Mark 8:12

ἀναστενάξας. “Sighed from the bottom of His heart”; stronger than στενάζω (Mark 7:34; Romans 8:23; etc.), and here only in N.T. In Lamentations 1:4 of the sighing of Zion’s priests; Sir 25:18 of the husband of a wicked wife. Syr-Sin. has “He was troubled in spirit.” Cf. ἀνακρίνω, ἀναλύω, ἀναπαύω. Once more we have evidence of the reality of Christ’s human nature; see on Mark 3:5.

τῷ πνεύματι. The higher part of His being, which was distressed by moral obliquity; see on Mark 2:8.

Τί ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη; He is not asking for information, but expressing regret. See on John 2:23-25; John 10:38; John 11:45. His own generation (Mark 8:38; Mark 13:30; Matthew 11:16; Matthew 12:41-45; Luke 11:29; Luke 17:25; Luke 21:32; not in Jn) was as wrong-headed towards Him, as the generation to which Moses belonged was towards him (Deuteronomy 1:35; Deuteronomy 32:5; Deuteronomy 32:20). As usual, Mt. omits a question which seems to imply that Christ needed to be informed; see on Mark 5:30.

ἀμὴν λέγω. See on Mark 3:28.

εἰ δοθήσεται. A Hebraistic mode of making a strong asseveration equivalent to an oath. “May God punish me,” or some such thought, is understood; Genesis 14:23; Numbers 14:30; Deuteronomy 1:35; Psalms 95:11. From 1 Samuel 3:17 we see how such a form arose. Elsewhere in N.T. it occurs only in quotations from LXX. (Hebrews 3:11; Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 4:5). Blass, § 78. 2. Mt. and Lk. add to “There shall no sign be given” the words “but the sign of Jonah.”