New International Versionfor they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
New Living Translationfor they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.
English Standard Versionfor they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Berean Standard Biblefor they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.
Berean Literal Biblefor they had not understood about the loaves, but their heart had been hardened.
King James BibleFor they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
New King James VersionFor they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.
New American Standard Biblefor they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
NASB 1995for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
NASB 1977for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
Legacy Standard Biblefor they had not gained any insight about the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
Amplified Biblebecause they had not understood [the miracle of] the loaves [how it revealed the power and deity of Jesus]; but [in fact] their heart was hardened [being oblivious and indifferent to His amazing works].
Christian Standard Biblebecause they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
Holman Christian Standard Biblebecause they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
American Standard Versionfor they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
Contemporary English VersionTheir minds were closed, and they could not understand the true meaning of the loaves of bread.
English Revised Versionfor they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
GOD'S WORD® Translation(They didn't understand what had happened with the loaves of bread. Instead, their minds were closed.)
Good News Translationbecause they had not understood the real meaning of the feeding of the five thousand; their minds could not grasp it.
International Standard Versionbecause they didn't understand the significance of the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
NET Biblebecause they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
New Heart English Biblefor they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Webster's Bible TranslationFor they considered not the miracle of the loaves; for their heart was hardened.
Weymouth New TestamentFor they had not learned the lesson taught by the loaves, but their minds were dull. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor they had not understood about the loaves because their hearts had been hardened.
World English Biblefor they hadn’t understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor they did not understand concerning the loaves, for their heart has been hard.
Berean Literal Biblefor they had not understood about the loaves, but their heart had been hardened.
Young's Literal Translation for they understood not concerning the loaves, for their heart hath been hard.
Smith's Literal TranslationFor they understood not the loaves; for their heart was hardened. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor they understood not concerning the loaves; for their heart was blinded.
Catholic Public Domain VersionFor they did not understand about the bread. For their heart had been blinded.
New American BibleThey had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.
New Revised Standard Versionfor they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor they did not understand the miracle of the loaves of bread, because their hearts were confused.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishFor they had not learned from the bread, because their heart was stupid. NT Translations Anderson New Testamentfor they had learned nothing from the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
Godbey New Testament
For they did not understand concerning the loaves, for their heart was hardened.
Haweis New Testament
For they reflected not upon the loaves, for their heart was hardened.
Mace New Testament
for they were so stupid, they did not comprehend the miracle of the loaves.
Weymouth New Testament
For they had not learned the lesson taught by the loaves, but their minds were dull.
Worrell New Testament
for they did not understand concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
Worsley New Testament
for their heart was stupified.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Jesus Walks on Water… 51Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded, 52forthey had not understoodabouttheloaves,buttheirheartshad beenhardened.53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and moored the boat.…
Cross References Matthew 14:31Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
John 6:19-21When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified. / But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.” / Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Matthew 16:9-11Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? / Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? / How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Mark 8:17-21Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts? / ‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember? / When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered. ...
John 12:37-40Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. / This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” / For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: ...
Exodus 14:11-12They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? / Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
Psalm 95:8-11do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work. / For forty years I was angry with that generation, and I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My ways.” ...
Hebrews 3:7-10Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. ...
Isaiah 6:9-10And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
Deuteronomy 29:2-4Moses summoned all Israel and proclaimed to them, “You have seen with your own eyes everything the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to all his land. / You saw with your own eyes the great trials, and those miraculous signs and wonders. / Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
Jeremiah 5:21“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.
Ezekiel 12:2“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
Romans 11:8as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
2 Corinthians 3:14-15But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. / And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
Matthew 13:13-15This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ / In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
Treasury of Scripture For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. they. Mark 7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man,it cannot defile him; Mark 8:17,18,21 And when Jesus knewit, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? … Matthew 16:9-11 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? … their. Mark 3:5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretchedit out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. Isaiah 63:17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways,and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. Jump to Previous BreadClearConsideredDullGainedHadn'tHardHardenedHeartHeartsIncidentInsightLoavesMindsMiracleTaughtUnderstandUnderstoodJump to Next BreadClearConsideredDullGainedHadn'tHardHardenedHeartHeartsIncidentInsightLoavesMindsMiracleTaughtUnderstandUnderstoodMark 6 1.Jesus is a prophet without honor in his own country.7.He gives the twelve power over unclean spirits.14.Various opinions of Jesus.16.John the Baptist is imprisoned, beheaded, and buried.30.The apostles return from preaching.34.The miracle of five loaves and two fishes.45.Jesus walks on the sea;53.and heals all who touch him.for they had not understood about the loavesThis phrase refers to the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, which is a significant event in Jesus' ministry. The disciples witnessed Jesus multiplying five loaves and two fish to feed a large crowd, yet they failed to grasp the full significance of this miracle. This lack of understanding highlights their spiritual blindness and inability to perceive Jesus' divine nature and mission. The miracle of the loaves is a type of Jesus as the Bread of Life, foreshadowing the spiritual nourishment He provides. The disciples' failure to understand can be seen as a reflection of the common human struggle to comprehend divine truths without spiritual insight. but their hearts had been hardened
The hardening of the disciples' hearts is a recurring theme in Scripture, often associated with a lack of faith or spiritual perception. In biblical context, a hardened heart signifies resistance to God's revelation and truth. This condition is not unique to the disciples; it echoes the hardening of Pharaoh's heart in Exodus, where despite witnessing God's power, Pharaoh refused to acknowledge Him. The disciples' hardened hearts prevented them from fully recognizing Jesus' identity and the implications of His miracles. This phrase serves as a warning about the dangers of spiritual insensitivity and the need for openness to divine revelation. It also underscores the necessity of divine intervention to soften hearts and open eyes to the truth of the Gospel. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus- The central figure in the Gospel of Mark, performing miracles and teaching about the Kingdom of God. 2. The Disciples- Followers of Jesus who witnessed His miracles, including the feeding of the 5,000 and walking on water. 3. The Miracle of the Loaves- Refers to the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, demonstrating Jesus' divine provision. 4. The Sea of Galilee- The body of water where Jesus walked on water and where the disciples struggled against the wind. 5. Hardened Hearts- A spiritual condition where understanding and faith are impeded, often due to disbelief or lack of spiritual insight. Teaching Points Understanding Spiritual TruthsThe disciples' lack of understanding about the loaves signifies a deeper spiritual blindness. We must seek spiritual insight through prayer and study. Guarding Against Hardness of HeartA hardened heart can prevent us from recognizing God's work in our lives. Regular self-examination and repentance are crucial. Recognizing Jesus' ProvisionJust as Jesus provided for the 5,000, He provides for our needs. Trust in His provision and care in every circumstance. Faith in the Midst of FearThe disciples' fear during the storm contrasts with Jesus' calm authority. Faith in Jesus can bring peace amidst life's storms. The Importance of ReflectionReflecting on past experiences of God's faithfulness can strengthen our faith and understanding of His character. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Mark 6:52?
2.How does Mark 6:52 reveal the disciples' lack of understanding about Jesus' miracles?
3.What lessons can we learn from the disciples' "hardened hearts" in Mark 6:52?
4.How does Mark 6:52 connect to other instances of disbelief in the Gospels?
5.How can we guard against spiritual blindness as seen in Mark 6:52?
6.What practical steps can strengthen our faith to avoid "hardened hearts"?
7.Why did the disciples not understand the miracle of the loaves in Mark 6:52?
8.How does Mark 6:52 illustrate the hardness of the disciples' hearts?
9.What does Mark 6:52 reveal about human nature and spiritual blindness?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 6?
11.How did the disciples react when Jesus walked on water? They worshipped him as the Son of God (Matthew 14:33) but were astounded and didn't understand (Mark 6:51-52).
12.In Mark 8:14-21, why do the disciples still misunderstand Jesus' power after already witnessing miracles?
13.In Mark 6:30-44, is there any credible evidence outside the Bible supporting the feeding of 5,000 people with just five loaves and two fish?
14.In Mark 6:5, why would an all-powerful Jesus be unable to perform miracles in His hometown due to their unbelief?What Does Mark 6:52 Mean for they had not understoodMark tells us that even after witnessing Jesus calm the storm, the disciples were still missing what He had been showing them. - They had just seen Him feed five thousand men with five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:41-44), yet the truth of who He is had not sunk in. - Like the two on the road to Emmaus who were “slow of heart to believe” (Luke 24:25-27), the disciples were slow to connect the dots. - Jesus later confronts them again: “Do you still not understand or comprehend? Do you have such hard hearts?” (Mark 8:17-18). Their lack of understanding wasn’t intellectual alone; it was spiritual blindness to the fullness of Jesus’ divine identity and power.
about the loavesThe sign of the loaves was meant to shout that the Creator was in their boat. - In the wilderness of Sinai, God fed Israel with manna (Exodus 16:4-12); now Jesus feeds a new crowd in a “desolate place” (Mark 6:35). - John records that the miracle pointed to Jesus as “the bread of life” (John 6:32-35). - The disciples handled the bread with their own hands, yet failed to grasp that the “Word became flesh” (John 1:14) was standing before them. Missing the meaning of the loaves meant missing the revelation that God Himself had come to shepherd His people (Ezekiel 34:23-24).
but their hearts had been hardenedHardness of heart is the condition that dulls spiritual perception. - The phrase echoes Pharaoh (Exodus 7:13) and Israel in the wilderness (Psalm 95:8). - Mark uses it repeatedly of the disciples (Mark 8:17; 16:14); their hearts were still resistant clay needing to be softened. - Hardness is not a permanent sentence but a warning: “Encourage one another… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13). God sovereignly reveals truth, yet He also calls for responsive hearts. When hearts are hard, even overwhelming miracles fail to create lasting faith.
summaryMark 6:52 explains why the disciples were terrified in the storm moments after the feeding miracle: they had not grasped what the loaves revealed about Jesus, and the hardness within them blocked true understanding. The verse warns that spectacular evidence cannot substitute for a responsive heart, invites us to see Jesus as the divine Provider and Lord, and urges us to keep our hearts soft so His works lead us to deeper faith. (52) For they considered not.--This is peculiar to St. Mark, and may fairly be received as representing St. Peter's recollection of what had been the mental state of the disciples at the time. They had not drawn from the miracle of the Loaves the conclusion which they might have drawn, that all natural forces were subject to their Master's sovereignty. The personal connection of the Evangelist with the Apostle may, perhaps, also account for his omission of the narrative which St. Matthew gives of his rashness and failing faith.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek forγὰρ(gar)Conjunction
Strong's 1063:For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.they had not understoodσυνῆκαν(synēkan)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4920:To consider, understand, perceive. From sun and hiemi; to put together, i.e. to comprehend; by implication, to act piously.aboutἐπὶ(epi)Preposition
Strong's 1909:On, to, against, on the basis of, at.theτοῖς(tois)Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.loaves,ἄρτοις(artois)Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 740:Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.butἀλλ’(all’)Conjunction
Strong's 235:But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.theirαὐτῶν(autōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.heartsκαρδία(kardia)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2588:Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.had beenἦν(ēn)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.hardened.πεπωρωμένη(pepōrōmenē)Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4456:To harden, render callous, petrify. Apparently from poros; to petrify, i.e. to indurate.
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NT Gospels: Mark 6:52 For they hadn't understood about the loaves (Mar Mk Mr) |
