Bible Strands
Mark 8:17
Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the disciples immediately after they begin discussing their lack of bread. He confronts their private conversation while traveling with them.
The words — The Greek διαλογὸζῆσθε (dialogizesthe) literally means "you are reasoning among yourselves" or "debating." This verb captures the internal friction and doubt driving their conversation.
The thread — This theme of spiritual dullness and hardened hearts appears in Mark 6:52 regarding the loaves and in Hebrews 5:11 concerning dull hearing. It echoes the prophetic concern in Isaiah 63:17 about hearts that stray from fearing God.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate self-examination regarding whether one recognizes God's prior works. It requires readers to replace anxious reasoning with attentive understanding of divine provision.
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 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?
Cross-references
- Mark 6:52 for they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.
- Hebrews 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.
- Isaiah 63:17 Why, O LORD, do You make us stray from Your ways and harden our hearts from fearing You? Return, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.
- Mark 2:8 At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked.
- Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.
- Matthew 16:8 Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you debating among yourselves about having no bread?
- Matthew 15:17 “Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated?
- Mark 16:14 Later, as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
- Luke 24:25 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
- John 2:24 But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all.