Then He asked them, “Do you still not understand?”
Parallel translations
- WEB He asked them, “Don’t you understand, yet?”
- KJV And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
- NKJV So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”
- NASB And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
- NLT “Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus asks, 'Don't you understand yet?' His question exposes their lingering spiritual blindness.
Overview
The unanswered question leaves the disciples—and the reader—to reckon with how slow they are to perceive Jesus' identity and power. It immediately precedes the two-stage healing of a blind man, which mirrors their partial sight. Mark uses this to show that true understanding of Jesus comes gradually and only by his gracious work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Mark 6:52for they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.
- Ps 94:8Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?
- John 14:9Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
- Matt 16:11–12How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
- 1 Cor 6:5I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers?
- 1 Cor 15:34Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.
- Mark 8:12Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
- Mark 8:17Aware 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?
- Mark 9:19“O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 8:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.