Mark 6 43

Mark 6:43 kjv

And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

Mark 6:43 nkjv

And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.

Mark 6:43 niv

and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

Mark 6:43 esv

And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.

Mark 6:43 nlt

and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish.

Mark 6 verses

Mark 6 43 Meaning

Mark 6:43 signifies the astounding overflow of God's provision and the meticulous stewardship of Jesus and His disciples. Following the miraculous feeding of five thousand, twelve baskets were filled with the leftover bread fragments and fish. This demonstrates not just sufficiency, but superabundance, highlighting divine generosity, the Messiah's power, and the disciples' role in gathering and distributing God's blessings. The number "twelve" is highly symbolic, pointing towards completeness, God's covenant with Israel, and the apostolic foundation of the new community.

Mark 6 43 Context

Mark chapter 6 details a series of significant events surrounding Jesus' ministry. It begins with Jesus' rejection in Nazareth (vv. 1-6a) and His sending out the twelve disciples two by two with authority over unclean spirits (vv. 6b-13). This is immediately followed by the shocking account of John the Baptist's beheading at the cruel whim of Herod (vv. 14-29). The narrative then shifts to the disciples rejoining Jesus, who seeks a quiet place for them to rest (vv. 30-32). However, large crowds follow them, and "Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd" (v. 34). This compassion leads directly to the miraculous feeding of the five thousand.

Verse 43 comes at the culmination of this miraculous provision. After commanding the disciples to gather the leftovers (a detail more prominent in John's account), the abundant collection described in Mark 6:43 serves as concrete evidence of the extraordinary nature of the event and the sheer magnitude of divine supply. Historically and culturally, large gatherings for feasting were common, but providing food for over five thousand men (plus women and children, implying 15,000-20,000 total people) from meager provisions was utterly unprecedented and spoke volumes about Jesus' power and identity as the true Shepherd-King, caring for His flock in the wilderness. The meticulous gathering of fragments contrasts with pagan practices that could be wasteful, emphasizing divine order and valuing every part of God's blessing.

Mark 6 43 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ, kai): A conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding action (everyone eating and being satisfied), indicating a direct continuation of the narrative. It signals the immediate result of the miracle.
• they took up (ἀνέλαβον, anelabon): From ἀναλαμβάνω (analambano), meaning to "take up," "lift up," or "collect." It's in the active voice, imperfect tense, indicating that the disciples actively and continuously gathered the fragments. This highlights their obedient stewardship following Jesus' implicit or explicit instruction (John 6:12 states this instruction explicitly).
• twelve (δώδεκα, dōdeka): This cardinal number holds profound biblical and symbolic significance. It represents the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing the completeness and totality of God's covenant people. In the New Testament, it represents the twelve apostles, the foundation of the new spiritual Israel (the Church). Its presence here, particularly in the number of collected baskets, underscores God's perfect provision for His people and the apostles' foundational role as stewards of His blessings.
• baskets (κοφίνων, kophinōn): This is a specific Greek word for a "kophinos," typically a small, portable wicker basket carried by Jewish travelers for their own food, possibly to avoid contact with defiled Gentile food. This detail might implicitly connect the fed multitude or the apostles with Jewish identity and practice, even though a mixed crowd was likely present. The distinctiveness of this basket type contrasts with the "spyrídas" (σπυρίδας), a larger, often Gentile-associated basket used in the feeding of the four thousand (Mark 8:8), hinting at the different scope or context of Jesus' miracles for various peoples.
• full (πλήρεις, plēreis): An adjective meaning "full," "filled," "complete," or "abundant." It emphasizes the sheer quantity and overflowing nature of the leftovers, signifying superabundance beyond mere sufficiency. The provision was not just enough, but lavishly so.
• of the fragments (κλασμάτων, klasmatōn): From κλάσμα (klasma), meaning "a broken piece" or "fragment." Specifically refers to the broken pieces of bread. This highlights that the "waste" was not actual discarded food, but excess pieces resulting from the breaking and multiplication, collected to honor the divine provision and prevent waste.
• and of the fishes (ἰχθύων, ichthyōn): From ἰχθύς (ichthys), meaning "fish." This confirms that both the bread and the fish were multiplied and left over in abundance, completing the picture of superabundant provision for both main food items.

Words-group analysis:

• "And they took up": Highlights the disciples' obedience and action in the wake of Jesus' miracle. They are not mere spectators but active participants in the process of divine provision and stewardship.
• "twelve baskets full": This phrase strongly conveys the miraculous abundance. It suggests that the leftover amount exceeded the initial meager supply, perhaps even what one might reasonably expect from five loaves and two fish. The specific number "twelve" underscores the deep theological and symbolic meaning, associating the superabundant blessing with the totality of Israel and the mission of the apostles.
• "of the fragments, and of the fishes": Emphasizes that both elements of the initial meal were supernaturally multiplied and conserved. It speaks to the comprehensiveness of Jesus' miracle and His care that nothing of value is lost, illustrating a principle of careful stewardship even in the midst of limitless divine power.

Mark 6 43 Bonus section

The specific type of basket, κοφίνων (kophinōn), used here (as opposed to σπυρίδας / spyrídas in the feeding of the four thousand in Mark 8:8) is a detail often noted by biblical scholars. It's theorized that the kophinos was typically smaller and associated with Jewish travelers (who might carry their own food to maintain dietary purity). The number "twelve" further reinforces this connection to the twelve tribes and the largely Jewish audience Jesus addressed. In contrast, the larger "spyrídas" with seven baskets for the four thousand is often linked to the Gentile mission (seven often symbolizing completeness/nations), showing Jesus' universal provision. This subtle difference in basket type and number, meticulously recorded by Mark, serves as an internal textual clue for understanding the progression and expanding scope of Jesus' ministry from the Jewish context to the Gentile world, while also emphasizing that both are recipients of God's overwhelming generosity.

Mark 6 43 Commentary

Mark 6:43 stands as a powerful testament to Jesus' divine power and abundant grace. The feeding of the five thousand culminates not merely in meeting a great need, but in producing an astounding surplus, concretely symbolized by "twelve baskets full." This quantity of leftovers—more than the original five loaves and two fish—demonstrates Jesus' limitless power to create from scarcity and to provide not just adequately but lavishly. It is a foretaste of the rich provision of God's kingdom.

The collection of the fragments also underscores important theological lessons: divine order, the sanctity of God's gifts, and responsible stewardship. Even in a miracle of superabundance, waste is not permitted. Every piece, even "fragments," holds value in God's economy.

Furthermore, the "twelve baskets" bears profound symbolism. It strongly evokes the twelve tribes of Israel, presenting Jesus as the one who abundantly provides for His people, echoing Yahweh's provision of manna in the wilderness. The twelve disciples gathering these baskets signify their foundational role in the burgeoning New Israel, the church, as recipients and future stewards of the Gospel's blessings, responsible for distributing God's spiritual and physical nourishment to the world. This surplus points to the sufficiency of Christ for all, and the abundance available for future ministry, empowering the disciples for their mission to feed others, both spiritually and physically.