Mark 6 · Verse 52

Mark 6:52

For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
Mark 6:52, King James Version

Mark 6:52 in other translations

BSBfor they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.
WEBfor they hadn’t understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
ASVfor they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
YLTfor they understood not concerning the loaves, for their heart hath been hard.
DARBYfor they understood not through the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
BBEFor it was not clear to them about the bread; but their hearts were hard.
WebsterFor they considered not the miracle of the loaves; for their heart was hardened.

What does Mark 6:52 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
52. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves; for their heart was hardened--What a singular statement! The meaning seems to be that if they had but "considered [reflected upon] the miracle of the loaves," wrought but a few hours before, they would have wondered at nothing which He might do within the whole circle of power and grace. Incidents on Landing (Mr 6:53-56). The details here are given with a rich vividness quite peculiar to this charming Gospel.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 52. They considered not the miracle of the loaves. They did not remember or call to mind the power which Jesus had shown in feeding the five thousand by a miracle, and that, having done that, he had power also to save them from the storm.

Their heart was hardened. Their mind was dull to perceive it. This does not mean that they were opposed to Jesus, or that they had what we denominate hardness of heart, but simply, that they were slow to perceive his power; they did not quickly learn, as they ought to have done, that he had all power, and could therefore allay the storm. The word heart is frequently used in this sense. See Eph 1:18, in Greek; Rom 1:21, 2:15, 2Cor 4:6.

(f) "hardened" Isa 43:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 52 Their heart was hardened - See this explained Mat 14:33 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 6:45-56

The church is often like a ship at sea, tossed with tempests, and not comforted: we may have Christ for us, yet wind and tide against us; but it is a comfort to Christ's disciples in a storm, that their Master is in the heavenly mount, interceding for them. And no difficulties can hinder Christ's appearance for his people, when the set time is come. He silenced their fears, by making himself known to them. Our fears…

Read the full comment on Mark 6:45-56 →

Mark 6:52 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.

οὐounotG3756
γὰρgarforG1063
συνῆκανsunēkanthey understoodG4920
ἐπὶepibyG1909
τοῖςtoistheG3588
ἄρτοις,artoisloaves,G740
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ἦνēnwereG1510
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
ἡhētheG3588
καρδίαkardiaheartG2588
πεπωρωμένη.¶pepōrōmenēhardened.G4456

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

Cross references for Mark 6:52

  • Mark 8:17-21

    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? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. …

  • Luke 24:25

    Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

  • Isaiah 63:17

    O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

  • Mark 16:14

    Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

  • Matthew 16:9-11

    Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

  • Romans 11:7

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

  • Mark 7:18

    And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

  • Mark 3:5

    And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they.
7:18; 8:17,18,21; Mt 16:9-11; Lu 24:25
their.
3:5; 16:14; Isa 63:17

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

Context

  • Mark 6:51

    And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

  • Mark 6:52

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

  • Mark 6:53

    And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

Read all of Mark 6

Mark 6:52 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque aun no habían considerado lo de los panes, por cuanto estaban ofuscados sus corazones.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car ils n’avaient pas été rendus intelligents par les pains, car leur cœur était endurci.
German
Elberfelder 1871		denn sie waren durch die Brote nicht verständig geworden, denn ihr Herz war verhärtet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		non enim intellexerunt de panibus: erat enim cor eorum obcæcatum.