Mark 6 46

Mark 6:46 kjv

And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

Mark 6:46 nkjv

And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

Mark 6:46 niv

After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

Mark 6:46 esv

And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

Mark 6:46 nlt

After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

Mark 6 verses

Mark 6 46 Meaning

Mark 6:46 reveals Jesus' consistent practice of seeking solitary communion with God the Father through prayer, especially after intense periods of ministry. After miraculously feeding five thousand people and sending away both the large crowd and His disciples, Jesus withdrew to a mountain for a dedicated time of prayer, underscoring His reliance on divine intimacy and spiritual replenishment. This act demonstrates His dependence on the Father, sets an example for His followers, and provides a pivotal moment of spiritual recharge before a subsequent supernatural event.

Mark 6 46 Context

Mark 6:46 occurs immediately after two significant events in Jesus' ministry. First, His disciples have returned from their initial mission journey (Mark 6:30-31), reporting their experiences. Second, Jesus has just performed the miracle of feeding five thousand men, besides women and children, with only five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:35-44). The crowd was likely overwhelmed and enthusiastic, possibly even wishing to make Him king, as hinted in John's parallel account (Jn 6:15). In the verses immediately preceding Mark 6:46 (v. 45), Jesus compelled His disciples to get into the boat and go ahead to Bethsaida while He dismissed the multitudes. This strategic dispersal of both His immediate followers and the crowds highlights Jesus' deliberate seeking of solitude. The act of going to pray alone on a mountain directly precedes His walking on water to meet His disciples struggling in a storm (Mark 6:47-52). This placement signifies that His time of prayer was crucial for spiritual re-centering and preparation for the subsequent demonstration of His divine power over creation.

Mark 6 46 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A common conjunction, yet in Mark it frequently serves to introduce a new, significant action that flows from or immediately follows the preceding events, indicating a narrative progression.
• when he had sent them away (ἀποταξάμενος αὐτοῖς - apotaxamenos autois):
  • ἀποταξάμενος (apotaxamenos): An aorist participle, conveying a decisive action completed before the main verb. The root "apotassō" means "to dismiss," "to bid farewell," or "to take leave of." It's a formal and deliberate dismissal, not a casual dispersal. This indicates Jesus consciously ended His engagement with the crowd.
  • αὐτοῖς (autois): "them." Refers specifically to the "multitudes" mentioned in verse 45, who had just been fed, and implicitly also includes the disciples whom He had earlier "compelled" to depart.
• he departed (ἀπῆλθεν - apelthen): "He went away, he left." This is a purposeful movement. Jesus intentionally separated Himself from all human contact.
• into a mountain (εἰς τὸ ὄρος - eis to oros):
  • εἰς (eis): "into" or "to," indicating movement toward a specific place.
  • τὸ ὄρος (to oros): "the mountain" or "the hill country." The use of the definite article "τὸ" might suggest a specific mountain known to the readers in that region, or more generally, "the mountain district" nearby, emphasizing an elevated, secluded location, rather than just any mountain. Biblically, mountains often signify places of divine encounter, revelation, or solitude away from the distractions of the world (e.g., Mount Sinai, Elijah at Horeb).
• to pray (προσεύξασθαι - proseuxasthai):
  • An aorist infinitive of purpose, indicating the specific reason for His departure. This was Jesus' sole intention for withdrawing to the mountain.
  • προσεύχομαι (proseuchomai): "to pray, to worship God, to offer supplications." It signifies deep communion with God. Jesus, though divine, consistently modelled dependence on the Father through prayer, setting a supreme example for His disciples. His humanity necessitated this spiritual reliance and replenishment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "when he had sent them away, he departed": This sequence highlights Jesus' proactive decision-making. First, the compassionate and firm dismissal of both His disciples (to protect them from the enthusiastic crowds) and the multitude (to end the public interaction). Then, a clear physical departure from all. This shows His controlled withdrawal.
• "into a mountain to pray": This phrase links the physical act of ascending a secluded, elevated place directly with the spiritual purpose of seeking God. The mountain serves as a sanctuary from the clamor and demands of the crowd and His active ministry. It signifies intentional isolation for unhindered communion with His Father, emphasizing the private and personal nature of Jesus' spiritual life.

Mark 6 46 Bonus section

• This passage demonstrates Jesus' awareness of the potential for popular adulation to distract from His true mission. By compelling the disciples to leave and dismissing the crowd, He actively avoided a premature and unbiblical attempt to seize earthly kingship (John 6:15). His priority was communion with God, not human acclaim.
• The placement of this prayer is significant. It falls between two public miracles – the feeding of the five thousand and the walking on water. This highlights that Jesus' miracles were not mere displays of power for show, but were intrinsically connected to His deep spiritual life and obedience to the Father, often immediately preceded by prayer.
• Jesus' retreat to "the mountain" parallels significant Old Testament figures who met with God on mountains, such as Moses on Mount Sinai and Elijah on Mount Horeb. This suggests the mountain as a traditional place for a divine encounter, a sanctuary for profound spiritual engagement away from the mundane world.

Mark 6 46 Commentary

Mark 6:46 presents a profound insight into the character and spiritual discipline of Jesus Christ. Following a monumental display of power through feeding the multitude, which likely drew immense praise and perhaps political expectations (as noted in John's Gospel), Jesus did not bask in the glory or seek further acclaim. Instead, He meticulously dismissed everyone, including His disciples, and retreated to a solitary mountain to pray. This act highlights several crucial aspects of His earthly ministry.

First, it reveals His absolute reliance on His heavenly Father. Despite being God Incarnate, Jesus consistently demonstrates His dependence through prayer. His humanity required spiritual nourishment and strength, which He sought directly from the source of all power. This period of intense ministry, with its immense demands on His energy and emotional reserves, called for an equally intense period of communion with God. It wasn't an optional activity but a vital necessity for spiritual and ministerial sustenance.

Second, it sets a powerful example for all believers. In an age of constant engagement and activity, Jesus modeled the discipline of intentional withdrawal and quiet contemplation. Even the Son of God found it essential to detach from the clamor of the world and public demands to renew His spirit in the presence of the Father. This solitary prayer was not an escape but a strategic re-engagement with His divine purpose.

Finally, the context shows this prayer as a prelude to further miraculous intervention (walking on water and stilling the storm). Jesus' spiritual preparation in solitude empowered His public demonstrations of authority over creation, emphasizing that divine power is often manifested after a period of fervent communion with God. This verse underscores that true spiritual authority and effective ministry flow from a deep, consistent, and private relationship with the Father.