Devine Scripture

Mark 6:52

What does Mark 6:52 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 6:52 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 6:52 means

Mark 6:52 explains that the disciples were slow to understand concerning the loaves, and their heart was hardened. Despite witnessing the feeding miracle and now Jesus’ power over the sea, they still failed to grasp the spiritual significance of his actions. Their hardened hearts indicate spiritual dullness and a need for deeper revelation. The verse gently rebukes them: miracles were meant to teach trust in Jesus as provider and Lord, but experiential evidence alone did not produce full faith. This honest appraisal invites readers to reflect on how easily divine acts can be observed without being internalized.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

for they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

for they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For it was not clear to them about the bread; but their hearts were hard.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for they understood not concerning the loaves, for their heart hath been hard.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For they understood not concerning the loaves; for their heart was blinded.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

for they understood not through the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Context

This verse follows the calming of the wind (verse 51) and offers interpretive commentary on the disciples’ condition. It connects back to the feeding miracle (verses 41–44) and shows that even extraordinary signs didn’t lead to full understanding. The verse prepares the final arrival at Gennesaret and the renewed public response (verses 53–56), contrasting the disciples’ hardness with the people’s recognition and healing of the sick.

v.51And he went up unto them into the boat; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves;

v.52This passage

v.53And when they had crossed over, they came to the land unto Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 16:9

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

  • Mark 3:5

    And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored.

  • Romans 11:7

    What then? That which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened:

  • Isaiah 63:17

    O Jehovah, why dost thou make us to err from thy ways, and hardenest our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

  • Mark 8:17

    And Jesus perceiving it saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? do ye not yet perceive, neither understand? have ye your heart hardened?

  • Luke 24:25

    And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

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