Mark 8:32

Authorized King James Version

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And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

Original Language Analysis

καὶ And G2532
καὶ And
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 1 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
παῤῥησίᾳ openly G3954
παῤῥησίᾳ openly
Strong's: G3954
Word #: 2 of 13
all out-spokenness, i.e., frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication, assurance
τὸν G3588
τὸν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 3 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
λόγον that saying G3056
λόγον that saying
Strong's: G3056
Word #: 4 of 13
something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a
ἐλάλει he spake G2980
ἐλάλει he spake
Strong's: G2980
Word #: 5 of 13
to talk, i.e., utter words
καὶ And G2532
καὶ And
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 6 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
προσλαβόμενος took G4355
προσλαβόμενος took
Strong's: G4355
Word #: 7 of 13
to take to oneself, i.e., use (food), lead (aside), admit (to friendship or hospitality)
αὐτῷ him G846
αὐτῷ him
Strong's: G846
Word #: 8 of 13
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
G3588
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 9 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Πέτρος Peter G4074
Πέτρος Peter
Strong's: G4074
Word #: 10 of 13
a (piece of) rock (larger than g3037); as a name, petrus, an apostle
ἤρξατο and began G756
ἤρξατο and began
Strong's: G756
Word #: 11 of 13
to commence (in order of time)
ἐπιτιμᾶν to rebuke G2008
ἐπιτιμᾶν to rebuke
Strong's: G2008
Word #: 12 of 13
to tax upon, i.e., censure or admonish; by implication, forbid
αὐτῷ him G846
αὐτῷ him
Strong's: G846
Word #: 13 of 13
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Analysis & Commentary

And he spake that saying openly—The adverb parrēsia (παρρησίᾳ, 'openly, plainly, boldly') marks a turning point in Jesus's ministry. Previously using veiled parables about His fate, He now speaks ton logon (τὸν λόγον, 'the word, the message') frankly: the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected by religious leaders, be killed, and rise after three days (verse 31).

And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him—Peter's response is shocking: proslabomenos auton (προσλαβόμενος αὐτόν, 'taking Him aside') suggests physical grasp or pulling Jesus away for private correction. The verb epitiman (ἐπιτιμᾶν, 'to rebuke') is the same used for rebuking demons and storms—Peter attempts to correct Jesus's theology! This reveals how radically Jesus's suffering-Messiah paradigm contradicted expectations. Peter has just confessed Jesus as Christ (verse 29) but cannot reconcile messiahship with suffering. His rebuke exposes the disciples' persistent blindness: they see Jesus as Messiah but remain blind to the cross's necessity. The irony is profound—Peter rebukes the Lord for speaking truth, becoming Satan's mouthpiece (verse 33).

Historical Context

Jewish messianic expectation was shaped by passages like Psalm 2, Isaiah 11, and Daniel 7—texts emphasizing royal victory, not suffering. The Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 was rarely connected to messianic hope. Peter's rebuke reflects not personal failure but cultural conditioning—no one anticipated a crucified Messiah, making Jesus's mission genuinely 'foolishness to Greeks and a stumbling block to Jews' (1 Corinthians 1:23).

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