Bible Strands
Mark 2:8
At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the scribes present at the healing of the paralytic immediately after declaring his sins forgiven. He confronts their unspoken internal objections to his authority.
The words — ἐπιγνοὺς (epignous) translates as "having known" and describes Jesus' immediate, full recognition of their internal thoughts. εὐθὺς (euthus) means "immediately," marking the swift transition from his internal perception to his verbal challenge.
The thread — This disclosure of hidden thoughts echoes the divine attribute described in Psalms 139:2, where God understands thoughts from afar. The narrative parallel in Matthew 9:4 records the identical confrontation regarding the scribes' internal reasoning.
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that Jesus possesses direct access to unspoken human reasoning. It requires the reader to submit internal skepticism to his explicit verbal challenge rather than conceal it.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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?
Cross-references
- Psalms 139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
- Ezekiel 38:10 This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.
- Matthew 9:4 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
- Luke 5:22 Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
- Luke 6:8 But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and stand among us.” So he got up and stood there.
- Luke 24:38 “Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
- John 2:24 But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all.
- John 6:64 However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)
- Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?
- Acts 8:22 Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.