The Meaning of Mark 2:8 Explained

Mark 2:8

KJV: And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

YLT: And immediately Jesus, having known in his spirit that they thus reason in themselves, said to them, 'Why these things reason ye in your hearts?

Darby: And straightway Jesus, knowing in his spirit that they are reasoning thus within themselves, said to them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

ASV: And straightway Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, saith unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  immediately  when Jesus  perceived  in his  spirit  that  they so  reasoned  within  themselves,  he said  unto them,  Why  reason ye  these things  in  your  hearts? 

What does Mark 2:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 2:1-22 - The Friend Of Sinners
The leper, Mark 1:40-45. The news of Christ spread fast and far until it reached the outcasts from Jewish society, the very dregs of humanity. As the story of the wonderful miracles wrought by our Lord was pondered deeply by this man, He concluded that the only question which remained was that of Christ's willingness to hear. As to His power there could be no doubt. But no one of all the religious world of that time had ever thought of extending a helping hand to such as he. Note the instantaneousness of our Lord's response to this appeal. His love and power are commensurate; when you gauge the one, you have measured the other.
The paralytic, Mark 2:1-12. The disease had resulted from sin. It was necessary to deal with the soul before the body could be emancipated. As soon as we sin, God's pardon awaits our asking for it, and of this fact our Lord gave the paralytic man definite assurance. Jesus' right to speak was evidenced by His power to heal. If the latter was effectual, so was the former.
The sinner's friend, Mark 2:13-22. They thought to coin a term of reproach, but they added a crown of glory. In eternity the Friend of sinners will surround His table with saved sinners who have become His guests. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 2

1  Jesus followed by multitudes,
3  heals a paralytic;
13  calls Matthew;
15  eats with tax collectors and sinners;
18  excuses his disciples for not fasting;
23  and for picking the heads of grain on the Sabbath day

Greek Commentary for Mark 2:8

Perceived [ἐπιγνοὺς]
The preposition ἐπί gives the force of fully. He was not only immediately aware of their thought, but clearly and fully aware. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 2:8

Luke 5:22 Perceived []
See on Mark 2:8. [source]
Luke 5:22 Perceiving [επιγνους]
Same form (second aorist active participle of επιγινωσκω — epiginōskō common verb for knowing fully) in Mark 2:8. [source]
Luke 5:22 Reason ye [διαλογιζεστε]
(διαλογιζεστε — dialogizesthe) as in Mark 2:8. Matthew 9:4 has εντυμειστε — enthumeisthe f0). [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 2:8 mean?

And immediately having known - Jesus in the spirit of Him that thus they are reasoning within themselves He says to them Why these things reason you in the hearts of you
Καὶ εὐθὺς ἐπιγνοὺς Ἰησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς λέγει αὐτοῖς Τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν

εὐθὺς  immediately 
Parse: Adverb
Root: εὐθέως  
Sense: straightway, immediately, forthwith.
ἐπιγνοὺς  having  known 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐπιγινώσκω  
Sense: to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
τῷ  in  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πνεύματι  spirit 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
οὕτως  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
διαλογίζονται  they  are  reasoning 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: διαλογίζομαι  
Sense: to bring together different reasons, to reckon up the reasons, to reason, revolve in one’s mind, deliberate.
ἐν  within 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐν 
Sense: in, by, with etc.
ἑαυτοῖς  themselves 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
λέγει  He  says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Τί  Why 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
ταῦτα  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
διαλογίζεσθε  reason  you 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: διαλογίζομαι  
Sense: to bring together different reasons, to reckon up the reasons, to reason, revolve in one’s mind, deliberate.
καρδίαις  hearts 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Plural
Root: καρδία  
Sense: the heart.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.