Mark 6 4

Mark 6:4 kjv

But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

Mark 6:4 nkjv

But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."

Mark 6:4 niv

Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home."

Mark 6:4 esv

And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household."

Mark 6:4 nlt

Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family."

Mark 6 verses

Mark 6 4 Meaning

Mark 6:4 articulates Jesus' observation regarding the common lack of honor a prophet receives in his native environment. It highlights the principle that familiarity with someone's origins, family, and past can inadvertently hinder recognition of their true divine calling or unique status, particularly within their immediate community. This statement directly reflects Jesus' personal experience of profound unbelief and rejection in His hometown of Nazareth.

Mark 6 4 Context

Mark 6 opens with Jesus returning to Nazareth, His boyhood home, accompanied by His disciples. On the Sabbath, He began teaching in the synagogue. The local people, initially amazed by His wisdom and "mighty works," quickly became offended. They questioned His authority and divine power, asking, "Where did this man get these things?" and questioning His origin ("Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary...?"). This verse is Jesus' profound response to their offense and deep-seated unbelief, articulating a timeless truth about prophets being unrecognized and dishonored in their own familiar environment. This highlights the human tendency to judge based on past knowledge and perceived familiarity, rather than discerning spiritual truth.

Mark 6 4 Word analysis

• "But" (Greek: de, δὲ): This conjunction indicates a contrast or response. It directly links Jesus' statement to the preceding unbelief and offense shown by the people of Nazareth.
• "Jesus" (Greek: Iēsous, Ἰησοῦς): The speaker, identifying the Son of God and ultimate Prophet (Deut 18:15) declaring a profound truth rooted in His own experience.
• "said to them": A direct address to the Nazarenes, or possibly to His disciples in their hearing, affirming His prophetic identity in the face of their rejection.
• "A prophet" (Greek: prophētēs, προφήτης): Someone specially called by God to deliver His message and reveal His will. Here, it refers to Jesus Himself as the climactic revelation of God, whose words carry ultimate divine authority.
• "is not without honor" (Greek: ouk estin atimos, οὐκ ἔστιν ἄτιμος): A rhetorical figure (litotes) using a double negative to mean "is honored" or "is held in high regard." This indicates that a prophet generally receives respect in other places, making the specific places of dishonor profoundly conspicuous.
• "except" (Greek: ei mē, εἰ μή): This crucial word introduces the exceptions, setting apart the specific conditions or locations where the general rule of a prophet's honor does not apply, highlighting a lamentable limitation to their reception.
• "in his hometown" (Greek: en tē patridi autou, ἐν τῇ πατρίδι αὐτοῦ): Refers to Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up. For many, familiarity with His past led to a preconceived notion of His status, hindering their ability to see Him as the Messiah or God's powerful agent.
• "and among his relatives" (Greek: kai en tois syngeneusin autou, καὶ ἐν τοῖς συγγενεῦσιν αὐτοῦ): Expands the scope beyond the local community to His wider family. Even close kin often struggled to believe, judging Him by their knowledge of His human origins and family status (Jn 7:5).
• "and in his own household" (Greek: kai en tē oikia autou, καὶ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ): Designates the most intimate circle—His immediate family, likely including His mother and siblings mentioned in Mk 6:3. This represents the deepest and most poignant rejection, as those closest physically could not recognize His spiritual greatness.

Words-group analysis

• "A prophet is not without honor, except...": This statement presents a proverb-like truth universally observed among those whom God sends. It conveys the paradox that while divine messengers are generally revered elsewhere, a unique barrier to acceptance often exists among those most familiar with them.
• "...in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.": This phrase illustrates a escalating specificity (local community → extended family → immediate family). It powerfully emphasizes the profound difficulty for a prophet to gain acceptance precisely where intimacy and familiarity are highest. This highlights a spiritual principle: human pre-judgment based on past knowledge or relationships can obscure the recognition of divine truth or power, making it difficult for some to accept extraordinary manifestations in the seemingly ordinary.

Mark 6 4 Bonus section

The observation in Mark 6:4 transcends a mere personal lament; it functions as a theological statement concerning the nature of revelation and human response. It underlines the principle that prior acquaintance and perceived common knowledge can inadvertently create spiritual blind spots, hindering the recognition of divine authority, particularly when that authority emerges from seemingly ordinary beginnings. This verse helps to explain why some individuals or communities struggle to accept truth from unexpected sources or from within their own familiar sphere. Moreover, it subtly foreshadows the broader rejection of Jesus by a significant portion of His own people, Israel, contrasting with the eventual reception of the Gospel by Gentiles who had no prior claims on Him. The lack of faith in Nazareth, and its subsequent limitations on Jesus's work, provides a profound lesson that genuine faith necessitates transcending human preconceptions to embrace the full identity of Jesus Christ.

Mark 6 4 Commentary

Mark 6:4 expresses a sorrowful reality experienced by Jesus, reflecting a pattern observed throughout biblical history: God's chosen messengers, including Christ Himself, often face the most significant resistance and dishonor from those who know them best. The familiarity in Nazareth, rather than fostering honor, bred contempt among those who saw Jesus daily in His human context as a "carpenter" and "son of Mary." Their fixed perceptions prevented them from recognizing His divine authority and miraculous power. This rejection stemmed from an "unbelief" that judged Him by His origins rather than by His divine person and works. The depth of their unbelief directly limited the powerful works Jesus performed there, demonstrating that while God's power is absolute, its manifestation can be influenced by human receptivity and faith. This passage is a poignant reminder that true spiritual discernment often requires looking beyond superficial appearances and human connections to embrace God's hand at work.