Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

MARK 8:38KJV
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Mark 8:38 (KJV)

What does Mark 8:38 mean?

Mark 8:38 says that anyone who is ashamed of Jesus and his teachings in a corrupt and sinful society will find that Jesus will also be ashamed of them when he returns in divine glory with the holy angels. The verse highlights a direct connection between how a person responds to Jesus now and how Jesus will respond to them in the future.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and the surrounding crowd, warning them about the consequences of denying or distancing themselves from him and his message. The setting is a moment where Jesus is teaching about the cost of following him, and he uses strong language—calling the generation "adulterous and sinful"—to stress the seriousness of loyalty and public allegiance to him.

The Greek behind Mark 8:38

  • "Ashamed" (ἐπαισχυνθῇ, epaischynthē): This word means to feel shame or embarrassment about someone or something. In this context, it refers to distancing oneself from Jesus out of fear of what others might think, which is a strong warning against social or personal embarrassment about faith.
  • "Adulterous" (μοιχαλίδι, moichalidi): In the Greek, this word often describes unfaithfulness, especially in a spiritual sense. Jesus is not talking about literal adultery but about a generation that has been unfaithful to God, turning to other loyalties.
  • "Glory" (δόξῃ, doxē): This word means splendor, honor, or divine presence. Jesus refers to his future return "in the glory of his Father," pointing to a time when he will come with full authority and majesty, not in humility as during his earthly ministry.

Why Mark 8:38 matters

  • Mark 8:38 clarifies that following Jesus is not just a private matter; public acknowledgment and loyalty are important, especially in a society that may reject or oppose him.
  • The verse connects present choices with future consequences, showing that how a person relates to Jesus now will affect their standing when he returns.
  • By calling the generation "adulterous and sinful," Jesus highlights the challenge of staying faithful in a world that often pulls people away from God, making the call to courage and allegiance even more significant.

Where else these words appear

“adulterous” Greek G3428 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
  • Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
  • James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

“ashamed” Greek G1870 · used in 9 verses

  • Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
  • Romans 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
  • 2 Timothy 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

“generation” Greek G1074 · used in 37 verses

  • Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
  • Mark 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
  • Luke 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

“sinful” Greek G268 · used in 45 verses

  • Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
  • Luke 6:34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
  • John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.