Mark 6:4

KJV

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} Jesus {G2424} said {G3004} unto them {G846}{G3754}, A prophet {G4396} is {G2076} not {G3756} without honour {G820}, but {G1508} in {G1722} his own {G846} country {G3968}, and {G2532} among {G1722} his own kin {G4773}, and {G2532} in {G1722} his own {G846} house {G3614}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But Yeshua said to them. "The only place people don't respect a prophet is in his home town, among his own relatives, and in his own house."

Berean Standard Bible

Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

American Standard Version

And Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Mark 6:4, Jesus delivers a poignant proverbial statement during his visit to his hometown of Nazareth, observing that a prophet, though honored elsewhere, often finds little respect or acceptance among their own people, within their own community, and even within their own family. This declaration serves as both an explanation for the skepticism he encountered and a timeless insight into human nature's tendency to undervalue truth and wisdom when it originates from a familiar source.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated immediately after Jesus' return to Nazareth, his childhood home, following a period of extensive ministry in Galilee, including significant miracles like the healing of Jairus's daughter and the woman with a hemorrhage in [Mark 5](/mark/5 "Mark 5 - Miracles of Healing and Deliverance"). Upon entering the synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus begins to teach, astonishing the listeners with his wisdom and "mighty works" ([Mark 6:2](/mark/6-2 "Mark 6:2 - Jesus Teaches in the Synagogue")). However, their amazement quickly turns to offense as they question his authority, knowing him only as "the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon" ([Mark 6:3](/mark/6-3 "Mark 6:3 - The People's Offense at Jesus")). Jesus' statement in [Mark 6:4](/mark/6-4 "Mark 6:4 - A Prophet Without Honor") is his direct response to this deep-seated familiarity and unbelief, which subsequently limited his ability to perform many miracles there ([Mark 6:5-6](/mark/6-5-6 "Mark 6:5-6 - Jesus' Limited Miracles in Nazareth")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish society placed a high value on lineage and community identity. A person's reputation was often tied to their family and birthplace. For Jesus, being known as the "carpenter" (τέκτων, _tektōn_), a common laborer, and the son of Mary, without the recognition of his divine origin or prophetic anointing, made it difficult for his hometown to accept his extraordinary claims and teachings. Prophets in Israel's history, from Elijah to Jeremiah, frequently faced rejection and persecution from their own people, who often preferred comfortable traditions over challenging divine truth. The expectation was that a prophet would emerge from a recognized school or lineage, not from a humble background like Nazareth, which was often viewed with disdain ([John 1:46](/john/1-46 "John 1:46 - Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth?")).

* **Key Themes:** This passage highlights several significant themes. The most prominent is the theme of **Rejection of the Prophet**, where Jesus aligns himself with a long line of God's messengers who were dishonored by those closest to them, a pattern seen throughout Israel's history. This connects to the broader theme of **Unbelief and Its Consequences**, as the lack of faith in Nazareth directly limited Jesus' miraculous works, demonstrating that human receptivity plays a role in the manifestation of divine power, even for the Son of God. Furthermore, the passage underscores the theme of **Familiarity Breeding Contempt**, illustrating how preconceived notions and intimate knowledge of a person's earthly origins can blind individuals to their true identity or divine calling, preventing them from recognizing profound truth when it comes from an unexpected or ordinary source.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prophet (Greek, _prophḗtēs'_):** From a compound of πρό (pro, "before" or "for") and φημί (phēmí, "to speak"), this term denotes one who speaks on behalf of God, conveying divine messages, often with a predictive element. It signifies an inspired speaker who delivers God's word to the people, acting as God's spokesperson.
* **Without honour (Greek, _átimos'_):** Derived from the negative particle 'A' and τιμή (timḗ, "honor"), this word describes someone who is unhonored, despised, or considered of little value. In this context, it speaks to a lack of respect, esteem, or recognition shown to the prophet's divine authority and message.
* **Country (Greek, _patrís'_):** Literally "father-land," this refers to one's native town or region. Here, it specifically denotes Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, emphasizing the local, familiar environment where he was known from childhood.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But Jesus said unto them":** This phrase serves as a direct response to the astonishment and offense expressed by the people of Nazareth in the preceding verses. The conjunction "But" (G1161, _dé_) indicates a contrast or transition, introducing Jesus' profound insight into their reaction.
* **"A prophet is not without honour":** Jesus states a general principle, asserting that a prophet, a divinely appointed messenger, typically receives respect and recognition for their God-given role and message. This sets up the stark contrast that follows.
* **"but in his own country":** This marks the first and broadest sphere where the prophet paradoxically lacks honor. "His own country" (G3968, _patrís_) refers to his native region or town, signifying the local community where he grew up and was known.
* **"and among his own kin":** Moving to a more intimate circle, "his own kin" (G4773, _syngenḗs_) refers to relatives or family members. This highlights the difficulty of being recognized as a divine messenger by those who share blood ties and have known one since birth.
* **"and in his own house":** This represents the most intimate and personal sphere—the immediate household or family. The progression from "country" to "kin" to "house" emphasizes that the closer the relationship and the more familiar the context, the greater the likelihood of rejection or lack of honor for the prophet.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 6:4 is a classic example of a **Proverbial Saying**, a concise statement of a general truth, often with a moral or practical lesson. Jesus employs this device to explain the universal human tendency to undervalue what is familiar, especially divine truth delivered by someone from an ordinary background. There is also profound **Irony** present: the Son of God, the ultimate prophet, is rejected precisely where he should have been most welcomed and understood—in his own home and among his own people. This highlights the spiritual blindness caused by familiarity and unbelief. The verse also demonstrates a clear **Progression** or **Climax** in its structure, moving from the broader "country" to the more intimate "kin" and culminating in the highly personal "house." This escalating sequence underscores the increasing difficulty of receiving honor the closer one is to the prophet's origins, emphasizing the depth of the rejection Jesus experienced.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jesus' statement in Mark 6:4 resonates deeply with the broader biblical narrative of prophetic rejection and the human struggle with faith. It reveals a profound theological truth: God often works through unexpected channels, and human familiarity can become a barrier to recognizing divine authority. The principle that a prophet is dishonored in his own context is a recurring theme, illustrating humanity's resistance to God's direct intervention and truth, particularly when it challenges preconceived notions or personal comfort. This incident in Nazareth serves as a microcosm of Israel's historical rejection of its prophets, and ultimately, of the Messiah himself. It underscores the critical role of faith and humility in receiving God's word and power, highlighting that even the Son of God's ability to perform miracles was constrained by the pervasive unbelief of those around him.

* [Matthew 13:57](/matthew/13-57 "Matthew 13:57 - Jesus' Saying in Matthew")
* [Luke 4:24](/luke/4-24 "Luke 4:24 - Jesus' Saying in Luke")
* [John 4:44](/john/4-44 "John 4:44 - Jesus' Saying in John")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound truth embedded in Mark 6:4 extends far beyond Jesus' immediate experience in Nazareth, offering timeless insights for believers today. It challenges us to examine our own hearts for any hidden biases or preconceived notions that might prevent us from receiving truth, wisdom, or spiritual gifts from unexpected sources, especially from those we know intimately. Are we quick to dismiss a powerful message because of the messenger's ordinary background, or because we feel too familiar with them? This verse also provides solace and wisdom for those who serve God, whether in formal ministry or simply sharing their faith, and encounter resistance or skepticism from their own family or community. Jesus himself experienced this profound lack of honor, reminding us that such rejection, while painful, is a shared prophetic experience and does not diminish the validity or power of the message. Our call is to remain faithful in proclaiming truth, regardless of the reception, trusting that true honor comes from God alone.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might familiarity be hindering your ability to recognize or receive truth, wisdom, or spiritual insight from others?**
* **How does Jesus' experience of being dishonored in his hometown encourage or challenge you when you face rejection or skepticism from those closest to you regarding your faith or calling?**
* **What steps can you take to cultivate a heart of humility and openness, ready to receive God's truth regardless of the messenger's background or your personal familiarity with them?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus' own people reject him, despite his wisdom and miracles?**

Answer: Jesus' own people in Nazareth rejected him primarily due to their familiarity and preconceived notions. They knew him as "the carpenter, the son of Mary" ([Mark 6:3](/mark/6-3 "Mark 6:3 - The People's Offense at Jesus")), a local tradesman with a known family, not as the Messiah or a great prophet. This deep familiarity bred contempt, making it difficult for them to accept his divine authority and the extraordinary claims implied by his teaching and miracles. Their unbelief, rooted in their earthly understanding of him, prevented them from seeing his true identity and limited his ability to perform many mighty works among them ([Mark 6:5-6](/mark/6-5-6 "Mark 6:5-6 - Jesus' Limited Miracles in Nazareth")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 6:4, while a statement of a general principle, finds its most profound fulfillment in Christ himself, revealing the tragic irony of the Son of God being rejected by His own. Jesus, the ultimate Prophet, who perfectly embodies God's word and will, experiences the very dishonor He describes. This rejection in Nazareth foreshadows His greater rejection by the nation of Israel, His "own country" and "kin" ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")), culminating in His crucifixion. Yet, this rejection is not a sign of His weakness but a testament to His humble condescension and the depth of human sin and unbelief. Through His rejection, suffering, and death, Jesus ultimately brings honor to God and provides salvation for all who believe, demonstrating that true honor and acceptance come not from human recognition but from divine purpose and sacrificial love, ultimately leading to His glorious resurrection and exaltation ([Philippians 2:8-11](/philippians/2-8-11 "Philippians 2:8-11 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")). His experience serves as a foundational truth for understanding the path of suffering and glory for the Messiah and His followers ([Luke 24:26](/luke/24-26 "Luke 24:26 - Did Not the Christ Have to Suffer?")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 4:44

For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.

Luke 4:24

And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

Matthew 13:57

And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Jeremiah 12:6

For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.

Jeremiah 11:21

Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand: