6:52a

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for here introduces an explanation. Mark explained why the disciples were completely amazed that Jesus could walk on water.

Some English versions do not translate this word.

Translate for using a word that shows that you are explaining why the disciples were amazed and surprised.

they had not understood about the loaves: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as they had not understood about the loaves indicates that the disciples did not understand who Jesus was. They did not understand that the miracle of the bread showed that Jesus had divine power. In some languages it may be necessary to make some of this implied information explicit. For example:

they had not understood the real meaning of the feeding of the five thousand (Good News Bible)
-or-
They still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the multiplied loaves (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
-or-
Although they had seen Jesus multiply the loaves of bread, they still did not understand what that meant about his power

6:52b

but: There is a textual issue in this verse:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts begin this clause with a conjunction that means “but rather” or “instead.” (This is the reading that the UBS4 follows (page 144).) For example:

but their hearts were hardened (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Instead, their minds were closed. (God’s Word)

(Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, NET Bible, God’s Word)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts begin this clause with a conjunction that means “for” or “because.” For example, the New Century Version has:

because their minds were closed

(Berean Standard Bible, New Century Version, King James Version)

When you translate 6:52b, you may either:

• Leave the conjunction implied, as do the New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Bible, New Living Translation, and Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English.

• Follow option (1) above. In order to translate option (1), you may have to repeat some information or make some information explicit. For example:

Instead of understanding, their hearts were hardened
-or-
They should have understood, but their hearts were hardened

their hearts had been hardened: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as their hearts had been hardened is an idiom. This idiom refers to people who are too stubborn to understand spiritual truth. It does not refer to a lack of intelligence. In this context the disciples had seen Jesus do many miracles, but they still did not understand what his miracles showed about him. The idiom implies that the disciples should have understood that.

You can translate this idiom in two ways:

• Use a figure of speech from your language that refers to people being too stubborn to understand something. For example, here are some other English idioms:

Their minds were closed (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
They had not opened their hearts.

• Translate the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:

They were too stubborn to understand.

General Comment on 6:52a–b

In some languages, it will be more natural to change the order of these phrases. For example, the Contemporary English Version has:

52bTheir minds were closed, 52aand they could not understand the true meaning of the loaves of bread.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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