Bible Strands
Mark 4:40
“Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the disciples immediately after calming the storm, asking two direct questions about their emotional and spiritual condition.
The words — The Greek term δειλοί (deiloí) literally means "fearful" or "cowardly," while οὔπω (oúpō) translates to "still not," marking a persistent deficiency in their trust.
The thread — The text aligns with Luke 8:25 and Matthew 8:26, where Jesus questions the disciples' trust during a storm, while Matthew 14:31 shifts the focus to doubt rather than fear.
Why it lands — The passage states the disciples' fear coexisted with Jesus' visible authority, requiring a reader to examine whether crisis reveals reliance on power or reliance on the one who commands it.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Cross-references
- Luke 8:25 “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”
- Matthew 8:26 “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.
- Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
- Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
- Matthew 16:8 Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you debating among yourselves about having no bread?
- Matthew 6:30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
- Psalms 46:1 For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
- John 6:19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified.
- Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.