31He began to teach them that it is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise. [8:32] He was speaking this word openly. And Peter, taking him aside, began to rebuke him. [8:33] But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said: Get behind me, Satan — for you are not minded on the things of God, but on the things of men.
MRK 8:31-33
Christʼs Passion Foretold
In the world it was spoken into
In a 1st-century Jewish context, the idea of a Messiah suffering and being rejected by religious authorities would have been deeply counterintuitive. The prevailing expectation was of a triumphant, militaristic Messiah who would liberate Israel from Roman oppression. Jesus’ declaration that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected by elders, chief priests, and scribes, and then rise after three days, would have shocked his disciples. The term (it is necessary) underscores divine inevitability, aligning Jesus’ mission with God’s will, not human expectations. Peter’s rebuke reflects this cultural dissonance; his reaction is rooted in the honor-shame framework, where a leader’s suffering would bring disgrace. Jesus’ sharp response, calling Peter ‘Satan,’ identifies Peter’s resistance as aligning with human, not divine, priorities. The use of (openly) highlights Jesus’ boldness in proclaiming this message despite its scandalous nature. This exchange reveals the tension between Jesus’ redefinition of messianic identity and the disciples’ culturally ingrained assumptions.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MRK 8:31
- KJV
- And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
- BSB
- Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again.
- Koinōnos
- He began to teach them that it is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise.
MRK 8:32
- KJV
- And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
- BSB
- He spoke this message quite frankly, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
- Koinōnos
- He was speaking this word openly. And Peter, taking him aside, began to rebuke him.
MRK 8:33
- KJV
- But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
- BSB
- But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
- Koinōnos
- But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said: Get behind me, Satan — for you are not minded on the things of God, but on the things of men.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.3
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.3
“And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, 9 those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day”
Cited to ground: Jesus’ declaration that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected by elders, chief priests, and scribes, and then rise after three days, would have shocked his disciples.
Translator's notes
MRK 8:31
- it is necessary for:The word translated 'it is necessary for' implies a divine or moral obligation, something that must happen due to a higher purpose or fate, not merely a practical requirement.
MRK 8:32
- openly:The term translated 'openly' suggests speaking with boldness and freedom, without concealment or fear, often in a public setting.
- to rebuke:The word translated 'to rebuke' carried a strong sense of censure or reprimand, often with the implication of correcting or silencing someone who is out of line.
MRK 8:33
- do go:The phrase 'do go' here is an imperative that literally means 'get behind me,' conveying a forceful command to step out of the way or cease opposition.