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Mark 8

In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

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?

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

What does Mark 8:7 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 8:7, "And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them," is part of the narrative of the Feeding of the Four Thousand.

In this event, Jesus performs a miracle by feeding a multitude of people with only seven loaves of bread and a few small fish.

The verse specifically highlights Jesus' action of blessing the fish and giving instructions to distribute them alongside the bread.

The literal meaning is clear: the small amount of food is being shared among many.

On a deeper level, this verse exemplifies the power of divine blessing and the theme of abundance from scarcity, a reflection on the providence and generosity of God.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is believed to have been written around 70 AD.

It was a time of social upheaval, with early Christians facing persecution and looking for hope and affirmation of their faith.

This miracle story served to reinforce the idea that Jesus was the Messiah who would provide for the physical and spiritual needs of the people.

The feeding miracles also echo the Old Testament accounts of God providing manna in the desert for the Israelites, solidifying Jesus' role as a provider and sustainer.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse touches on various principles:

Divine Providence: The miracle emphasizes God's concern and care for human needs.
Eucharistic Overtones: The blessing and breaking of bread share similarities with the Last Supper, prefiguring the Eucharist in Christian liturgy.
Faith in Jesus: The disciples' role in the distribution of the blessed food signifies the role of the Church in spreading the blessings received from Christ.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can offer several practical applications in daily life:

Sharing Resources: It encourages believers to trust in God's providence and share even their limited resources with those in need.
Gratitude: Practicing gratitude for the blessings one receives, no matter how small they may appear.
Community Support: It underlines the importance of community and supporting one another in times of need.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:36: "And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."
John 6:11: "And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would."
Matthew 14:19-21: The feeding of the five thousand, another instance of Jesus multiplying food to feed a large crowd.

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek are:

"ἰχθύδια" (ichthydia): meaning "small fishes."
"εὐλόγησεν" (eulogesen): translated as "he blessed," implying a prayer of thanksgiving or invocation of divine favor.
"προσθεῖναι" (prostheinai): meaning "to set before," suggesting the act of placing or presenting the fish to the people.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of ancient cultures and religions, multiplying food was a sign of divine favor and abundance.

Similar motifs can be found in various mythologies where deities provide sustenance to their followers, symbolizing fertility and prosperity.

The biblical motif differs with its moral and ethical undertones of sharing and faith in divine provision.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the notion of feeding thousands with a few loaves and fishes is a miracle, as it transcends natural laws.

While science cannot explain miracles, the story can be studied from a psychological standpoint, examining how shared belief and collective experiences contribute to the understanding of events.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars offer various interpretations of this verse:

Some argue that the emphasis on blessing and distribution points to an early Christian practice of sharing meals and commemorating Jesus' actions.
Others suggest the miracle stories in the Gospels are meant to reflect Jesus' divine nature and his authority over creation.
There is also debate about the historical accuracy of the event, with some viewing it as a literal event and others as a symbolic or teaching story meant to convey a spiritual truth.

Mark 8

Mark 8

What does Mark 8:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 8:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?