Mark 6:6

KJV

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} he marvelled {G2296} because {G1223} of their {G846} unbelief {G570}. And {G2532} he went {G4013} round about {G2945} the villages {G2968}, teaching {G1321}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He was amazed at their lack of trust. Then he went through the surrounding towns and villages, teaching.

Berean Standard Bible

And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He went around from village to village, teaching the people.

American Standard Version

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages teaching.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 6:6 presents a profound moment in Jesus' Galilean ministry, revealing His deep astonishment at the pervasive unbelief encountered in His hometown of Nazareth. Despite this spiritual resistance, the verse underscores Jesus' unwavering commitment to His mission, as He promptly redirects His efforts to the surrounding villages, continuing to teach and proclaim the Kingdom of God. This passage poignantly illustrates the impact of human faithlessness on divine action while simultaneously highlighting the unstoppable nature of God's redemptive plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 6:6 follows Jesus' return to Nazareth, His childhood home, as detailed in [Mark 6:1-5](/mark/6-1-5 "Mark 6:1-5 - Jesus' Rejection in Nazareth"). Upon arriving, Jesus began teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath, provoking a mixed reaction among the townspeople. While initially amazed by His wisdom and "mighty works," their familiarity with Jesus as the "carpenter, the son of Mary" (see [Mark 6:3](/mark/6-3 "Mark 6:3 - The Nazarenes' Skepticism")) quickly bred skepticism and offense. This familial and local knowledge became a stumbling block, preventing them from recognizing His divine authority and power. The immediate preceding verse, [Mark 6:5](/mark/6-5 "Mark 6:5 - Limited Miracles Due to Unbelief"), explicitly states that Jesus "could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them," directly linking their unbelief to the limited manifestation of His healing power. Thus, [Mark 6:6](/mark/6-6 "Mark 6:6 - Jesus Marvels at Unbelief") serves as both a summary of this disheartening encounter and a transition to the next phase of His ministry, emphasizing His resilience in the face of rejection.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish society placed a high value on familial and communal ties. For Jesus to return to Nazareth, His hometown, carried significant cultural weight. People expected to know and categorize individuals based on their family lineage, occupation, and local reputation. The Nazarenes' question, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" (as seen in [Mark 6:3](/mark/6-3 "Mark 6:3 - The Nazarenes' Familiarity with Jesus")), reflects this cultural lens. They struggled to reconcile the ordinary man they had known for decades—a craftsman from a humble background—with the extraordinary claims and authoritative teaching He now presented. This familiarity bred contempt, as the proverb Jesus Himself quotes in [Mark 6:4](/mark/6-4 "Mark 6:4 - A Prophet Without Honor") suggests: "A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." Their "unbelief" (Greek: _apistía_) was not merely intellectual doubt but a deep-seated spiritual resistance rooted in their preconceived notions and inability to see beyond His earthly origins.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Mark's Gospel. Firstly, it highlights the **impact of unbelief** on the reception of God's power. While Jesus' divine power is inherent and limitless, the manifestation of that power, particularly in healing and miracles, is often conditioned by the faith of those receiving it. The Nazarenes' profound lack of faith created an environment where Jesus' mighty works were severely curtailed (as noted in [Mark 6:5](/mark/6-5 "Mark 6:5 - The Consequence of Unbelief")). Secondly, the passage underscores **Jesus' humanity and divine persistence**. That Jesus "marvelled" reveals His genuine human emotion—a deep astonishment, not at the *existence* of unbelief, but perhaps at its stubbornness and prevalence among those who knew Him best. This contrasts sharply with instances where He marvelled at great faith, such as the Roman centurion's in [Luke 7:9](/luke/7-9 "Luke 7:9 - Jesus Marvels at the Centurion's Faith"). Despite this personal rejection and setback, Jesus did not cease His mission, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel even when faced with opposition. Finally, the verse illustrates the **unstoppable spread of the Gospel**. Despite the resistance in Nazareth, Jesus' ministry was not halted. He simply moved to other places where people might be more receptive, emphasizing the determination of Jesus to fulfill His mission of teaching and healing, even when faced with spiritual blindness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **marvelled (Greek, _thaumázō_):** From _thauma_, meaning to wonder or be amazed. In this context, it signifies Jesus' profound astonishment or surprise. It is a strong term indicating a deep emotional reaction, often used elsewhere to describe human awe at Jesus' miracles or teaching. Here, its application to Jesus' reaction to unbelief underscores the unexpected and profound nature of the spiritual resistance He encountered in His hometown, highlighting the deeply intertwined relationship between faith and the experience of God's power.
* **unbelief (Greek, _apistía_):** From _apistos_, meaning faithless. This term denotes a lack of faith, specifically a disbelief or unfaithfulness. It's not merely intellectual doubt but a spiritual disposition of resistance or unwillingness to trust in God's revelation or power. In Mark 6:6, it directly refers to the Nazarenes' refusal to believe in Jesus' divine identity and authority, despite His wisdom and works.
* **teaching (Greek, _didáskō_):** A prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb meaning "to learn." It signifies the act of instructing, imparting knowledge, or explaining doctrine. Jesus' consistent "teaching" throughout the Gospels underscores His primary role as a revealer of truth and a proclaimer of the Kingdom of God, a mission He persistently pursued despite encountering opposition.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he marvelled because of their unbelief."**: This clause reveals Jesus' deep emotional response to the spiritual state of His hometown. The term "marvelled" (Greek: _ethaumasen_) indicates profound astonishment, not at the *presence* of unbelief in the world, but perhaps at its intensity and the stubbornness with which it gripped the hearts of those who had known Him intimately. Their "unbelief" (Greek: _apistía_) was a spiritual resistance that directly hindered the full manifestation of His miraculous power among them, as noted in the preceding verse. This highlights a crucial theological point: while God's power is absolute, its *manifestation* can be conditioned by human receptivity and faith.
* **"And he went round about the villages, teaching."**: This second clause demonstrates Jesus' unwavering commitment to His mission despite rejection. Instead of being deterred or giving up, Jesus simply redirected His efforts. The phrase "went round about the villages" (Greek: _periágō kýklōi tás kṓmas_) emphasizes a systematic and intentional itineration, moving from one small community to another. His continued "teaching" (Greek: _didáskōn_) signifies that His primary method of ministry remained the proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the instruction of divine truth, a task He pursued relentlessly wherever there was an open heart.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 6:6 masterfully employs **Juxtaposition** and **Irony**. The verse places Jesus' profound astonishment at unbelief directly alongside His resolute continuation of ministry. This juxtaposition highlights the stark contrast between human resistance and divine perseverance. There is also a strong element of **Irony**: the very people who should have been most receptive to Jesus—His own family and townsfolk—were the ones who rejected Him most vehemently. This rejection, rather than stopping Him, simply propelled Him to expand His ministry to other, more receptive areas. Furthermore, the passage carries a subtle **Pathos**, as Jesus, the Son of God, experiences a human emotion of surprise and perhaps disappointment at the spiritual blindness of those He came to save, yet His divine resolve immediately takes over, leading Him to continue His mission.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 6:6 offers profound theological insights into the nature of faith, divine power, and the mission of Christ. It underscores the biblical truth that while God's power is sovereign and limitless, its active manifestation in human experience is often mediated through human faith. The Nazarenes' unbelief did not diminish Jesus' inherent power, but it did create an environment where the *exercise* of that power in mighty works was constrained. This passage also powerfully illustrates the resilience and unwavering commitment of Jesus to His redemptive mission. Faced with profound rejection in His own community, He did not retreat but strategically expanded His reach, demonstrating that the Kingdom of God is not bound by human limitations or resistance. His continued "teaching" emphasizes that the proclamation of truth is central to His work, a work that persists despite all obstacles.

* [Matthew 13:58](/matthew/13-58 "Matthew 13:58 - Jesus' Limited Works in Nazareth")
* [Hebrews 3:19](/hebrews/3-19 "The Hindrance of Unbelief")
* [Acts 13:46](/acts/13-46 "Acts 13:46 - Turning to the Gentiles After Rejection")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 6:6 serves as a powerful mirror for contemporary believers, prompting us to examine the state of our own faith and our response to resistance in ministry. Firstly, it challenges us to consider how our own unbelief—whether it be doubt, skepticism, or a failure to fully trust God's power and promises—might be hindering the manifestation of His work in our lives, our churches, and our communities. Are we limiting God by our lack of expectation or by clinging to preconceived notions of how He should act? Secondly, this verse provides a crucial model for perseverance in the face of rejection. Jesus did not allow the spiritual blindness of Nazareth to derail His mission; instead, He simply moved on to where hearts were more open. This teaches us that while we are called to faithfully sow the seeds of the Gospel, we must also discern where God is actively working and be willing to redirect our efforts to more receptive ground. Our mission is not to force belief, but to faithfully proclaim and demonstrate the truth, trusting God to open hearts.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or ministry might my own unbelief be limiting God's work?**
* **How do I respond when faced with rejection or spiritual apathy in my efforts to share the Gospel or serve others?**
* **What does Jesus' example of moving "round about the villages, teaching" teach me about resilience and strategic redirection in ministry?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper, more expectant faith that allows God's power to flow more freely through my life?**

### FAQ
**Did Jesus' power have limits, or was it truly hindered by the Nazarenes' unbelief?**

Answer: Jesus' divine power itself is limitless and absolute, inherent to His nature as God. The limitation mentioned in [Mark 6:5](/mark/6-5 "Mark 6:5 - The Consequence of Unbelief") ("He could there do no mighty work") is not a limitation of His *ability* but rather a limitation on the *exercise* or *manifestation* of His power in that specific context. God often chooses to work in cooperation with human faith, and unbelief can act as a barrier to the reception of divine blessings and miracles. It's not that Jesus *couldn't* perform miracles, but that the spiritual environment of profound unbelief made it inappropriate or ineffective to do so on a widespread scale, as people were unwilling to receive or respond to His power. This highlights the principle that while God is sovereign, human free will and spiritual disposition play a significant role in the experience of His divine intervention.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 6:6, with Jesus marveling at unbelief yet persistently teaching, profoundly illuminates His identity and mission as the Christ. His astonishment at the Nazarenes' unbelief underscores His true humanity, revealing a heart that genuinely felt the weight of human spiritual blindness, a stark contrast to the profound faith He would later commend in others (e.g., the Syrophoenician woman in [Mark 7:29](/mark/7-29 "Mark 7:29 - Jesus Commends the Syrophoenician Woman's Faith")). Yet, this moment of human emotion is immediately followed by divine resolve: He "went round about the villages, teaching." This persistent, unyielding commitment to proclaiming the Kingdom of God, even when rejected by His own, foreshadows His ultimate mission. He is the Lamb of God who, despite being "despised and rejected of men" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant")), would press on to the cross, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the very unbelief He encountered. His continued teaching in the villages points to the universal scope of the Gospel, which, after His resurrection, would break free from all geographical and ethnic boundaries, being carried "unto the uttermost part of the earth" by His disciples ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - The Great Commission")). Thus, Mark 6:6 is a poignant reminder of Christ's steadfast love and unwavering dedication to His redemptive work, a mission that culminates in the salvation offered to all who believe, regardless of their past unbelief.

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

Matthew 9:35

¶ And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matthew 8:10

When Jesus heard [it], he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Luke 13:22

And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Isaiah 59:16

¶ And he saw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

Matthew 4:23

¶ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Jeremiah 2:11

Hath a nation changed [their] gods, which [are] yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for [that which] doth not profit.