The Meaning of Mark 4:40 Explained

Mark 4:40

KJV: And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

YLT: and he said to them, 'Why are ye so fearful? how have ye not faith?'

Darby: And he said to them, Why are ye thus fearful? how is it ye have not faith?

ASV: And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  he said  unto them,  Why  are ye  so  fearful?  how is it  that ye have  no  faith? 

What does Mark 4:40 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 4:10-41 - Growth In God's Kingdom
How quick the Master was to observe the meaning of natural symbols! To Him all things were unfoldings of eternal mystery, and the ways of men unconsciously mirrored the unseen. Are there bushels in your life? Use them as lamp stands, not as coverings. All secrets come out; beware of what you say. All measures come back to us; take care how you mete. The mysterious co-operation of God in nature, and the gradual process of growth, are analogous to the co-working of the Holy Spirit with all faithful sowers of the Word, and the imperceptible stages through which the soul reaches maturity.
The stilling of the storm, Mark 4:35-41. They that bear Christ's company must prepare for squalls. Yet, why should we fear, when the Master is on board, who can impress His commands on wind and sea-to the wind, Peace; to the sea, Be still! "The Lord on high is mightier than the waves of the sea." A moment ago he was so weary as to sleep amid the storm, but at a word of appeal from those He loves, He shows Himself able to save to the uttermost. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 4

1  The parable of the sower,
14  and the meaning thereof
21  We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others
26  The parable of the seed growing secretly;
30  and of the mustard seed
35  Jesus stills the storm on the sea

Greek Commentary for Mark 4:40

Why are ye fearful? [Τι δειλοι εστε]
They had the Lord of the wind and the waves with them in the boat. He was still Master even if asleep in the storm. [source]
Have ye not yet faith? [Ουπω εχετε πιστιν]
Not yet had they come to feel that Jesus was really Lord of nature. They had accepted his Messiaship, but all the conclusions from it they had not yet drawn. How like us in our troubles they were! [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 4:40

Revelation 21:8 The fearful [δειλοῖς]
The dative case. Hence, as Rev., for the fearful. Only here, Matthew 8:26, and Mark 4:40. [source]
Revelation 21:8 For the fearful [τοις δειλοις]
Old word (from δειδω — deidō to fear) for the cowardly, who recanted under persecution, in N.T. only here, Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:40.Unbelieving (απιστοις — apistois). “Faithless,” “untrustworthy,” in contrast with Christ “ο πιστος — ho pistos ” (Revelation 1:5). Cf. Revelation 2:10, Revelation 2:13; Revelation 3:14; Revelation 17:14. Disloyalty is close kin to cowardice.Abominable Perfect passive participle of βδελυσσω — bdelussō old verb, in N.T. only here and Romans 2:22, common in lxx, to pollute (Exod 5:21). Those who have become defiled by the impurities of emperor-worship (Revelation 7:4.; Revelation 21:27; Romans 2:22; Titus 1:16).Murderers (πονευσιν — phoneusin). As a matter of course and all too common always (Mark 7:21; Romans 1:29; Revelation 9:21).Fornicators Again all too common always, then and now (1 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 1:9.). These two crimes often go together.Sorcerers (παρμακοις — pharmakois). Old word, in N.T. only here and Revelation 22:15. Closely connected with idolatry and magic (Revelation 9:21; Revelation 13:13.).Idolaters See 1 Corinthians 5:10.; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:15. With a powerful grip on men‘s lives then and now.All liars (πασι τοις πσευδεσιν — pasi tois pseudesin). Repeated in Revelation 22:15 and stigmatized often (Revelation 2:2; Revelation 3:9; Revelation 14:5; Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15). Not a “light” sin. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 4:40 mean?

And He said to them Why fearful are you Still not have you faith
Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Τί δειλοί ἐστε οὔπω ἔχετε πίστιν

εἶπεν  He  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Τί  Why 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
δειλοί  fearful 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: δειλός  
Sense: timid, fearful.
ἐστε  are  you 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
οὔπω  Still  not 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὔπω  
Sense: not yet.
ἔχετε  have  you 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
πίστιν  faith 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.