Devine Scripture

Mark 4:40

What does Mark 4:40 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 4:40 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 4:40 means

After calming the storm, Jesus turned to His disciples and gently rebuked them, asking, "Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?" This question challenges their profound lack of trust and spiritual understanding, given all they had witnessed and heard from Him. It highlights the gap between their intellectual knowledge of Him and their practical reliance on His divine power and presence.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said to them, Why are you full of fear? have you still no faith?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he said to them, `Why are ye so fearful? how have ye not faith?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he said to them: Why are you fearful? have you not faith yet? And they feared exceedingly: and they said one to another: Who is this (thinkest thou) that both wind and sea obey him?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said to them, Why are ye [thus] fearful? how [is it] ye have not faith?

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' miraculous calming of the storm, as He shifts His attention from the natural elements to His disciples. His questions are a direct response to their fear and their desperate plea in verse 38. This serves as a teaching moment, exposing their lack of faith and preparing them for the profound realization of Jesus' true identity that will come in the next verse.

v.39And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

v.40This passage

v.41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Cross references

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

  • 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?

  • Isaiah 42:3

    A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth.

  • Luke 8:25

    And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And being afraid they marvelled, saying one to another, Who then is this, that he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him?

  • Isaiah 43:2

    When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

  • John 6:19

    When therefore they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the boat: and they were afraid.

  • Matthew 16:8

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

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