Mark 8:33 Meaning and Explanation
“But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus turns, looks at all the disciples, and rebukes Peter: get thee behind me, Satan — his mind is set on the things of men, not the things of God.
What Does Mark 8:33 Mean?
Jesus turns to face the whole group before answering, because the temptation Peter voices belongs to them all. Satan means adversary; the urging to bypass the cross renews the wilderness temptation, only now it comes through the voice of a beloved friend. The rebuke is public, immediate, and severe.
Savourest renders a verb meaning to set the mind on, to take the side of. Two whole ways of thinking stand opposed here, and the dividing line runs through the cross: the purposes of God embrace it; merely human thinking recoils from it. Yet even this hard word holds grace — get thee behind me puts Peter back in the place of a follower, and behind Jesus is exactly where a disciple belongs.
Mark 8:33 in the Original Language
phroneo (φρονέω), 'savourest' -- to set the mind on, to take the side of.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 8:33
What does Mark 8:33 mean?
Jesus turns, looks at all the disciples, and rebukes Peter: get thee behind me, Satan — his mind is set on the things of men, not the things of God.