Mark 4 · Verse 40

Mark 4:40

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Mark 4:40, King James Version

Mark 4:40 in other translations

BSB“Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”
WEBHe said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”
ASVAnd he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?
YLTand he said to them, ‘Why are ye so fearful? how have ye not faith?'
DARBYAnd he said to them, Why are ye thus fearful? how is it ye have not faith?
BBEAnd he said to them, Why are you full of fear? have you still no faith?
WebsterAnd he said to them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

What does Mark 4:40 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
40. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful?--There is a natural apprehension under danger; but there was unbelief in their fear. It is worthy of notice how considerately the Lord defers this rebuke till He had first removed the danger, in the midst of which they would not have been in a state to listen to anything. how is it that ye have no faith?--next to none, or none in present exercise. In Matthew (Mt 8:26) it is, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Faith they had, for they applied to Christ for relief: but little, for they were afraid, though Christ was in the ship. Faith dispels fear, but only in proportion to its strength.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 40.

(n) "so fearful" Ps 46:1,2, Isa 43:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 40 Why are ye so fearful? - Having me with you. How is it that ye have no faith? - Having already had such proofs of my unlimited power and goodness.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 4:35-41

Christ was asleep in the storm, to try the faith of his disciples, and to stir them up to pray. Their faith appeared weak, and their prayers strong. When our wicked hearts are like the troubled sea which cannot rest, when our passions are unruly, let us think we hear the law of Christ, saying, Be silent, be dumb. When without are fightings, and within are fears, and the spirits are in a tumult, if he say, "Peace, be…

Read the full comment on Mark 4:35-41 →

Mark 4:40 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
εἶπενeipenHe saidG2036
αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846
τίtiWhyG5101
δειλοίdeiloifearfulG1169
ἐστε;esteare you?G1510
οὔπωoupōStill notG3768
πῶςpōshowG4459
οὐκouknotG3756
ἔχετεechetehave youG2192
πίστιν;pistinfaith?G4102

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 4:40

  • Luke 8:25

    And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

  • Matthew 8:26

    And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

  • Matthew 14:31

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

  • 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.

  • Matthew 16:8

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

  • Matthew 6:30

    Wherefore, if God 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?

  • Psalms 46:1-3

    To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

  • John 6:19-20

    So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

  • Isaiah 42:3

    A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Why.
Ps 46:1-3; Isa 42:3; 43:2; Mt 8:26; 14:31; Lu 8:25; Joh 6:19,20
no faith.
Mt 6:30; 16:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 4:39

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

  • Mark 4:40

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

  • Mark 4:41

    And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Read all of Mark 4

Mark 4:40 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y á ellos dijo: ¿Por qué estáis así amedrentados? ¿Cómo no tenéis fe?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il leur dit: Pourquoi êtes-vous ainsi craintifs? Comment n’avez-vous pas de foi?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er sprach zu ihnen: Was seid ihr so furchtsam? Wie, habt ihr keinen Glauben?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ait illis: Quid timidi estis? necdum habetis fidem? et timuerunt timore magno, et dicebant ad alterutrum: Quis, putas, est iste, quia et ventus et mare obediunt ei?