MRK 8:1-10

The Feeding of the Four Thousand

1In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them,

2"I am moved to the depths of my being over this crowd, because they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.

3And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way. And some of them have come from far away."

4And his disciples answered him, "How will anyone be able to feed these people with bread here in this wilderness?"

5And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven."

6And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks and broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the crowd; and they set them before the crowd.

7They also had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said to have these set before them as well.

8And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over — seven baskets full.

9There were about four thousand people. And he sent them away.

10And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

In the world it was spoken into

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, large crowds often gathered around itinerant teachers or healers, seeking wisdom, miracles, or relief from hardship. Such gatherings were common in rural or desolate areas , where resources were scarce, and the logistics of feeding a crowd were daunting. The mention of the crowd being with Jesus for three days without food underscores their desperation and commitment, as well as the physical toll of prolonged hunger . The disciples’ question about how to feed the crowd reflects the practical challenges of provisioning in a wilderness setting, where bread was a staple but not readily available. Jesus’ compassion aligns with Jewish and Greco-Roman ideals of care for the vulnerable, particularly in a context where hunger could lead to physical collapse on the journey home. The miracle of multiplying seven loaves echoes Jewish traditions of divine provision, such as the manna in the wilderness, while also challenging the disciples’ limited understanding of Jesus’ authority and resources.

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How other translations render this

MRK 8:1

KJV: In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
BSB: In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said,
Koinōnos: In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them,

MRK 8:2

KJV: I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
BSB: “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
Koinōnos: I am moved to the depths of my being over this crowd, because they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.

MRK 8:3

KJV: And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
BSB: If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.”
Koinōnos: And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way. And some of them have come from far away.

MRK 8:4

KJV: And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
BSB: His disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could anyone find enough bread to feed all these people?”
Koinōnos: And his disciples answered him, "How will anyone be able to feed these people with bread here in this wilderness?

MRK 8:5

KJV: And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
BSB: “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.
Koinōnos: And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven.

MRK 8:6

KJV: 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.
BSB: And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd.
Koinōnos: And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks and broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the crowd; and they set them before the crowd.

MRK 8:7

KJV: And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
BSB: They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.
Koinōnos: They also had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said to have these set before them as well.

MRK 8:8

KJV: So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
BSB: The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Koinōnos: And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over — seven baskets full.

MRK 8:9

KJV: And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
BSB: And about four thousand men were present. And when Jesus had dismissed the crowd,
Koinōnos: There were about four thousand people. And he sent them away.

MRK 8:10

KJV: And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
BSB: He immediately got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
Koinōnos: And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MRK 8:2

I am moved with compassion:The word translated 'I am moved with compassion' literally means to have one's bowels or inner organs churn with deep emotion, indicating a visceral, gut-level empathy rather than just intellectual pity.

MRK 8:3

hungry:The word translated 'hungry' here implies a state of having fasted or abstained from food, suggesting a prolonged lack of sustenance rather than just a temporary desire for food.
they will faint:The word translated 'they will faint' carries the sense of being utterly exhausted or weakened, as if one's strength has been completely loosed or unbound, leading to collapse.

MRK 8:4

this desolate place?:The term 'desolate place' refers to a wilderness or desert area, emphasizing its uninhabited and uncultivated nature, not just a lonely or empty spot.