Mark 6:2

2 And 1on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and 2many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?

Mark 6:2 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 6:2

And when the sabbath day was come
For it seems that it was on a weekday, or on one of the common days of the week, that he entered into the city, where he remained without making himself known, till the sabbath day came: and then

he began to teach in the synagogue;
that is, at Nazareth; where he expounded the law and the prophets, and preached the Gospel:

and many hearing [him] were astonished.
The Vulgate Latin adds, "at his doctrine"; and so it is read in Beza's most ancient copy:

saying, from whence hath this man these things?
This skill of explaining Scripture, this doctrine which he teaches, and these miracles he is said to work? This question they the rather put, because they had known him from the beginning: he had lived long among them, and they knew he had not learnt of men, and therefore wondered how he came by such things as these:

and what wisdom is this which is given to him, that even such mighty
works are wrought by his hands?
which were but the other day employed in servile work, and mechanical operations.

Mark 6:2 In-Context

1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?
3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
4 And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household."
5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31; Luke 6:6; Luke 13:10; [Acts 13:14]; See Matthew 4:23
  • 2. See Matthew 7:28
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.