Mark 8:2 kjv
I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
Mark 8:2 nkjv
"I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
Mark 8:2 niv
"I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.
Mark 8:2 esv
"I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.
Mark 8:2 nlt
"I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat.
Mark 8 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 15:32 | Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd..." | Parallel account of this same feeding miracle. |
| Mark 6:34 | When He went ashore He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd... | Earlier feeding miracle; same compassionate nature of Jesus. |
| Matt 9:36 | When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. | Jesus's consistent compassion for distressed crowds. |
| Luke 7:13 | And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." | Jesus's compassion extends to individuals facing grief and hardship. |
| Ps 103:13 | As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him. | God's character as merciful and compassionate, mirrored by Jesus. |
| Exod 34:6-7 | The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness... | The very nature of God is compassionate and gracious. |
| Deut 8:3 | He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna... that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone... | God tests and provides for His people's physical needs in the wilderness. |
| Ps 145:15-16 | The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing. | God is the universal provider for all creation. |
| Matt 6:26 | Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them... | Assurance of God's provision for His people. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God's promise to meet all the needs of believers. |
| 2 Kgs 4:42-44 | Elisha fed a hundred men with twenty barley loaves, and they ate and had some left. | OT miraculous feeding by a prophet, foreshadowing greater provision. |
| Exod 16:4 | Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am raining bread from heaven for you..." | God's miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness. |
| John 6:35 | Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger..." | Jesus is the ultimate source of spiritual satisfaction and life. |
| Matt 12:40 | For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. | The "three days" motif, prefiguring Jesus's death and resurrection. |
| Hos 6:2 | After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up... | Prophetic reference to a third-day resurrection/restoration. |
| Mark 8:19-21 | When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? ... And when the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? And they said to him, "Seven." And He said to them, "Do you not yet understand?" | Disciples' ongoing difficulty in comprehending Jesus's power despite repeated feeding miracles. |
| John 6:67 | So Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" | Jesus often asks His disciples and followers questions to draw out their understanding or lack thereof. |
| Isa 25:6 | On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine... | Prophetic vision of the Messianic banquet, a divine provision for all. |
| Heb 4:15 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. | Jesus understands human limitations and suffering because He shared our humanity. |
| Mark 1:38-39 | And He said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is what I came out for." And He went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. | Jesus's commitment to His ministry means large crowds will often follow Him. |
Mark 8 verses
Mark 8 2 Meaning
This verse highlights Jesus's profound compassion for a large crowd that has followed Him for three days, indicating their pressing physical need for food. It demonstrates His active concern not only for spiritual hunger but also for the immediate physical well-being of people, showcasing His divine attribute of mercy and His readiness to provide for those who seek Him.
Mark 8 2 Context
Mark 8:2 opens the narrative of Jesus feeding the four thousand, a significant event mirroring the earlier feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:30-44). This immediate context highlights Jesus's divine power and compassion. Unlike the first feeding, which seemed directed more towards a Jewish crowd (five thousand loaves and fish, Jewish basket for leftovers), this second feeding, likely in the Gentile Decapolis region, signifies Jesus's mission to both Jews and Gentiles. The "three days" reference sets up the profound need of the crowd, as prolonged fasting leads to severe weakness. Importantly, this incident occurs before Peter's confession and Jesus's first clear prediction of His suffering, setting the stage for the disciples' continued struggle to fully grasp His identity and purpose, even after witnessing such powerful acts of provision.
Mark 8 2 Word analysis
- I have compassion: From the Greek `σπλαγχνίζομαι` (splagchnizomai), which conveys a deep, visceral, gut-wrenching pity or empathy. It's more than sympathy; it signifies a profound emotional and physical response that drives one to action. This word is consistently used in the Gospels to describe Jesus's emotional reactions to suffering, highlighting His identification with human pain and His divine impulse to alleviate it. It contrasts sharply with detached observation, demonstrating a loving God who actively cares for His creation.
- on the crowd: The Greek `ὄχλος` (ochlos) denotes a large, unorganized multitude, emphasizing the sheer number of people gathered. These were ordinary folk, hungry and dependent, seeking Jesus. The emphasis on the "crowd" underlines the scope of Jesus's compassion and power to meet the needs of many simultaneously.
- because: The Greek `ὅτι` (hoti) indicates the reason or cause. Jesus's compassion is not a mere feeling but a justified response to their dire situation.
- they have been with me: Implies a sustained presence and commitment from the crowd. They have stayed close to Jesus, absorbing His teaching and presence, demonstrating a form of devotion that moves His heart.
- now three days: The Greek `τρεῖς ἡμέρας` (treis hēmeras) is a specific time marker. Remaining with Jesus for three days, likely without adequate provisions, signifies great hunger and weakness. The number "three days" carries profound theological significance throughout the Bible, most notably in relation to Jesus's resurrection (Matt 12:40, 1 Cor 15:4), Jonah's sign (Jonah 1:17), and Hosea's prophecy (Hos 6:2). Here, it hints at Jesus's power to sustain life even in dire circumstances, foreshadowing His ultimate triumph over death.
- and have nothing to eat: `οὐκ ἔχουσιν τί φάγωσιν` (ouk echousin ti phagōsin), literally "they do not have what they might eat." This highlights the severity of their physical need. It sets the stage for Jesus's miraculous intervention, emphasizing that His provision fills a genuine and immediate void, demonstrating His complete authority over creation and His intimate knowledge of human suffering.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "I have compassion on the crowd": This opening phrase reveals Jesus's divine character, setting Him apart from human rulers or indifferent deities. His compassion is not passive; it precedes and initiates action, showcasing the proactive love of God for humanity. This stands in contrast to common pagan beliefs where gods might be capricious or distant, or human leaders who might ignore the plight of the common people.
- "because they have been with me now three days": The reason for Jesus's compassion is twofold: the duration of their following and their consequent deprivation. The fact that they have "been with" Him for such a period shows their dedication, which Jesus acknowledges and rewards with provision. The "three days" highlights extreme physical need while subtly hinting at deeper theological implications regarding God's timeline and Jesus's identity.
- "and have nothing to eat": This practical observation of their severe hunger grounds Jesus's compassion in a tangible human reality. It presents a stark problem that only a divine provider can resolve, setting the stage for the upcoming miracle that will attest to Jesus's authority and ability to sustain life in its most fundamental form.
Mark 8 2 Bonus section
This incident, often termed the feeding of the four thousand, likely occurred in the Decapolis, a largely Gentile region. The previous feeding (five thousand) seemed to emphasize Jewish contexts (twelve baskets representing the twelve tribes). Here, the seven loaves and seven baskets of leftovers are often seen as symbolic of fullness or completeness for the Gentile world, given "seven" is a number of perfection and universality in Jewish thought, and four thousand relates to the four corners of the earth. Jesus's concern transcends ethnic boundaries, embracing all people. This foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles into the new covenant and the Kingdom of God, which would become a major theme in the early Church (Acts 10, Gal 3:28).
Mark 8 2 Commentary
Mark 8:2 concisely encapsulates Jesus's divine empathy and power. His "compassion" (splagchnizomai) is a deeply felt, internal stirring that moves Him to act. It is the very heart of God manifest in Christ, demonstrating that He cares for both spiritual and physical needs. The crowd's commitment, enduring "three days" without food, underscores their earnest desire to be with Jesus, prompting His loving response. This mirrors God's ancient provision for Israel in the wilderness, establishing Jesus as the true Manna, the source of sustenance. Yet, the disciples, who have witnessed similar miracles (Mark 6:30-44), still struggle to grasp Jesus's unlimited power (Mark 8:17-21), highlighting their spiritual blindness and our own human tendency to forget divine faithfulness. This verse sets the foundation for understanding Jesus not merely as a teacher, but as the compassionate and sovereign provider, ready to meet the most basic human necessities.