Mark 6 42

Mark 6:42 kjv

And they did all eat, and were filled.

Mark 6:42 nkjv

So they all ate and were filled.

Mark 6:42 niv

They all ate and were satisfied,

Mark 6:42 esv

And they all ate and were satisfied.

Mark 6:42 nlt

They all ate as much as they wanted,

Mark 6 verses

Mark 6 42 Meaning

Mark 6:42 succinctly states the comprehensive outcome of Jesus' miraculous feeding of the five thousand: every single person present ate and was fully satisfied. This verse underscores the boundless provision and abundant sufficiency demonstrated by Jesus, proving His divine power to meet physical needs completely and surpass human limitations. It signifies a profound act of divine generosity, where not only hunger was appeased but an overflowing abundance was manifested.

Mark 6 42 Context

Mark 6:42 occurs immediately following Jesus' compassionate response to the multitude of people who had followed Him into a desolate place. Earlier in Mark 6, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples with authority. Upon their return, they gather to report, but the crowds are so large that Jesus tells them to go to a solitary place to rest (Mark 6:30-32). However, the crowds anticipate them, arriving ahead (Mark 6:33). Jesus, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd, feels deep compassion and begins teaching them (Mark 6:34). As evening approaches, the disciples urge Jesus to send the people away to find food. Jesus then challenges His disciples to feed them themselves, exposing their inadequacy and small faith ("Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread...?"). The feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fish, described in the preceding verses (Mark 6:35-41), directly sets up this verse. Mark 6:42 concludes the actual eating process, emphasizing its complete success and abundance. Historically, abundant provision of food was a sign of divine favor and blessing, making Jesus' act a clear demonstration of His identity and power, fulfilling prophetic expectations of God's care for His people. This miracle also stands in contrast to the limitations of human resources and wisdom demonstrated by the disciples.

Mark 6 42 Word analysis

• And they did all eat (Greek: καὶ ἔφαγον πάντες - kai ephagon pantes)

  • And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting the act of eating to the preceding distribution of food by Jesus and the disciples. It implies continuity and consequence.
  • they did... eat (ἔφαγον - ephagon): This is the aorist active indicative form of the verb esthio, meaning "to eat." The aorist tense indicates a simple, completed past action, emphasizing that the act of eating happened, fully and conclusively. It speaks to the physical reality of consumption.
  • all (πάντες - pantes): This pronoun means "all," "every one," or "the whole." Its inclusion is significant and emphatic. It explicitly states that no one was left out; the provision extended to everyone present. This highlights the comprehensiveness of Jesus' provision, underscoring the magnitude of the miracle and the absence of any exceptions in the distribution and consumption.
    • Significance: In a world where food scarcity was common and often unevenly distributed, "all" underscores a universal, democratic provision directly from God, distinct from social hierarchies.

• and were filled. (Greek: καὶ ἐχορτάσθησαν - kai echortasthesan)

  • and (καὶ - kai): Again, a connecting conjunction, linking the act of eating to the result of being filled.
  • were filled (ἐχορτάσθησαν - echortasthesan): This is the aorist passive indicative form of the verb chortazo.
    • The root word, chortos, literally means "grass" or "fodder," often used in ancient Greek for feeding animals to satisfaction. When applied to humans, as here, it signifies being fully "fed to satiety," "satisfied," "satiated," or "glutted." It's stronger than merely eating enough; it means complete and utter satisfaction, to the point of no longer feeling hunger.
    • The passive voice is crucial: "they were filled" indicates that the action of filling was done to them by an external agent – implicitly, Jesus. This highlights Jesus as the ultimate source of their satiety and underscores His divine power as the one who provides beyond measure.
    • Significance: This word conveys not just sufficiency but abundance. It speaks of divine generosity that completely alleviates hunger and perhaps even hints at an overflow. It powerfully contrasts with human limitations and worries about scarcity.

• Words-group analysis: "And they did all eat, and were filled."

  • This phrase emphasizes a complete, unqualified success of the miracle. "All" (πάντες) highlights the scale, encompassing every individual present. "Eat" (ἔφαγον) confirms the physical act of partaking. "Were filled" (ἐχορτάσθησαν) emphasizes the quality of the satisfaction—it was not just a taste, but complete satiation and contentment. Together, these words underscore the miraculous nature of Jesus' power to provide an overwhelming abundance from virtually nothing, meeting both the need and providing more than enough. It's a declaration of divine sufficiency that goes beyond human capability or expectation.

Mark 6 42 Bonus section

• The detail "and were filled" signifies that there were no lingering desires for more food among the vast crowd, indicating true satisfaction beyond basic necessity.
• This statement highlights the effectiveness and thoroughness of Jesus' miracle. There was no halfway measure; everyone experienced full relief from hunger.
• The use of chortazo for "filled" often links back to the shepherd imagery in the Old Testament, where a good shepherd ensures his flock is well-fed and satisfied in lush pastures, reinforcing Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, Ps 23:1-2).
• The completion of this verse sets up the collection of the broken pieces in the following verses (Mark 6:43-44), which further demonstrates the sheer excess and superabundance of the miracle, as 12 basketfuls of leftovers remained.

Mark 6 42 Commentary

Mark 6:42 provides the conclusive evidence of the preceding miracle: everyone present ate and achieved complete satiety. This seemingly simple statement carries profound theological weight. It demonstrates Jesus' divine power over creation and His boundless compassion, providing not merely enough to survive, but an abundance that utterly removed hunger. This miracle prefigures the heavenly banquet, illustrating God's promise to provide ultimate satisfaction. It also typologically connects to the Manna in the wilderness, yet surpasses it in the directness of Jesus' provision and the explicit mention of everyone's fullness. For the original audience, it challenged scarcity mindsets and highlighted Jesus as the benevolent provider, capable of fulfilling physical and, by extension, spiritual needs. It implicitly served as a polemic against any belief in a limited deity or reliance solely on human endeavors, affirming Jesus as the one who meets profound need with superabundant grace. This truth encourages believers today to trust in Christ for every need, understanding His provision is comprehensive and completely satisfying.