Devine Scripture

Matthew 16:8

What does Matthew 16:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 16:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 16:8 means

Perceiving their literal-minded reasoning about the bread, Jesus gently chides His disciples as having "little faith." He questions why they are discussing their lack of physical bread, implying that their concern reveals a shallow trust in His provision. This highlights a recurring theme in the disciples' journey: their struggle to move beyond earthly concerns and fully trust in Jesus' divine power and care, despite having witnessed His miraculous provisions.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Jesus perceiving it said, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have no bread?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Jesus perceiving it said, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have no bread?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Jesus, seeing it, said, O you of little faith, why are you reasoning among yourselves, because you have no bread?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Jesus having known, said to them, `Why reason ye in yourselves, ye of little faith, because ye took no loaves?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Jesus knowing it, said: Why do you think within yourselves, O ye of little faith, for that you have no bread?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jesus knowing [it], said, Why reason ye among yourselves, O ye of little faith, because ye have taken no bread?

Context

Jesus' perception of their reasoning and His subsequent rebuke directly addresses the disciples' misunderstanding from the previous verse. This verse transitionally prepares for His recall of past miracles, which serve as evidence for His ability to provide and as a basis for them to grasp the spiritual meaning of His 'leaven' warning. It underscores His patience in teaching them.

v.7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, We took no bread.

v.8This passage

v.9Do ye not yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 16:14

    And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen.

  • Matthew 14:31

    And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

  • John 16:30

    Now know we that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

  • John 2:24

    But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men,

  • Matthew 6:30

    But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

  • Revelation 2:23

    And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.

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