14They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. [8:15] He was charging them, saying: Watch out — take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. [8:16] They were discussing with one another that they had no bread. [8:17] Knowing this, he said to them: Why are you discussing that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Do you have your heart hardened? [8:18] Having eyes, do you not see? Having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? [8:19] When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many hand-baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? They said to him: Twelve. [8:20] When the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? They said to him: Seven. [8:21] He said to them: Do you not yet understand?
MRK 8:14-21
The Leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod
In the world it was spoken into
In this passage, Jesus warns his disciples about the 'leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.' Leaven, in Jewish thought, often symbolized corruption or influence, as it permeates dough. The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to ritual purity and Torah interpretation, while Herod represented Roman-aligned political power and compromise. Jesus’ warning would have resonated with Galilean Jews familiar with these groups’ influence. The disciples’ concern about physical bread contrasts with Jesus’ metaphorical focus. Their misunderstanding reflects a common 1st-century Jewish expectation of a Messiah who would provide material sustenance, as seen in the wilderness manna tradition. The mention of baskets recalls the earlier feeding miracle, where Jewish-style baskets were used, symbolizing provision for Israel. Jesus’ rebuke about hardened hearts echoes prophetic critiques of Israel’s spiritual dullness (e.g., Isaiah 6:9-10).
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How other translations render this
MRK 8:14
- KJV
- Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
- BSB
- Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.
- Koinōnos
- They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat.
MRK 8:15
- KJV
- And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
- BSB
- “Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.”
- Koinōnos
- He was charging them, saying: Watch out — take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.
MRK 8:16
- KJV
- And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
- BSB
- So they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.
- Koinōnos
- They were discussing with one another that they had no bread.
MRK 8:17
- KJV
- And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
- BSB
- Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts?
- Koinōnos
- Knowing this, he said to them: Why are you discussing that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Do you have your heart hardened?
MRK 8:18
- KJV
- Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
- BSB
- ‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember?
- Koinōnos
- Having eyes, do you not see? Having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?
MRK 8:19
- KJV
- When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
- BSB
- When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered.
- Koinōnos
- When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many hand-baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? They said to him: Twelve.
MRK 8:20
- KJV
- And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
- BSB
- “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said.
- Koinōnos
- When the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? They said to him: Seven.
MRK 8:21
- KJV
- And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
- BSB
- Then He asked them, “Do you still not understand?”
- Koinōnos
- He said to them: Do you not yet understand?
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.1.2
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.1.2
“The Jews had for a great while had three sects of philosophy peculiar to themselves; the sect of the Essens, and the sect of the Sadducees, and the third sort of opinions was that of those called Pharisees”
Cited to ground: The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to ritual purity and Torah interpretation
Translator's notes
MRK 8:15
- do watch out,:The word translated 'do watch out' implies a focused, intentional observation, often with a sense of looking out for something specific or being on guard.
- do take heed:The word translated 'do take heed' suggests a more general act of seeing or perceiving, often used in warnings to pay attention to what is happening or being said.
MRK 8:17
- nor:The word translated 'nor' in this context carries the sense of a hardening or callousing, specifically referring to a dulling of perception or understanding, like a stone forming over something.
MRK 8:19
- hand-baskets:The word translated 'hand-baskets' referred to a specific type of basket, often associated with Jewish people in the 1st century, used for carrying provisions.