Mark 8 5

Mark 8:5 kjv

And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

Mark 8:5 nkjv

He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven."

Mark 8:5 niv

"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied.

Mark 8:5 esv

And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven."

Mark 8:5 nlt

Jesus asked, "How much bread do you have?" "Seven loaves," they replied.

Mark 8 verses

Mark 8 5 Meaning

Mark 8:5 records Jesus' direct question to His disciples regarding their limited food supply in a desolate place, aiming to prepare them for His miraculous provision. The disciples respond with the exact number, "Seven," indicating their physical resources for the large hungry crowd. This exchange sets the stage for the second large-scale feeding miracle, emphasizing human limitation and divine capacity, highlighting that divine supply often begins with the recognition of human lack.

Mark 8 5 Context

This verse falls within Mark 8:1-10, which describes Jesus feeding 4,000 people. This event immediately follows Jesus' extensive ministry outside of strictly Jewish territories, particularly in the region of the Decapolis, reaching a largely Gentile audience. The crowd had been following Him for three days, indicating their devotion and desperate need for food in the desolate area. This narrative strikingly parallels the earlier feeding of 5,000 (Mark 6:30-44) but highlights the disciples' persistent lack of comprehension regarding Jesus' limitless power, despite having witnessed it before. From a historical and cultural perspective, providing food for such a vast multitude in a wilderness was an immense logistical challenge that far exceeded any human capability, making the disciples' answer a literal assessment of their utter inadequacy, thus setting the stage for Jesus' divine intervention.

Mark 8 5 Word analysis

• He: Refers to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who embodies divine omniscience and omnipotence. His question is not born of ignorance but is a pedagogical tool.
• asked: Greek: ἐπηρώτα (epērōta). The imperfect tense suggests a direct, often repeated, or a continued process of inquiry. It implies Jesus deliberately prompted the disciples to state their limitations, to heighten their awareness of the impending miracle and their need for divine help.
• them: Refers to Jesus’ disciples, the very individuals who had previously witnessed the feeding of the five thousand. Their response demonstrates their ongoing human struggle with faith and forgetfulness when confronted with a similar, overwhelming need.
• “How many: This interrogative emphasizes the quantity and thus the vast disproportion between their resources and the need. It's a pragmatic assessment, yet it serves to underscore the miraculous nature of what Jesus is about to perform.
• loaves: Greek: ἄρτους (artous). The plural of artos, signifying "bread" or "loaves"—a staple food. This common, everyday item becomes the medium for a profound display of divine power and abundance. The type of bread was likely flatbread, typical in the region.
• do you have?”: This probes their existing physical resources, compelling the disciples to acknowledge their present state of extreme lack. It directly challenges their self-reliance and draws out the human inadequacy that God's power will then overcome, setting a critical theological contrast between finite human means and infinite divine provision.
• They: Again, referring to the disciples, united in their literal assessment of their material possessions.
• said, “Seven.”: The specific number provided signifies their total, albeit meager, provisions. The number seven often symbolizes completeness or perfection in biblical numerology (e.g., seven days of creation, seven-fold blessings). In the context of this second feeding, some scholars propose a connection to Gentile nations (e.g., seven nations of Canaan, the 70 nations of the world in Genesis 10), contrasting with the earlier feeding which often highlights Jewish connotations. This may symbolize the universal scope of Jesus' mission and the fullness of God's provision for both Jews and Gentiles.

Words-group analysis:

• "He asked them, 'How many loaves do you have?'": This question encapsulates Jesus' instructional method, which often involved probing His disciples to assess their limited human resources before He would reveal His divine abundance. It functioned as a test, gently reminding them of their forgetfulness of the previous miracle (Mark 8:14-21) and the inadequacy of their faith. This exchange prepares both the disciples and the audience for an unmistakable demonstration of Christ's limitless power over human scarcity, serving as a subtle polemic against any notion of self-sufficiency apart from God.

Mark 8 5 Bonus section

The numerical specifics in Mark 8, namely "seven loaves" and later "seven baskets" of leftover fragments (Mk 8:8), carry significant symbolic weight distinct from the prior feeding (five loaves, twelve baskets). The baskets used in Mark 8 are spyris (σπυρίδες), a large wicker basket used for travelers, whereas in the first feeding the baskets were kophinous (κοφίνους), a smaller basket commonly carried by Jewish travelers. This difference, combined with the number seven and the feeding taking place likely in Gentile territory, is often interpreted by biblical scholars as hinting at the universal scope of Jesus' mission—that His abundant provision and salvation extends beyond Israel to include the Gentiles. The completeness implied by the number seven can therefore be seen as the comprehensive nature of the Kingdom of God reaching out to all nations.

Mark 8 5 Commentary

Mark 8:5 is a critical moment in the narrative of Jesus' second feeding miracle. It is not a casual inquiry, but a pedagogical tool by which Jesus leads His disciples to confront their present human limitations. Despite having witnessed the miraculous feeding of five thousand, their reply of "Seven" loaves against the need of "four thousand" highlights their persistent reliance on physical resources rather than full faith in Christ's power. Jesus' question exposes their need to be stretched in their understanding and reliance on Him. It underscores the theological truth that divine provision often requires human acknowledgment of inadequacy, providing a tangible example of God meeting needs that seem impossible by human standards. This exchange lays the groundwork for a profound demonstration of His compassion and inexhaustible supply, solidifying His identity as the ultimate provider of all necessities, both physical and spiritual.