And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

MARK 8:26KJV
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Mark 8:26 (KJV)

What does Mark 8:26 mean?

Mark 8:26 describes Jesus sending the man he has just healed back to his home, instructing him not to enter the town or tell anyone there about what happened. Jesus is clear that the man should avoid publicizing the miracle in the nearby community.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking directly to the man who had been blind and whom he just healed outside the village of Bethsaida. The instruction not to go into the town or tell anyone there suggests Jesus wanted to keep the event private, possibly to avoid drawing crowds or misunderstanding about his mission. This moment comes right after a significant miracle, highlighting Jesus’ careful approach to revealing his identity and works.

The Greek behind Mark 8:26

  • The word for "town" is κώμη (kōmē), which refers specifically to a village or small town, not a large city. This detail shows Jesus was focused on keeping the event from spreading in a particular local community.
  • The Greek word for "tell" is εἴπῃς (eipēs), which means to speak or report. Jesus’ instruction not to "tell it to any in the town" emphasizes secrecy and restraint, rather than public announcement.
  • The phrase "Neither go into" uses the Greek word εἰσέλθῃς (eiselthēs), meaning to enter. Jesus is not just telling the man to be quiet but also to avoid physically returning to the village, underlining the importance of privacy in this situation.

Why Mark 8:26 matters

  • Mark 8:26 helps clarify that Jesus sometimes avoided public attention, even after performing miracles, which contrasts with times when he told people to share what happened.
  • This verse shows Jesus’ awareness of timing and context, suggesting he wanted to control how and when news about him spread, possibly to prevent misunderstandings about his purpose.
  • The instruction connects to the wider theme in Mark’s Gospel of the "Messianic secret," where Jesus often tells people not to reveal his identity or miracles immediately.

Where else these words appear

“town” Greek G2968 · used in 27 verses

  • Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
  • Mark 8:27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
  • Luke 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

“Neither” Greek G3366 · used in 49 verses

  • Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
  • Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

“house” Greek G3624 · used in 106 verses

  • Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
  • Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
  • Acts 11:13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

“sent” Greek G649 · used in 130 verses

  • Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
  • Luke 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
  • John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.