Mark 6 6

Mark 6:6 kjv

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Mark 6:6 nkjv

And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

Mark 6:6 niv

He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

Mark 6:6 esv

And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

Mark 6:6 nlt

And he was amazed at their unbelief. Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.

Mark 6 verses

Mark 6 6 Meaning

Mark 6:6 describes Jesus' reaction to the profound lack of faith in His hometown of Nazareth. Having returned to teach in the synagogue, His townsfolk were offended by His teachings and miracles, not seeing Him as the Messiah but merely "the carpenter, the son of Mary." Due to their resistant unbelief, Jesus was astonished, for this rejection severely limited the mighty works He performed there. Despite this hindrance, He persevered in His mission, expanding His ministry to teach in the surrounding villages.

Mark 6 6 Context

Mark 6:6 occurs directly after Jesus' visit to His hometown, Nazareth (Mark 6:1-5). Jesus, having established His reputation throughout Galilee, returns to teach in His home synagogue. His former neighbors and acquaintances, however, are scandalized by His authority and wisdom. They remember Him simply as "the carpenter" and the son of Mary, associating Him with His humble beginnings rather than acknowledging His divine origin and power. This familiarity bred contempt and an obstinate refusal to believe in Him as anything more than one of their own. Verse 5 states that He "could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them," signifying a severe limitation on His usual miraculous power, not due to any inherent lack of power in Him, but due to their lack of receptivity and faith. This immediate context of resistance sets the stage for Jesus' astonishment and His subsequent shift in focus to more receptive areas. Historically, Nazareth was a small, inconspicuous village, which might have amplified their incredulity that such a significant figure could emerge from their midst.

Mark 6 6 Word analysis

• And: (Greek: kai) A conjunction linking Jesus' marvel to the preceding account of their resistance and His inability to perform many mighty works due to it. It signals a direct consequence.
• He marveled: (Greek: ethaumazen, ἐθαύμαζεν) From thaumazō. This is a crucial term, an imperfect tense indicating continuous or repeated astonishment. It signifies profound surprise or wonder. Jesus, as fully God, is omniscient; yet, as fully man, He genuinely experiences human emotions. He "marveled" both at great faith (Matt 8:10, Luke 7:9) and, uniquely here, at utter unbelief. This emphasizes the unnaturalness and tragic defiance of such deep-seated unbelief in the face of truth.
• because of: (Greek: dia, διά) A preposition indicating the cause or reason for His marvel. Their unbelief was the direct cause.
• their unbelief: (Greek: apistian, ἀπιστίαν) The core issue. Derived from a- (a negative prefix) and pistis (faith). It denotes a state of distrust, skepticism, or obstinacy in refusing to believe, rather than mere doubt or lack of information. This wasn't just ignorance but active resistance and spiritual blindness, which blocked the effective flow of divine power for large-scale miracles.
• So He went about: (Greek: periegen, περιῆγεν) Imperfect tense, indicating continuous movement or a sustained practice. Jesus didn't stay where He was rejected but persistently continued His ministry elsewhere.
• the villages: (Greek: tas komas, τὰς κώμας) Refers to smaller, often unwalled, communities or hamlets, distinct from larger towns or cities. This suggests a strategic expansion of His ministry to a wider, often more receptive, rural population after encountering resistance in His own "city."
• teaching: (Greek: didaskon, διδάσκων) Imperfect participle, highlighting His ongoing primary activity. Even when mighty works were hindered by unbelief, Jesus' fundamental mission of proclaiming truth through teaching remained paramount and continued relentlessly. This shows His persistence and reliance on the power of the word.

Mark 6 6 Bonus section

• The detail of Jesus marvelling is unique to Mark among the synoptic parallels (Matthew records Jesus not doing many mighty works but doesn't mention His marveling). This aligns with Mark's narrative style which often highlights Jesus' humanity and emotional responses.
• This passage demonstrates the concept that while God is omnipotent, He respects human free will and agency. The Nazarenes' decision to withhold faith genuinely impacted how Christ manifested His power in that specific context, not because He lacked the power, but because He doesn't coerce belief through overwhelming displays that bypass human choice. Miracles often required a level of receptivity.
• The unbelief in Nazareth was not due to a lack of evidence or knowledge of Jesus, but rather from a willful prejudice born of over-familiarity. This illustrates that knowing about Jesus is distinct from having faith in Him. Their prejudice blinded them to who He truly was, despite His powerful words and deeds.

Mark 6 6 Commentary

Mark 6:6 is a deeply insightful verse, showcasing the dynamic interplay between divine power and human receptivity. Jesus' "marvel" at the unbelief of His own town is profoundly significant. It's one of the few instances where Jesus expresses such a deep human emotion of surprise, emphasizing how contrary their resistant hearts were to God's intended interaction. Their familiarity with Jesus as the humble carpenter blinded them to His true identity as the Christ, hindering the very miracles that could have confirmed His claim. This doesn't suggest a limitation of Jesus' power, but rather that miracles in the gospels are often given or received through the channel of faith. The Nazarenes' apistia created a spiritual barrier. Rather than being discouraged or provoked to anger by this rejection, Jesus demonstrates His unwavering commitment to His mission. He immediately reorients His ministry, expanding it to the surrounding villages, indicating that the gospel message, though rejected in one place, must continually be carried to others who might be more receptive. This serves as a vital lesson for all who carry God's message: perseverance and strategic adaptability in the face of spiritual resistance.