Mark 8:17 kjv
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
Mark 8:17 nkjv
But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?
Mark 8:17 niv
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
Mark 8:17 esv
And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
Mark 8:17 nlt
Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, "Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don't you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in?
Mark 8 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 6:52 | for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. | Lack of understanding about first feeding. |
| Mk 8:15 | He was warning them, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” | Preceding context; spiritual dangers. |
| Mk 8:18 | “Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?" | Direct continuation of the rebuke. |
| Mk 8:21 | And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” | Concluding the rebuke. |
| Matt 16:9-11 | Do you not yet understand that I did not speak to you about bread? ... beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” | Parallel passage; spiritual vs. physical bread. |
| Mk 4:13 | And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?” | Disciples' general struggle to understand parables. |
| Matt 13:13 | This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand. | Spiritual blindness of those who hear but don't grasp. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.” Make the heart of this people dull... | Prophetic insight into spiritual hardening. |
| Jer 5:21 | Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not; who have ears, but hear not. | Similar Old Testament critique of spiritual dullness. |
| Lk 24:25 | And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" | Disciples' post-resurrection slowness to comprehend. |
| Jn 6:26 | Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” | People's focus on physical benefits, not spiritual. |
| Jn 6:35 | Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger..." | Jesus as the true spiritual provision. |
| Deut 8:3 | that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” | Living by God's Word, not just physical bread. |
| Mk 2:8 | And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts?" | Jesus' ability to know thoughts. |
| Lk 6:8 | But he knew their thoughts... | Jesus' divine knowledge. |
| Jn 2:25 | for he himself knew what was in man. | Jesus' comprehensive knowledge of humanity. |
| Heb 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. | God's all-seeing knowledge. |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them... | Spiritual things require spiritual discernment. |
| Eph 4:18 | They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. | Spiritual blindness and its root causes. |
| Prov 2:6 | For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. | True understanding comes from the Lord. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. | Encouragement to seek wisdom and understanding. |
Mark 8 verses
Mark 8 17 Meaning
Jesus, perceiving the disciples' discussion and concern about having forgotten physical bread, expresses His disappointment and frustration at their spiritual dullness. Despite witnessing multiple miracles of provision, they remain preoccupied with worldly necessities, failing to grasp the deeper meaning of His power and identity, or the warning against the "leaven" of spiritual blindness. His question is a rhetorical rebuke, highlighting their lack of spiritual perception and comprehension.
Mark 8 17 Context
Mark 8:17 immediately follows a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry. The verses prior describe Jesus miraculously feeding four thousand people with seven loaves and a few small fish (Mark 8:1-9), the second such large-scale feeding miracle after the feeding of five thousand. Directly before verse 17, Jesus has encountered Pharisees who demand a sign from heaven (Mark 8:11-12) and then warns His disciples to "Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod" (Mark 8:15). This warning confuses the disciples, who interpret it literally, linking it to their having forgotten to bring bread (Mark 8:16). Their concern over a trivial, physical lack (their forgetfulness of bread) while standing in the presence of one who had just multiplied loaves twice over, reveals a profound spiritual incomprehension that frustrates Jesus.
Mark 8 17 Word analysis
- And Jesus: Indicates continuation, but highlights Jesus as the perceiving subject.
- perceiving it: Greek: gnous (γνούς) – from ginosko, meaning 'to know' or 'to perceive,' often with a connotation of knowing by experience or deep, intrinsic understanding. Here, it signifies Jesus' divine insight into their unexpressed thoughts and inner deliberations, not merely their outward actions. He discerned their anxiety and literal interpretation.
- said to them: A direct address, signifying His active engagement and forthcoming instruction or rebuke.
- 'Why are you discussing: Points to their internal, worried deliberation. This reveals their preoccupied state of mind focused on earthly anxieties.
- the fact that you have no bread?: The specific, seemingly trivial, cause of their discussion. This highlights their material focus and spiritual oversight despite witnessing incredible provision.
- Do you not yet: The particle "yet" (οὔπω - oupō) indicates a continued and surprising lack of progress in their understanding over time, despite ample evidence and instruction. It implies an ongoing spiritual immaturity.
- perceive or understand?': A crucial pairing.
- perceive (νοεῖτε - noeite): From noeo, related to nous (mind, intellect). Implies intellectual apprehension, thoughtful consideration, mental grasping of a concept or truth.
- understand (συνίετε - suniête): From suníēmi, meaning "to put together," "to bring things to a coherent whole," "to comprehend profoundly." This is a deeper level of insight, a spiritual discernment that connects the dots of what they've witnessed and heard. The two terms together underscore a double failure: both to grasp the mental truth and to comprehend its spiritual significance.
Mark 8 17 Bonus section
This verse functions as a pre-crucifixion illustration of the disciples' spiritual "veil," much like the veil that covered the hearts of Old Covenant Israel (2 Cor 3:14-16). Their struggle to comprehend Jesus' divine power and provision through the miracles of the loaves underscores the reality that full understanding of Christ's identity and mission often only comes through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, which was granted after Pentecost (John 14:26; Acts 2). The passage implicitly contrasts Jesus' "leaven" (His teaching and miraculous power) with the corrupting "leaven" of worldly systems (Pharisees and Herod) that prioritizes external appearances and human concerns over spiritual reality.
Mark 8 17 Commentary
Mark 8:17 exposes the deep spiritual obtuseness of Jesus' disciples, a recurring theme in Mark's Gospel. Despite witnessing Jesus multiply food for thousands, their immediate concern shifts to the mundane detail of forgotten physical bread. Jesus' question reveals His exasperation; it's a profound challenge to their failure to learn from His miraculous acts. They perceive with their physical eyes and discuss with their mouths, but their minds and spirits remain unengaged, failing to "put together" the meaning of the loaves and their implication for Jesus' divine power and identity. This demonstrates that merely being present for miracles does not guarantee spiritual insight. True perception and understanding require more than just physical proximity; they demand an opened heart and a discerning mind that recognizes God's working beyond the immediate physical need, warning against materialism and spiritual shortsightedness. It serves as a reminder that as believers, we too can become fixated on earthly concerns and temporal anxieties, overlooking the immense power and constant provision of Christ. We are challenged to look beyond our immediate lacks and grasp the boundless spiritual truths that God has already revealed.