Mark 4 40

Mark 4:40 kjv

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Mark 4:40 nkjv

But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

Mark 4:40 niv

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Mark 4:40 esv

He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

Mark 4:40 nlt

Then he asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Mark 4 verses

Mark 4 40 Meaning

Mark 4:40 reveals Jesus confronting His disciples about their response to a life-threatening storm. His question, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" exposes a critical tension between human panic and reliance on divine power. It underscores that fear, particularly an overwhelming and debilitating kind, is fundamentally antithetical to faith in God's presence and providence. Jesus implies that, despite His demonstrated authority, the disciples had not yet developed the deep trust commensurate with who He truly was.

Mark 4 40 Context

Mark chapter 4 transitions from Jesus teaching parables about the Kingdom of God (Mk 4:1-34) to demonstrating His power and the nature of this Kingdom through miraculous signs. After explaining the parable of the sower and the lamp, Jesus leads His disciples across the Sea of Galilee. This journey (Mk 4:35-41) sets the scene for a sudden, violent storm, common on this lake due to surrounding geographical features. While Jesus is asleep, symbolizing His perfect peace and trust, the disciples, experienced fishermen, are terrified, convinced they are perishing. Their cry, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" (Mk 4:38), reveals a deep misunderstanding of His character and power, questioning His very concern for their lives. This leads directly to Jesus' calm yet poignant rebuke in Mark 4:40 after commanding the storm to be still. The storm and the disciples' reaction serve as a practical, visceral lesson illustrating the themes of faith, understanding, and Jesus' unique authority, particularly for the original audience who were themselves facing storms of persecution and tribulation.

Mark 4 40 Word analysis

• And he said to them,

  • And (καὶ, kai): Connects Jesus' verbal rebuke to His preceding action of calming the storm.
  • he said (εἶπεν, eipen): Simple past tense, direct address by Jesus.
  • to them (αὐτοῖς, autois): Refers to His disciples, emphasizing that this lesson is specifically for those closest to Him.

• "Why are you so afraid?

  • Why (Τί, Ti): An interrogative pronoun, expressing astonishment and disapproval rather than merely seeking information. It implies, "For what reason could you possibly be so afraid?" given the context of His presence and previous power.
  • are you afraid (δειλοί ἐστε, deiloi este): The Greek adjective δειλός (deilos) implies a reprehensible, cowardly, or timid fear. This is distinct from a healthy, reverential fear (like fear of the Lord) or natural alarm. It signifies a moral weakness or failure of trust in God. Jesus critiques their lack of fortitude stemming from insufficient faith, rather than simply their feeling of alarm. This fear indicates unbelief, a surrender to the circumstances rather than resting in Christ's power.
  • so (οὕτως, houtōs): Amplifies the previous word, indicating an excessive or unjustified level of fear. It's not just "afraid," but so afraid.

• Have you still no faith?"

  • Have you still no (Πῶς οὐκ ἔχετε, Pōs ouk echete): This double question is very strong. Πῶς (Pōs - How?) conveys incredulity or surprise, akin to "How can it be that you still...?" or "Is it possible that you still...?" It’s a challenge to their current spiritual state. οὐκ (ouk) is a strong negation, suggesting a complete or total lack, or at least an inadequate, almost non-existent measure, of faith. It's not "do you have little faith" (as in Matthew's account) but "do you have no faith?"
  • still (implied by Πῶς οὐκ, Pōs ouk and context): This little word is significant. It implies that given all they had witnessed from Jesus thus far – His healings, teachings, and demonstrations of authority – they should have had faith by now. Their persistent lack is surprising and disappointing to Jesus.
  • faith (πίστιν, pistin): The central concept. This refers to their trust, reliance, and confidence in Jesus' identity, power, and benevolent care. It's the absence of this trust that Jesus targets. This is saving faith, an active trust in the person of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, not merely intellectual assent.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?": These two questions are tightly linked and mutually interpret each other. Jesus explicitly connects their excessive, morally culpable fear directly to a severe deficiency or absence of faith. He diagnoses their spiritual condition, highlighting that deep fear in the presence of Christ is a symptom of failing to truly trust Him. This pairing makes the encounter a foundational discipleship lesson, where fear is overcome not by ignoring danger, but by anchoring one's being in faith in Christ.

Mark 4 40 Bonus section

This encounter in Mark 4:40 can be seen as a microcosm of discipleship. The disciples, despite being close to Jesus, still struggled with fundamental truths about His divine nature and power. Their fear reveals a limited understanding that needed profound transformation. The phrase "Have you still no faith?" emphasizes the pedagogical nature of this event. Jesus had been revealing His glory; yet, they had not internalized it. This scene powerfully establishes Jesus' control over chaotic forces, which, in the ancient world, were often seen as deities or primal powers. By commanding the wind and sea, Jesus unequivocally asserts His absolute sovereignty, presenting a clear polemic against any pagan notions of gods who merely coexisted with, or were limited by, natural phenomena. Furthermore, this incident also foreshadows the disciples' future trials, particularly the crucifixion and the period of apparent absence of Christ. Their immediate reaction in Mark 4:41, "Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?" demonstrates that even in their terror, the encounter planted seeds of deeper revelation about Jesus' unparalleled identity, leading eventually to stronger, though initially still faltering, faith.

Mark 4 40 Commentary

Mark 4:40 is a piercing divine diagnostic. It comes immediately after Jesus has effortlessly commanded the chaos of nature, demonstrating His sovereign authority over creation itself, an attribute historically associated only with God. His words to the disciples are not a query for information but a profound rebuke that cuts to the core of their spiritual deficiency. Their fear, "Why are you so afraid?" (deiloi), is called out as a culpable cowardice, a failure of moral and spiritual resolve in the face of perceived danger. This kind of fear paralyzes and displaces reliance on God. The subsequent question, "Have you still no faith?" reveals the root of their issue. Despite witnessing His teaching and miracles, they still lacked foundational trust in Him, particularly in His protective presence amidst a storm. Jesus is highlighting that true faith ought to eliminate such debilitating fear. The implication is that if they truly knew and believed in who He was – the Son of God with authority over all things, including the very elements threatening their lives – they would have remained serene. This encounter serves as a timeless reminder that while difficulties and "storms" will inevitably arise in the lives of believers, our response should be characterized not by terror, but by steadfast faith rooted in the active presence and omnipotent power of Christ. It's a call to profound trust even when circumstances seem dire, teaching us that the greater danger is not the storm itself, but the lack of faith within us when Jesus is in the boat.