CHAPTER VIII.

2. I have compassion (σπλayxvíčoμai). A peculiar verb, from σλáyxva, the inward parts, especially the nobler entrails -the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. These came gradually to denote the seat of the affections, like our word heart. This explains the frequent use of the word bowels in the A. V. in the sense of tender mercy, affection, compassion. See Luke i. 78; 2 Cor. vii. 15; Philip. i. 8; Philem. 7, 12, 20. The Rev. has properly rejected it in every such case, using it only in its literal sense in the single passage, Acts i. 18.

They have been with me (pooμévovou). Lit., they continue, as Rev.

3. Faint. See on Matt. xv. 32. Wyc., fail.

Some of them came from far.

Peculiar to Mark.

6. To sit down (åvaπeσeîv). Lit., to recline.

Brake and gave. See on Mark vi. 41.

8. Were filled. See on Matt. v. 6. Wyc., fulfilled. Tynd., sufficed.

9. Baskets. See on Matt. xiv. 20.

Four thousand. Matthew (xv. 38) here adds a detail which we should rather expect in Mark: beside women and children.

10. With his disciples. Peculiar to Mark.

11. Began. The beginnings of things seem to have a peculiar interest for Mark. See i. 1, 45; iv. 1; v. 17, 20; vi. 2, 7, 34, 55.

As ap

Sign (onμeîov). See on Matt. xi. 20. Wyc., token. (σημείον). plied to the miracles of our Lord, this word emphasizes their ethical purport, as declaring that the miraculous act points back of itself to the grace and power or divine character or authority of the doer.

12. Sighed deeply in his spirit. Peculiar to Mark.

There shall no sign be given (ei dodnσerai onμeîov). Lit., if a sign shall be given. The expression is elliptical. It is a Hebrew idiom, and is really, at bottom, a form of imprecation. If I do not thus or so, may some judgment overtake me. pare Heb. iii. 11.

14. The one loaf is a detail given by Mark only.

22-26. Peculiar to Mark.

23. Took (éπiλaßóμevos). Tynd., caught.

Com

If he saw (E TI BλÉTTELS). Rev., more accurately, renders the direct question: Seest thou aught? The change of tenses is graphic. Asked (imperfect). Dost thou see (present).

24. I see men as trees walking (following the reading, Βλέπω τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ὡς δένδρα περιπατοῦντας). The Rev. reads, following the amended text, I see men, for (õrı) I behold (opa) them as trees, walking. He saw them dimly. They looked like trees, large and misshapen; but he knew they were men, for they were walking about.

25. Made him look up. The best texts omit, and substitute diéẞreyev, he looked stedfastly. See on Matt. vii. 5. Instead of vaguely staring, he fixed his eyes on definite objects.

He saw (évéẞETTEV). Imperfect tense. Continuous action. He saw and continued to see. Compare the aorist tense above: He looked stedfastly, fastened his eyes, denoting the single act, the first exercise of his restored sight.

Every man. Following the reading aπavras. But the best texts read aπavra, all things. So Rev.

Clearly (Tλavyws). From Tλe, far, avy, shining. The farthest things were clearly seen.

29. He saith (πηрάτа). More correctly, he questioned or asked. So Rev. Mark omits the commendation of Peter. See Introduction.

On vv. 31-33, compare notes on Matt. xvi. 21-28.

32. He spake the saying openly. Mark only. Not as a secret or mystery, as in his words about being lifted up, or building the temple in three days. Not ambiguously, but explicitly. Wyc., plainly.

34. Jesus now pauses; for what he has to say now is to be said to all who follow him. Hence he calls the multitude with his disciples. Peculiar to Mark.

Will (Jéλe). Rev., would. See on Matt. i. 19. It is more than is wishful.

His cross. The pronoun avroû, his, is in an emphatic posi

tion.

35. And the gospel's. Peculiar to Mark.

36. Gain-lose. See on Matt. xvi. 26.

38. My words. Bengel remarks that one may confess Christ in general and yet be ashamed of this or that saying.

In this adulterous and sinful generation. Peculiar to Mark.

CHAPTER IX.

Compare Matt. xvii. 1-13; Luke ix. 28-36.

2. Transfigured. See on Matt. xvii. 2.

3. Shining (Tßovтa). Rev., glistering. The word is used of a gleam from polished surfaces-arms, sleek horses, water in motion, the twinkling of the stars, lightning.

As no fuller, etc. Peculiar to Mark.

5. Answered. Though no question had been asked him: but the Lord's transfiguration was an appeal to him and he desired to respond.

7. Sore afraid. Wyc., aghast by dread.

Beloved son. Wyc., most dearworthy.

8. Suddenly (égámiva). The Greek word only here in the New Testament.

9. Tell (dinyńowvrai). Mark's word is more graphic than Matthew's eTnTe. The word is from diá, through, and yéoμai, to lead the way. Hence to lead one through a series of events:

to narrate.

Questioning. Wyc., asking. Tynd., disputing.

14. The scribes. The particularizing of the scribes as the questioners, and vv. 15, 16, are peculiar to Mark.

15. Were greatly amazed (eğedaμßýInoav). A word peculiar to Mark. See Introduction.

18. It taketh him (xaтaλáßy). Lit., seizeth hold of him. Our word catalepsy is derived from this.

Teareth (poσe). Rev., dasheth down, with rendeth in margin. The verb is a form of pýyvvμɩ, to break. The form poow is used in classical Greek of dancers beating the ground, and of beating drums. Later, in the form páσoew, a term of fighters: to fell, or knock down, which is the sense adopted by Rev.

Gnasheth with his teeth. Rev., grindeth. This and the pining away are peculiar to Mark.

19. Faithless (ǎTIOтоS). Faithless has acquired the sense of treacherous, not keeping faith. But Christ means without faith, and such is Tyndale's translation. Wyc., out of belief. Unbelieving would be better here. The Rev. retains this rendering of the A. V. at 1 Cor. vii. 14, 15; Tit. i. 15; Apoc. xxi. 8, and elsewhere.

20. Mark is more specific in his detail of the convulsion. which seized the lad as he was coming to Jesus. He notes the convulsion as coming on at the demoniac's sight of our Lord. "When he saw him, straightway the spirit," etc. Also his falling on the ground, wallowing and foaming. We might expect the detail of these symptoms in Luke, the physician.

21-27. Peculiar to Mark. He gives the dialogue between Jesus and the boy's father, and relates the process of the cure in graphic detail.

22. Us. Very touching. The father identifies himself with the son's misery. Compare the Syro-Phoenician, who makes her daughter's case entirely her own: "Have mercy on me" (Matt. xv. 22).

23. If thou canst believe (tò ei dúvŋ). Lit., the if thou canst. The word believe is wanting in the best texts. It is difficult to explain to an English reader the force of the definite article