Mark 8:28

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

Mark 8:28 in Other Translations

28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

28 And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets."

28 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.”

28 "Some say 'John the Baptizer,'" they said. "Others say 'Elijah.' Still others say 'one of the prophets.'"

28 They answered Him, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets."

Mark 8:28 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 8:28

And they answered
That some said he was

John the Baptist;
which was the opinion of Herod, and others:

but some say Elias;
that is the "Tishbite", whom the Jews in general expected in person before the coming of the Messiah and imagined that Jesus was he:

and others one of the prophets;
as Jeremiah or Isaiah or some other. The Vulgate Latin reads, "as one of the prophets"; and so Beza's ancient copy as in ( Mark 6:15 ) . All spake highly and honourably of him: the people in common did not look upon him as a mean person; they perceived by his doctrine and more especially by his miracles that he was an extraordinary one: the several persons which they differently took him to be and make mention of were such as were of great repute; as John the Baptist, who had lately, been among them and whom all held to be a prophet, and indeed was more than a prophet; and Elias who was so very zealous for the Lord of hosts and wrought many miracles in his day; and whose coming the Jews were in expectation of to usher in the Messiah; and none thought him less than one of the prophets; and all agreed he was an uncommon man; even one raised from the dead as he must be, if he was John the Baptist or Elias or one of the old prophets; but they knew him not at least did not confess him to be the Messiah; he not appearing as a temporal prince, they were taught to believe he would be; (See Gill on Matthew 16:14).

Mark 8:28 In-Context

26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Cross References

• 1. S Matthew 3:1
• 2. Malachi 4:5