Matthew 15:16 (KJV)

What does Matthew 15:16 mean?

Matthew 15:16 records Jesus questioning his disciples because they have not grasped his teaching about what makes a person unclean. His question suggests that they might have been expected to understand by this point.

Jesus speaks after Peter asks him to explain a saying. The words “ye also” point to the disciples, who have been listening closely to Jesus but are still puzzled.

The Greek behind Matthew 15:16

• “yet” — ἀκμήν (akmēn): The word here carries the sense of “still.” Jesus asks whether the disciples remain without understanding even now.
• “understanding” — ἀσύνετοι (asynetoi): The word describes people who have not grasped or understood something. It points to the disciples’ difficulty in making sense of Jesus’ words.

Why Matthew 15:16 matters

• The question is part of an explanation about uncleanness, not a general statement about the disciples’ intelligence. In the surrounding passage, Jesus contrasts what enters the mouth with what comes out of it (Matthew 15:11, 17–20).
• Jesus addresses the disciples as a group, even though Peter has just asked for an explanation. The KJV’s “ye” is a plural form of “you.”
• The question introduces further explanation rather than ending the discussion. Jesus goes on to describe how words come from the heart and to name the harmful actions he has in mind (Matthew 15:18–19).