Mark 6 51

Mark 6:51 kjv

And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

Mark 6:51 nkjv

Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.

Mark 6:51 niv

Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,

Mark 6:51 esv

And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,

Mark 6:51 nlt

Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed,

Mark 6 verses

Mark 6 51 Meaning

Mark 6:51 describes a pivotal moment following Jesus' miraculous walk on water. As soon as Jesus entered the disciples' storm-tossed boat, the furious wind immediately ceased. This astonishing event profoundly impacted the disciples, whose prior lack of comprehension regarding the feeding of the five thousand and whose spiritually insensitive hearts prevented them from understanding the true nature and authority of Jesus as God manifest in power over creation.

Mark 6 51 Context

This verse follows Jesus' powerful miracle of feeding over five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, a sign of His boundless provision and divine authority. Immediately afterward, Jesus sends the disciples ahead across the Sea of Galilee, while He goes to pray. A severe storm arises, trapping the disciples in their boat for hours. Around the fourth watch of the night (3-6 AM), Jesus walks on the water to them, initially terrifying them as they think He is a ghost. It is in this context of a dramatic revelation of His power that Jesus enters the boat, and the wind immediately ceases, leading to the disciples' extreme astonishment rooted in their spiritual dullness.

Mark 6 51 Word analysis

• Then (καὶ, kai): A simple connective "and" or "then." Indicates a sequence of events.
• He went up (ἀνέβη, anebē): From ἀναβαίνω (anabainō), "to go up, ascend." Refers to Jesus climbing into the boat. This act alone signifies His intention to join them and His authority.
• into the boat (εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, eis to ploion): The vessel where the disciples were struggling. His entrance is key; it immediately precedes the calming of the storm.
• with them (πρὸς αὐτούς, pros autous): Emphasizes His physical presence alongside His distressed disciples. He is with them in their trial.
• and the wind (καὶ ὁ ἄνεμος, kai ho anemos): Refers to the powerful storm that had been raging against them. The direct address to "the wind" implies a tangible, dominant force.
• ceased (ἐκόπασεν, ekopasen): From κοπάζω (kopazō), meaning "to cease, abate, die down." This is not a gradual easing but an immediate, sudden, and complete stop of the wind, highlighting the miraculous nature of the event.
• And they (καὶ λίαν, kai lian): "And greatly/exceedingly." Connects the effect to the cause.
• were utterly astonished (ἐκ περισσοῦ ἐξίσταντο, ek perissou existanto): A very strong double intensification. ἐξίστημι (existēmi) means "to be amazed, astonished, beside oneself, to lose one's composure due to surprise." The adverbial phrase ἐκ περισσοῦ (ek perissou) means "exceedingly, beyond measure," intensifying their reaction far beyond mere surprise. It implies profound disorientation.
• for they had not understood (οὐ γὰρ συνῆκαν, ou gar synēkan): Explains the reason for their profound astonishment. συνίημι (syniēmi) means "to understand, comprehend, discern, perceive intellectually." The negation indicates their failure to grasp the meaning.
• about the loaves (ἐπὶ τοῖς ἄρτοις, epi tois artois): Refers to the prior miracle of feeding the five thousand. Their failure to understand the spiritual significance of that miracle left them unprepared for this subsequent display of divine power.
• but (ἀλλ᾽, all’): A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a contrast or opposition.
• their hearts (ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν, hē kardia autōn): "Heart" in biblical context refers to the entire inner being—mind, will, emotion, conscience, understanding. Not just physical organ.
• were hardened (ἦν πεπωρωμένη, ēn pepōrōmenē): From πωρόω (pōroō), meaning "to make hard, unfeeling, callous." The perfect passive participle indicates a state of dullness or insensitivity that was already present and continuing, hindering their spiritual perception and receptivity to truth. This was not a punitive hardening in response to their failure to understand this specific miracle, but an existing spiritual condition that prevented their understanding from the outset.

Word-groups by word-groups analysis:

• Then He went up into the boat with them, and the wind ceased: This group highlights Jesus' active role and immediate, potent effect. His presence brings cessation and calm to the chaos. It signifies divine authority manifesting over natural elements, fulfilling prophecies about God's dominion.
• And they were utterly astonished: This group expresses the extreme nature of the disciples' reaction. Their astonishment was not merely surprise, but a profound, almost disoriented, state of wonder and awe mixed with confusion. This astonishment itself reveals their unpreparedness to fully grasp who Jesus is.
• for they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened: This crucial phrase provides the interpretive key to the disciples' response. It links their current failure to their past failure, showing a persistent pattern of spiritual dullness. The "loaves" miracle should have taught them Jesus' divine power over creation and provision, and by extension, His power over nature. Their hardened hearts made them slow to believe and comprehend, leaving them unable to integrate successive miracles into a unified understanding of Jesus' messianic and divine identity. Their astonishment stems from seeing an isolated act of power rather than recognizing the consistent divine glory behind it.

Mark 6 51 Bonus section

The concept of a "hardened heart" (πωρόω, pōroō) in Scripture is significant. It implies a dulling of spiritual senses, akin to a spiritual callus, making one insensitive to God's revelation, promptings, or truth. It's often linked to a lack of receptivity, even after encountering undeniable proof of God's power. This is a progressive state that develops through resistance to truth or neglect of spiritual understanding, rather than an instant punitive act by God. In the disciples' case, it was a persistent pattern of failing to fully grasp Jesus' identity despite repeatedly witnessing His divine power. This failure is a thematic undercurrent throughout Mark's Gospel regarding the disciples' growth in understanding. Matthew's account (Matt 14:33) shows a stronger recognition by the disciples, suggesting Mark's emphasis here highlights a specific phase of their spiritual immaturity.

Mark 6 51 Commentary

Mark 6:51 vividly portrays Jesus' sovereign power and the disciples' spiritual dullness. The instant calming of the storm upon Jesus' entry into the boat serves as undeniable proof of His divine authority, confirming His Lordship over all creation. This event is a continuation and culmination of the previous sign, the feeding of the multitude, which also displayed Jesus' supernatural power and provision.

However, the disciples' reaction is not one of immediate recognition and worship (as might be expected), but extreme astonishment. Mark clarifies this astonishment as stemming from a profound spiritual deficiency: "they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened." This hardening of the heart is not necessarily a malicious obstinacy but rather a spiritual dullness, an inability to process spiritual truths even in the face of overwhelming evidence. They failed to connect the two miracles – the miraculous feeding and the miraculous calming – as indicators of the same divine power at work. Each miracle should have built upon the previous one, progressively revealing Jesus' unique identity as the Son of God with authority over life and the natural world. Instead, their spiritual insensitivity created a barrier to full comprehension, leaving them perpetually amazed yet slow to grasp the fundamental truths of His deity and mission.

This passage serves as a powerful reminder that witnessing signs and wonders does not automatically lead to faith or understanding if the heart remains resistant or spiritually unprepared. It emphasizes the need for an open, receptive heart to perceive God's work.