So He said to them, “How is it you do 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?
- BSB Then He asked them, “Do you still 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 hadn’t understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
- Ps 94:8Consider, you senseless among the people; you fools, when will you be wise?
- John 14:9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’
- Matt 16:11–12How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
- 1 Cor 6:5I say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers?
- 1 Cor 15:34Wake up righteously, and don’t sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
- Mark 8:12He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
- Mark 8:17Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?
- Mark 9:19He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.”
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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.