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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 8:8 mean?

Explanation

Mark 8:8 refers to the event known as the Feeding of the Four Thousand.

In this verse, the crowd, after Jesus's miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish, eats to satisfaction, and the leftover fragments are collected in seven baskets.

A literal reading indicates that a large gathering of people was fed from a small initial amount of food, emphasizing a supernatural provision.

The deeper meaning can suggest several themes, such as the abundance of God's grace, the importance of sharing and stewardship, and the idea that with Jesus there is always more than enough to meet our needs.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark was written around 65-70 AD, likely the earliest of the four gospels.

It was a time of social and political turmoil, particularly with the Roman destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD.

The miracle of feeding the Four Thousand occurred in a predominantly Gentile region, and Mark's audience likely comprised both Jewish and Gentile Christians.

By including this story, Mark may have been emphasizing Jesus's ministry and compassion extended beyond the Jews to all of humanity.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illuminates several key insights:

Provision: It underscores God's ability to provide for His people, reflecting themes from the Old Testament, such as the manna in the wilderness.
Eucharistic Overtones: Some theologians interpret this event as prefiguring the Last Supper and the Eucharist, with the gathering, blessing, breaking, and distribution of the bread.
Inclusivity of the Gospel: The story occurs in a predominantly non-Jewish area, indicating the universal scope of Jesus's ministry.
Sign of the Kingdom: Miracles like this are seen as signs of the in-breaking of God's Kingdom, where there is an abundance for all.

Practical Applications

Here are several ways this verse can be applied in daily life:

Generosity: Believers are encouraged to share what they have with trust in God's provision.
Trust: This verse can inspire faith in God's ability to provide even in situations of scarcity.
Gratitude: It encourages thankfulness for God's blessings and the importance of not wasting what we have been given.
Community Care: The act of gathering the leftovers indicates stewardship and concern for the community, an ethos that can be practiced in local communities and churches.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:36-38 – Another account of the Feeding of the Four Thousand.
Mark 6:41-44 – The account of the Feeding of the Five Thousand.
John 6:11-13 – John’s account of the Feeding of the Five Thousand.
Exodus 16:4-18 – The story of manna in the wilderness, showing God’s provision.

Language Study

In the original Greek text:

"Eat" (ἔφαγον, ephagon): Aorist active indicative form of "to eat," indicating the completion of the action.
"Were filled" (ἐχορτάσθησαν, echortasthēsan): Aorist passive indicative form of a verb meaning "to be satisfied" or "to be filled," implying fullness to the point of satisfaction.
"Broken meat" (κλασμάτων, klasmatōn): Refers to the broken pieces or fragments, underscoring the miraculous multiplication of food.
"Seven baskets" (ἑπτὰ σπυρίδας, hepta spuridas): "Seven" often symbolizes completeness or perfection, and "baskets" here are large baskets, indicating a large remaining quantity.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons can be made with various other ancient myths and religions wherein gods provide food, such as the Greek myth of Demeter and the harvest, or the Roman myth of Saturn, the god of agriculture.

However, the distinction in Christian belief is the emphasis on a personal God directly interacting and providing for the people.

Scientific Perspectives

While the multiplication of food described in Mark 8:8 lacks a scientific explanation and is considered a miracle, modern science might explore the psychological impacts of shared meals and communal activities on social bonding and resource distribution.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentaries offer insights on this verse:

Matthew Henry's Commentary: Suggests that the miracle teaches patience, as the crowd had been with Jesus for three days before being fed, and the power of Christ in provision.
The Pulpit Commentary: Discusses the significance of the number seven for the baskets, potentially symbolizing completeness and plenty to the Gentiles.
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible: Notes that the leftovers were greater than the original provision, highlighting the bounty of Christ's miracles.

Mark 8

Mark 8

What does Mark 8:8 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 8:8 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?