New International VersionThen he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
New Living TranslationThen, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
English Standard VersionAnd calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Berean Standard BibleThen Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
Berean Literal BibleAnd having summoned the crowd with His disciples, He said to them, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and let him take up his cross, and let him follow Me.
King James BibleAnd when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
New King James VersionWhen He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
New American Standard BibleAnd He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.
NASB 1995And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
NASB 1977And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Legacy Standard BibleAnd He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
Amplified BibleJesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
Christian Standard BibleCalling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Holman Christian Standard BibleSummoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.
American Standard VersionAnd he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Contemporary English VersionJesus then told the crowd and the disciples to come closer, and he said: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me.
English Revised VersionAnd he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThen Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples. He said to them, "Those who want to follow me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me.
Good News TranslationThen Jesus called the crowd and his disciples to him. "If any of you want to come with me," he told them, "you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.
International Standard VersionThen Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples and told them, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continuously,
NET BibleThen Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
New Heart English BibleHe called the crowd to himself with his disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, he said to them, Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Weymouth New TestamentThen calling to Him the crowd and also His disciples, He said to them, "If any one is desirous of following me, let him ignore self and take up his cross, and so be my follower. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to follow after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
World English BibleHe called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd having called near the multitude, with His disciples, He said to them, “Whoever wills to come after Me—let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me;
Berean Literal BibleAnd having summoned the crowd with His disciples, He said to them, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and let him take up his cross, and let him follow Me.
Young's Literal Translation And having called near the multitude, with his disciples, he said to them, 'Whoever doth will to come after me -- let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow me;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd having called the crowd with his disciples, he said to them, Whoever wills to come after me, let him absolutely deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd calling the multitude together with his disciples, he said to them: If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd calling together the crowd with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone chooses to follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
New American BibleHe summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
New Revised Standard VersionHe called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Jesus called the people together with his disciples, and said to them, He who wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishAnd Yeshua called the crowds with his disciples, and he said to them, “Whoever is willing to come after me, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and let him come after me.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them: Whoever determines to follow after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Godbey New TestamentAnd calling the multitude to Him with His disciples, He said to them, Whosoever wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Haweis New Testament
Then calling to him the multitude, with his disciples, he said to them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mace New Testament
Then addressing himself to the people, and his disciples, he said, he that desires to be under my conduct, let him renounce himself, and follow me.
Weymouth New Testament
Then calling to Him the crowd and also His disciples, He said to them, "If any one is desirous of following me, let him ignore self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.
Worrell New Testament
And, calling the multitude toHim with His disciples, He said to them,"If any one wishes to come after Me, let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Worsley New Testament
And calling the people and his disciples toHim, He said unto them,Whosoever is willing to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me:
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Take up Your Cross33But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 34ThenJesus calledthecrowd to Himalong withHisdisciples,and He toldthem,“Ifanyonewantsto comeafterMe,he must denyhimselfandtake uphiscrossandfollowMe.35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.…
Cross References Matthew 16:24Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
Luke 9:23Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Matthew 10:38and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
Luke 14:27And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
John 12:25-26Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. / If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Romans 12:1Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Philippians 3:7-8But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. / More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
1 Peter 2:21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
2 Timothy 2:11-12This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; / if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
1 Corinthians 9:24-27Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. / Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. / Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. ...
Hebrews 12:1-2Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. / Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Matthew 5:11-12Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
2 Corinthians 4:10-11We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. / For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.
Colossians 3:3-4For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. / When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Treasury of Scripture And when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, he said to them, Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. called. Mark 7:14 And when he had called all the peopleunto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every oneof you, and understand: Luke 9:23 And he said tothem all, If anyman will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 20:45 Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, Whosoever. Mark 9:43-48 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: … Matthew 5:29,30 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and castit from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and notthat thy whole body should be cast into hell… Matthew 7:13,14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wideis the gate, and broadis the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: … take. Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Matthew 27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. follow. Numbers 14:24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. 1 Kings 14:8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: andyet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to dothat onlywhich was right in mine eyes; Luke 14:26 If anyman come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Jump to Previous CrossCrowdDenyDesireDesiresDesirousDisciplesFollowFollowerFollowingIgnoreMultitudeSelfSummonedTurningWantsWishesJump to Next CrossCrowdDenyDesireDesiresDesirousDisciplesFollowFollowerFollowingIgnoreMultitudeSelfSummonedTurningWantsWishesMark 8 1.Jesus feeds the people miraculously;10.refuses to give a sign to the Pharisees;14.admonishes his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod;22.gives a blind man his sight;27.acknowledges that he is the Jesus who should suffer and rise again;34.and exhorts to patience in persecution for the profession of the gospel.Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciplesThis phrase indicates a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry where He addresses not only His closest followers but also the broader group of people who were interested in His teachings. The inclusion of both the crowd and the disciples suggests that the message is fundamental to all who would consider following Jesus. This setting underscores the public nature of Jesus' call to discipleship, emphasizing that it is open to everyone, not just a select few. The act of calling them to Him signifies the importance of the message He is about to deliver. and He told them
Jesus' direct communication highlights the authority with which He speaks. In the Gospels, Jesus often uses direct speech to convey essential teachings, ensuring clarity and emphasis. This method of teaching is consistent with rabbinic traditions of the time, where a teacher would gather students to impart wisdom and instruction. “If anyone wants to come after Me
This phrase introduces the concept of voluntary discipleship. The use of "if" implies a choice, indicating that following Jesus is not compulsory but a decision that requires personal commitment. "Come after Me" suggests a journey or path, aligning with the idea of discipleship as a way of life rather than a one-time decision. This invitation is inclusive, extending to "anyone," which reflects the universal call of the Gospel. he must deny himself
Denying oneself involves a radical reorientation of priorities and values. In the cultural context of the time, this would have been a countercultural message, as self-denial was not a common virtue in Greco-Roman society. This call to self-denial is echoed in other parts of Scripture, such asPhilippians 2:3-4, where believers are encouraged to consider others above themselves. It signifies a rejection of self-centeredness and an embrace of God's will. and take up his cross
The cross, a Roman instrument of execution, symbolizes suffering, shame, and death. For Jesus' audience, this imagery would have been stark and shocking. Taking up one's cross implies a willingness to endure hardship and persecution for the sake of Christ. This phrase foreshadows Jesus' own crucifixion and serves as a call to identify with His suffering. It also connects to the idea of sacrificial living found inRomans 12:1, where believers are urged to present their bodies as living sacrifices. and follow Me
Following Jesus involves a continuous, active pursuit of His teachings and example. This phrase encapsulates the essence of discipleship, which is not merely about belief but about action and lifestyle. The call to follow is a call to imitate Christ, as seen in1 Peter 2:21, where believers are encouraged to follow in His steps. This ongoing process requires perseverance and commitment, reflecting the transformative journey of becoming more like Christ. Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching about the cost of discipleship. 2. The CrowdRepresents the general public who were following Jesus, curious about His teachings and miracles. 3. The DisciplesThe close followers of Jesus who are being directly instructed on the nature of true discipleship. 4. The CrossA symbol of suffering, sacrifice, and ultimately, redemption. In the Roman context, it was an instrument of execution, representing the ultimate cost of following Jesus. 5. Self-DenialA key concept in Jesus' teaching, emphasizing the need to put aside personal desires and ambitions to truly follow Him. Teaching Points Understanding Self-DenialSelf-denial is not about self-hatred but prioritizing God's will over personal desires. It involves a conscious decision to follow Christ's example. The Cross as a SymbolTaking up one's cross means embracing the challenges and sacrifices that come with being a disciple of Christ. It is a call to endure hardships for the sake of the Gospel. Daily CommitmentDiscipleship is a daily journey. Each day presents new opportunities to deny oneself and follow Jesus more closely. Following JesusTo follow Jesus means to walk in His footsteps, adopting His values, and living out His teachings in every aspect of life. The Cost of DiscipleshipTrue discipleship requires a willingness to give up everything for the sake of Christ. It is a call to radical commitment and transformation. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Mark 8:34?
2.What does "deny himself" mean in the context of Mark 8:34?
3.How can we daily "take up his cross" as instructed in Mark 8:34?
4.How does Mark 8:34 connect with Jesus' teachings in Matthew 16:24?
5.What are practical ways to "follow Me" in today's world, per Mark 8:34?
6.How does self-denial in Mark 8:34 relate to spiritual growth and discipleship?
7.What does "deny himself" mean in the context of Mark 8:34?
8.How does taking up one's cross relate to daily Christian life?
9.Why is self-denial important in following Jesus according to Mark 8:34?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 8?
11.What did Jesus mean by 'deny yourself'?
12.Will you take up your cross and follow Christ?
13.What does it profit to gain the world but lose your soul?
14.What did Jesus mean by "deny yourself"?What Does Mark 8:34 Mean Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples- Jesus gathers both committed followers and the larger onlookers, showing that the call to discipleship is for every person present (Mark 3:34;John 3:16). - By placing the crowd and disciples together, He levels the field: no special category exempts anyone from the coming instruction (Romans 2:11).
And He told them- Christ speaks with unmistakable authority (Matthew 7:28-29). - What follows is not a suggestion but a command, echoing Moses’ “Thus says the LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). - The voice that calmed storms (Mark 4:39) now addresses the storm inside every heart.
If anyone wants to come after Me- The invitation is open: “anyone” embraces every social, ethnic, or religious barrier (Acts 10:34-35). - “Wants” underscores voluntary decision; love cannot be coerced (Joshua 24:15;Revelation 22:17). - “Come after” implies a lifelong pursuit, not a one-time nod of agreement (Philippians 3:12-14).
He must deny himself- To deny self is to say “No” to the old ruling love of self-interest (Galatians 2:20). - This includes surrendering personal ambitions, rights, and comforts when they clash with Christ’s will (Luke 14:26-27). - It is the opposite of the world’s counsel to “believe in yourself” (1 John 2:15-17).
And take up his cross- In first-century Judea, a cross meant one thing: death (Matthew 27:32). - Jesus calls for daily willingness to die to sin’s demands (Romans 6:6-7) and to endure rejection for His sake (2 Timothy 3:12). - The cross is personal—“his cross”—highlighting that each believer’s path of obedience is uniquely assigned (Ephesians 2:10).
And follow Me- Discipleship culminates in active imitation: going where He goes, loving as He loves (1 Peter 2:21). - Following is continual; yesterday’s obedience does not exempt today (Luke 9:23). - The promise implied: where the Shepherd leads, provision and protection follow (Psalm 23:1-3;John 10:27-28).
summaryMark 8:34 lays out Jesus’ clear, literal roadmap for every believer: respond to His universal call, receive His authoritative word, willingly pursue Him, consciously reject self-rule, embrace whatever cross He assigns, and keep step with Him daily. Such discipleship costs everything—and gives more than it costs, because it yields the incomparable gain of life with Christ now and forever (Mark 8:35;Philippians 3:8). (34-38) And when he had called the people.--See Notes on Matthew 16:24-28. The "calling the people," or better, the multitude, to hear what involved the apparent failure of His mission announced in the preceding verses is an addition to St. Matthew's narrative. It is confirmed by St. Luke's "He said unto all" ( Luke 9:23). Verse 34. - He called unto him the multitude with his disciples. This shows that there was an interval between what had just taken place and what is now recorded. Our Lord now, without any further special reference to St. Peter, delivers a lesson of universal application; although, no doubt, he had Peter in his mind . If any man would ( εἴ τις θέλει) come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. This self-denial ought to extend to everything, even to life itself, which we ought to be willing to resign, if need be, for the sake of Christ. Take up his cross. It is as though he said, "Let him take up his cross, as I have borne my cross, that I might be the standard-bearer and Leader of all cross -bearers - I, who carried the cross on which I was to be crucified to the mount of Calvary." St. Luke ( Luke 9:23) adds the words ( καθ ἡμέραν), "daily:" "let him take up his cross daily;" thus showing that "every day," and often "at every hour," something occurs which it becomes us to bear patiently and bravely, and so on continually through our whole life. He takes up his cross who is crucified to the world. But he to whom the world is crucified follows his crucified Lord. This cross assumes various forms; such as persecution and martyrdom, affliction and sorrow of whatever kind, appointed by God; temptations of Satan, permitted by God for our trial, to increase our humility and virtue, and to make brighter our crown.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek ThenΚαὶ(Kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.[Jesus] calledπροσκαλεσάμενος(proskalesamenos)Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4341:To call to myself, summon. Middle voice from pros and kaleo; to call toward oneself, i.e. Summon, invite.theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.crowd {to Him}ὄχλον(ochlon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3793:From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.along withσὺν(syn)Preposition
Strong's 4862:With. A primary preposition denoting union; with or together.Hisαὐτοῦ(autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.disciples,μαθηταῖς(mathētais)Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101:A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.[and] He toldεἶπεν(eipen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.them,αὐτοῖς(autois)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.“IfΕἴ(Ei)Conjunction
Strong's 1487:If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.anyoneτις(tis)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100:Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.wantsθέλει(thelei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2309:To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.to comeἐλθεῖν(elthein)Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2064:To come, go.afterὀπίσω(opisō)Preposition
Strong's 3694:Behind, after; back, backwards. From the same as opisthen with enclitic of direction; to the back, i.e. Aback.Me,μου(mou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.he must denyἀπαρνησάσθω(aparnēsasthō)Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 533:From apo and arneomai; to deny utterly, i.e. Disown, abstain.himselfἑαυτὸν(heauton)Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438:Himself, herself, itself.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.take upἀράτω(aratō)Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 142:To raise, lift up, take away, remove.hisαὐτοῦ(autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.crossσταυρὸν(stauron)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4716:A cross.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.followἀκολουθείτω(akoloutheitō)Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 190:To accompany, attend, follow. Properly, to be in the same way with, i.e. To accompany.Me.μοι(moi)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
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NT Gospels: Mark 8:34 He called the multitude to himself (Mar Mk Mr) |
