Mark 8:21
How is it that you do not understand?
In a boat, Jesus asked them why they are arguing about bread.
Mark 8:21 How is it that ye do not understand?
Mark 8:21 Do you still not understand?”
Not yet do you put it together?
Greek
Greek Word Order
Lost in Translation
This is a case where the Greek source used by the KJV translators differs from the source we use today (see this article).
There are several different Greek words translated into English as "to understand," and there are various words in Greek that mean different types of understanding. The word translated here as "understand" here is means "putting things together." Jesus uses the same term in Mark 8:17 to introduce this discussion.
Vocabulary (Greek word by word)
Οὔπω [9 verses](adv) "Not" is from oupo, which means "not yet" and a strong form of "not" and "not at all."
συνίετε; [14 verses]( verb 2nd pl pres ind act) "Understand" is from syniemi which means "to bring together" or "to set together." It is also a metaphor for "perceive", "hear," and "understand" as we would say that we "put it all together" when figuring something out.
KJV — word by word
How is it that -- -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "how is it that" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
ye -This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
do-- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek
not -- -- (OS) This is not the negative in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used. This is an adverb that means "not yet" and a strong form of "not" and "not at all." This is not one of the simple Greek negatives, but a more specialized word.
understand? -- The word translated as "understand" means "to bring together." It means "understand" in the same sense that we say "put it together" to mean "understand." This word is always translated as "understand" in the KJV translation.
NIV — word by word
Do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek
you -This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb. understand?”
still not -- his is an adverb that means "not yet" and a strong form of "not" and "not at all." This is not one of the simple Greek negatives, but a more specialized word.
understand? -- The word translated as "understand" means "to bring together." It means "understand" in the same sense that we say "put it together" to mean "understand." This word is always translated as "understand" in the KJV translation.
Related Verses
Mark 8:17 Why do you reason that it is because you have no bread?