Mar 8:27 Whom do men say that I am?
Mar 8:27 Whom do men say that I am?
In the previous verse, Christ indicates that he wants to keep his power to heal a secret from large crowds of people. The question here isn't just about what people think, but about what his apostle's think that other people think. He is asking for their perspective on other people's views.
The point is to set up the next verse and to draw a distinction between the apostles, who know him, versus other people who just hear about him. Christ knows that people form opinions without firsthand knowledge.
"Whom" is from tis, which can mean "someone," "any one," "everyone," "many a one," "whoever," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who," or "what."
"Say" is from legô (lego) means literally "pick up," but it used to mean "recount," "tell over," "say," "speak," "teach," and "command."
"Men" is from anthrôpos (anthropos), which "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.
"I am" is from eimi (einai), which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible." (The form used here is the present infinitive.)
