Mark 8 6

Mark 8:6 kjv

And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

Mark 8:6 nkjv

So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.

Mark 8:6 niv

He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so.

Mark 8:6 esv

And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.

Mark 8:6 nlt

So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd.

Mark 8 verses

Mark 8 6 Meaning

Mark 8:6 describes Jesus' actions of compassionately providing for a large hungry crowd. After commanding the multitude to sit down in an orderly fashion, He took the available seven loaves, offered thanks to God, broke the bread, and then gave it to His disciples to distribute to the people. The disciples, in turn, diligently carried out this instruction, serving the entire crowd. This verse signifies Jesus' divine power of miraculous provision, His orderly leadership, and the critical role of His disciples as intermediaries in His ministry. It also carries strong theological implications, anticipating the Last Supper and the practice of the Eucharist.

Mark 8 6 Context

Mark 8:6 occurs in the context of Jesus' second miraculous feeding of a large multitude, commonly referred to as the feeding of the four thousand. This event immediately follows a period of Jesus' ministry in the predominantly Gentile region of Decapolis, eastward of the Sea of Galilee. The crowd has been with Jesus for three days, indicating a deep commitment to hear His teaching and observe His healing ministry, and they have run out of food. Jesus, moved by compassion, takes the initiative to address their hunger, demonstrating His divine concern and power, particularly to a Gentile audience. This miracle directly parallels the earlier feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6), serving as a teaching moment for the disciples who, despite witnessing the previous miracle, still express doubt about providing food. The structure of the event in this verse—Jesus commanding order, taking the limited resources, offering thanks, breaking, and giving through disciples—mirrors His actions in the first feeding and foreshadows the Last Supper.

Mark 8 6 Word analysis

• And He commanded:
  • Word: `παραγγέλλω` (paraggellō) - to command, instruct, order, charge.
  • Significance: Demonstrates Jesus' authority and control over the large crowd, showing deliberate, not chaotic, action. It reflects divine order.
• the crowd:
  • Word: `ὄχλον` (ochlon) - a multitude, crowd, throng of people.
  • Significance: Indicates a large number of people, again highlighting the scale of the need and the miracle. Given the context (Decapolis), this crowd was likely largely Gentile.
• to sit down on the ground:
  • Words: `ἀναπεσεῖν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς` (anapesein epi tēs gēs) - to recline upon the earth/ground.
  • Significance: Reflects the custom of reclining for meals in that culture. The act of ordering them to sit creates an atmosphere of expectation and order, signifying preparation for a meal and showing Jesus' role as the host providing sustenance.
• And He took:
  • Word: `λαβών` (labōn) - (having taken, from `λαμβάνω`, lambanō) - to take, receive, grasp.
  • Significance: The first deliberate action Jesus takes concerning the physical provision. This is a foundational action also seen at the Last Supper, marking Jesus' initiative and control over the resources.
• the seven loaves:
  • Words: `τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἄρτους` (tous hepta artous) - the seven breads/loaves.
  • Significance: Refers to the specific number of loaves available (contrasting with five in the earlier miracle). The number 'seven' often symbolizes completeness, perfection, or fullness in biblical numerology, subtly hinting at the divine sufficiency and perfect provision. `Artos` (bread) is a basic staple and a symbol of life itself.
• having given thanks:
  • Words: `εὐχαριστήσας` (eucharistēsas) - (having given thanks, from `εὐχαριστέω`, eucharisteō) - to give thanks, be grateful.
  • Significance: This is a profound and theologically rich term. It highlights Jesus' deep communion with the Father and His gratitude for provision. Crucially, it forms the basis for the term "Eucharist," directly connecting this miraculous feeding to the institution of the Lord's Supper and early Christian practice of giving thanks over bread.
• He broke them:
  • Word: `ἔκλασεν` (eklasen) - (He broke, from `κλάω`, klaō) - to break.
  • Significance: Breaking bread was a common action for distributing food at meals. However, combined with "giving thanks," it takes on profound symbolic meaning, specifically associated with Jesus' body broken for humanity (1 Cor 11:24) and becoming a hallmark of early Christian communal meals and worship (`breaking of bread` in Acts).
• and began giving them to His disciples:
  • Words: `ἐδίδου τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ` (edidou tois mathētais autou) - He began giving/kept giving to His disciples.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the continuous, active nature of the distribution. This highlights the disciples' integral role as conduits or channels of Jesus' provision. They are not merely observers but active participants in His ministry. It prefigures their commission to spread His word and minister to others.
• to set before them:
  • Words: `ἵνα παραθῶσιν αὐτοῖς` (hina parathōsin autois) - in order that they might set before them.
  • Significance: The purpose clause clarifies the disciples' role: to present or offer the food to the crowd. It emphasizes organization and direct service to the people. `Paratithēmi` often means to present something (food, teaching) to someone for consideration or consumption.
• and they set them before the crowd:
  • Words: `καὶ παρέθηκαν τῷ ὄχλῳ` (kai parethēkan tō ochlō) - and they set before the crowd.
  • Significance: Confirms the successful execution of Jesus' command. It shows the disciples carrying out their assigned task, distributing the miraculously multiplied food efficiently to the entire multitude.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground": This phrase underlines Jesus' authority, control, and compassionate care. He brings order to a potentially chaotic situation, preparing the way for an orderly provision, demonstrating that God is a God of order.
• "He took the seven loaves, having given thanks, He broke them": This sequence of actions—taking, giving thanks, breaking—is ritualistic and deeply significant. It foreshadows the institution of the Lord's Supper (the Eucharist) and underscores Jesus' identity as the Bread of Life. The "giving thanks" elevates a simple mealtime custom to a spiritual act of dependence on and gratitude to God. The act of "breaking" indicates not only distribution but also a sacrifice or yielding of what is precious for the benefit of others, mirroring His future breaking of His body.
• "and began giving them to His disciples to set before them, and they set them before the crowd": This passage reveals the hierarchical and participative nature of Jesus' ministry. Jesus initiates and provides, but He uses His disciples as essential agents for distribution. This implies that while the source of all blessing is Christ, His blessings often flow to people through the hands and ministry of His followers, enabling His message and provision to reach all.

Mark 8 6 Bonus section

• Distinctiveness of this Feeding: While remarkably similar to the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:30-44), this second miracle features "seven loaves" (vs. five), a crowd of "about four thousand" (vs. five thousand), and "seven baskets" of leftovers (vs. twelve). Scholars often note that the "seven baskets" (κοφίνους - kophinous) are large, indicating substantial remnants, whereas the "twelve baskets" (σπυρίδας - spyridas) from the first feeding were typically smaller, portable lunch baskets. These differences emphasize that both events are unique occurrences, reinforcing the consistency of Jesus' power while perhaps subtly teaching the disciples to recognize God's ongoing work and not to be dull of heart to His provision, even after previous experiences.
• Geographical and Audience Significance: This feeding event happens in Decapolis, a Hellenistic region with a largely Gentile population (Mark 7:31). This underscores Jesus' expansive ministry and compassion not limited to Israel, but extended to the nations. He is the provider for all people, symbolizing the gospel's universal reach.
• Disciples' Role as Apprentices: The repeated act of Jesus using the disciples to distribute the food serves as a critical training moment for them. They move from merely witnessing miracles to actively participating in Jesus' compassionate ministry, learning to serve and provide under His authority. This prepares them for their future commission to preach the Gospel and shepherd God's flock, a fundamental aspect of discipleship and ministry in the church.

Mark 8 6 Commentary

Mark 8:6 serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' divine compassion, omnipotent provision, and structured leadership. In this specific account of feeding the four thousand, Jesus doesn't merely provide; He does so with intention and order. The sequence of "taking, giving thanks, breaking, and giving" is not just a practical action but a profound ritual, laden with theological significance that clearly anticipates the Last Supper. The act of "giving thanks" (eucharisteō) elevates the meal, sanctifying it and pointing to God as the ultimate source of all sustenance. Jesus empowers His disciples by involving them directly in the miracle's distribution, showcasing their role as conduits of God's blessing. This scene underscores Jesus' universal care, reaching out beyond the traditional Jewish boundaries to minister to a largely Gentile crowd, confirming that He is the Bread of Life for all people. It subtly rebukes the disciples' ongoing lack of understanding and invites us to recognize God's abundant provision and our role in distributing His grace to a hungry world.