  with  water 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ὕδωρ  
Sense: water.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
βαπτίσει  will  baptize 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: βαπτίζω  
Sense: to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk).
Πνεύματι  [the]  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
Ἁγίῳ  Holy 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.