Mark 8 3

Mark 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.

Mark 8:3 nkjv

And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar."

Mark 8:3 niv

If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."

Mark 8:3 esv

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

Mark 8:3 nlt

If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance."

Mark 8 verses

Mark 8 3 Meaning

Mark 8:3 expresses Jesus' profound practical compassion for the large crowd that had been with Him for three days. He acknowledges their immediate physical vulnerability: if dismissed without food, those who had traveled significant distances would not withstand the journey home, facing exhaustion and collapse. This verse highlights Jesus' awareness of human need and His commitment to provide for both spiritual and physical well-being, preempting a potentially severe consequence.

Mark 8 3 Context

Mark 8:3 is part of the account of Jesus feeding the four thousand (Mark 8:1-10). It follows an extended period where Jesus had ministered to large crowds in a relatively desolate region. The immediate context shows Jesus initiating the conversation about the crowd's hunger, demonstrating His foresight and proactive care, in contrast to the disciples who, even after the earlier feeding of the five thousand, seem to overlook the depth of the current problem. Historically and culturally, traveling long distances on foot was common, but doing so without sufficient food could be life-threatening, especially for such a large group, making Jesus' concern practical and urgent.

Mark 8 3 Word analysis

• And if I send them away (καὶ ἐὰν ἀπολύσω αὐτοὺς - kai ean apolysō autous):
  • ἀπολύσω (apolysō): A future active subjunctive verb meaning "to release," "dismiss," or "send away." It signifies Jesus' authority and agency in deciding the crowd's dispersal. It highlights a hypothetical scenario (if I were to send them away) that Jesus then rejects through His action.
• hungry (νήστεις - nēsteis):
  • νήστεις (nēsteis): Accusative plural of νῆστις (nēstis), meaning "unfed," "fasting," or "hungry." It points to their present state of extreme need and the direct cause of their potential collapse. This is not merely inconvenience but a serious physical deprivation.
• to their homes, (εἰς οἴκους αὐτῶν - eis oikous autōn):
  • οἴκους (oikous): Accusative plural of οἶκος (oikos), meaning "house," "home," or "household." The destination emphasizes the distance they would have to travel and the fact they would be undertaking it without provisions for the journey back, a potentially days-long endeavor for some.
• they will collapse (ἐκλυθήσονται - eklythēsontai):
  • ἐκλυθήσονται (eklythēsontai): Future passive indicative verb from ἐκλύω (eklyō), meaning "to faint," "grow weak," "become exhausted," or "collapse." This is a strong term indicating severe physical failure or debilitation due to lack of sustenance. It paints a picture of extreme danger and not just mild discomfort.
• on the way, (ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ - en tē hodō):
  • ὁδῷ (hodō): Dative singular of ὁδός (hodos), meaning "road," "path," or "journey." It specifies the location of their predicted collapse – during the arduous trek.
• for some of them have come (τινὲς γὰρ αὐτῶν ἥκασιν - tines gar autōn hēkasin):
  • τινὲς (tines): Nominative plural pronoun, "some" or "certain ones." Indicates not necessarily the entire crowd but a significant portion affected by distance.
  • γὰρ (gar): A particle indicating a reason or explanation, "for" or "because." It introduces the justification for Jesus' concern.
  • ἥκασιν (hēkasin): Perfect active indicative verb from ἥκω (hēkō), meaning "to have come," "to have arrived," emphasizing a completed action – they have already travelled.
• a long distance. (μακρόθεν - makrothen):
  • μακρόθεν (makrothen): An adverb meaning "from far away," "from a long distance." It highlights the substantial effort and time already invested in their journey to meet Jesus, intensifying their current state of hunger and vulnerability.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And if I send them away hungry to their homes," This phrase shows Jesus considering the potential outcome of an alternative action (sending them away) that His compassion forbids. The core issue is the dispatching of an already vulnerable crowd, specifying how they would be sent (hungry) and where they would be sent (to their distant homes), laying out the practical challenge.
• "they will collapse on the way," This segment explicitly states the dire consequence of their hunger combined with the exertion of travel. The verb "collapse" underscores the severity of the anticipated physical failure, demonstrating Jesus' understanding of human physical limits and the urgency of their need for sustenance before embarking on the return journey.
• "for some of them have come a long distance." This clause provides the crucial rationale for Jesus' concern. It explains why the threat of collapse is so acute – their long journey to Him has already exhausted their resources and reserves, making them particularly susceptible to the dangers of traveling on an empty stomach. This underscores Jesus’ empathetic attention to the unique circumstances of different individuals within the crowd.

Mark 8 3 Bonus section

• This verse provides one of the reasons for the second major feeding miracle recorded in Mark's Gospel (the feeding of the four thousand), distinguishing it in some respects from the feeding of the five thousand. While the previous miracle focused more on the quantity (5 loaves feeding 5000), here the emphasis is heavily on the crowd's fatigue and extreme hunger from sustained travel.
• The fact that Jesus initiates the concern, not the disciples, reveals a consistent theme in Mark: Jesus' full understanding and proactive care, often contrasted with the disciples' initial lack of spiritual insight or practical awareness. Even after witnessing one major feeding miracle, they still struggle with the logistical challenges.
• The detail "some of them have come a long distance" might imply that this particular crowd gathered from an even wider, possibly more Gentile, region than the Jewish crowd of the 5000, although Mark doesn't explicitly state the demographic difference in this specific verse. Regardless, it magnifies Jesus' all-encompassing compassion for anyone seeking Him, irrespective of their origin.

Mark 8 3 Commentary

Mark 8:3 vividly portrays Jesus' profound compassion, moving beyond spiritual teaching to address a critical physical need. His foresight is evident as He articulates the immediate danger the crowd faces – collapse from hunger on their return journey, specifically highlighting those who have traveled great distances. This is not merely an inconvenience but a genuine threat to their well-being. The verse emphasizes Jesus’ practical care and deep understanding of human limitations, setting the stage for the miraculous provision that follows. It also underscores that true spiritual leadership often involves attending to the holistic needs of individuals, including their most basic physical necessities, mirroring God's comprehensive provision for His people throughout salvation history.