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Mark 8:12
ESV And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
NIV He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it."
NASB Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, 'Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation!'
CSB Sighing deeply in his spirit, he said, "Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation."
NLT When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, 'Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.'
KJV And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
NKJV But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”

What does Mark 8:12 mean?

Jesus sighs deeply in indignation and grief. These scholars of the Law should have accepted the signs of fulfilled prophecies. But their hearts are hardened and their minds are not where God's is (Mark 8:33).

The word "generation" has many possible meanings and causes much discussion when studying the New Testament. It can mean a genealogical level, but here it means a specific ideology held in a place and time. This "generation" includes the scribes (Matthew 12:38), and may include a crowd (Luke 11:29), although we don't know if the crowd follows Jesus or the Pharisees.

"Truly" is from the Greek root word amen. Literally, it means "a truth," and serves to bring attention to His words, like saying, "Know this for certain…" In Hebrew culture, however, it may be oath language (Numbers 5:19–22). Jesus is swearing that the religious leaders, who would rather test Him with foolish demands instead of studying how He fulfills the Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, will not receive another sign except the sign of Jonah (Matthew 16:4), which He had mentioned before (Matthew 12:38–40).

Jesus adds that it's easy enough to determine the weather from the evidences given in the sky (Matthew 16:2–3). At another point, He warns that the Queen of Sheba and the men of Nineveh will judge the Pharisees of Galilee for their foolishness (Matthew 12:41–42). Nineveh and the Queen responded to Jonah and Solomon while the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and Herodians ignore someone much greater.
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