Unexpected Actions Show By Running "make -d -f makefile"

GNU Make 4.4.1
Built for x86_64-redhat-linux-gnu

I've been fooling around looking at gmake's debug output.
When running

	make  -d -f makefile

I saw the following output:

Reading makefile 'makefile'...
Updating makefiles....
  Considering target file 'makefile'.
   Looking for an implicit rule for 'makefile'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.o' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.o'.
    Not found 'makefile.o'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.c' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.c'.
    Not found 'makefile.c'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.cc' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.cc'.
    Not found 'makefile.cc'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.C' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.C'.
    Not found 'makefile.C'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.cpp' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.cpp'.
    Not found 'makefile.cpp'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.p' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.p'.
    Not found 'makefile.p'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.f' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.f'.
    Not found 'makefile.f'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.F' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.F'.
    Not found 'makefile.F'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.m' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.m'.
    Not found 'makefile.m'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.r' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.r'.
    Not found 'makefile.r'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.s' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.s'.
    Not found 'makefile.s'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.S' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.S'.
    Not found 'makefile.S'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.mod' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.mod'.
    Not found 'makefile.mod'.
    Trying pattern rule '%: %.sh' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile.sh'.
    Not found 'makefile.sh'.
    Trying pattern rule '%:: %,v' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'makefile,v'.
    Not found 'makefile,v'.
    Trying pattern rule '%:: RCS/%,v' with stem 'makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite 'RCS/makefile,v'.

and a bunch more similar lines, all treating makefile like a target.

My question is why is make treating an argument that is clearly
specified as a makefile name as a target?

Cordially,
Jon Forrest