Mark 8 7

Mark 8:7 kjv

And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

Mark 8:7 nkjv

They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.

Mark 8:7 niv

They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.

Mark 8:7 esv

And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.

Mark 8:7 nlt

A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them.

Mark 8 verses

Mark 8 7 Meaning

Mark 8:7 details Jesus's specific action concerning the limited quantity of fish during the miraculous feeding of the four thousand. It reveals His divine power to bless and multiply meager resources, ensuring not just sustenance but a complete and satisfying meal of both bread and fish for the hungry multitude gathered in a remote area. This demonstrates Jesus's compassionate provision extending beyond basic needs.

Mark 8 7 Context

Mark 8:7 is part of the larger narrative of Jesus feeding the four thousand, one of the two significant feeding miracles in Mark's Gospel. This event follows a period where Jesus had withdrawn with His disciples into regions primarily populated by Gentiles, likely around the Decapolis. The crowd had been with Jesus for three days, indicating their eagerness to hear His teaching but also their extreme hunger in a desolate place. Earlier in Mark 8, Jesus expresses compassion for the multitude, and the disciples' human limitations in providing food are highlighted. While bread had already been blessed and broken in Mark 8:6, this verse specifically notes the addition of "a few small fish," showing Jesus's intention to provide a complete meal and reiterating His boundless power even with extremely meager resources. The immediate follow-up in Mark 8 involves the disciples still struggling to grasp the spiritual significance of these abundant provisions.

Mark 8 7 Word analysis

• And: Greek "καί" (kai). This conjunction seamlessly links the available fish to the narrative flow, indicating the next phase of the miraculous provision.
• they had: Greek "εἶχον" (eichon). This term signifies possession, highlighting that these "few small fish" were the only available natural resources at hand, underscoring the scarcity.
• a few: Greek "ὀλίγους" (olígous). It explicitly conveys a limited, inadequate quantity, emphasizing that any subsequent abundance is not due to ample starting resources.
• small fish: Greek "ἰχθύδια" (ichthýdia). This is the diminutive form of "fish" (ἰχθύς), conveying an even greater sense of minuteness or insignificance. It underlines the stark contrast between the starting amount and the subsequent abundance produced by divine power.
• and he blessed: Greek "καὶ εὐλογήσας" (kai eulogēsas). From "εὐλογέω" (eulogeō), meaning "to speak well of," "to praise," or "to bless." This action by Jesus consistently precedes the multiplication of food in the Gospels, indicating thanksgiving to God and the sanctification or empowering of the food for miraculous purposes.
• and commanded: Greek "εἶπεν" (eipen). This indicates Jesus's direct and authoritative instruction. It shows His active direction over the entire process of provision and distribution.
• to set them also before them: Greek "παρατιθέναι αὐτὰ καὶ αὐτοῖς" (paratithénai autá kai autoís).
  • set... before: Greek "παρατιθέναι" (paratitihenai), meaning "to place beside," "to present," or "to serve." It refers to the physical act of distribution and providing the meal.
  • them: Referring to the small fish that were blessed.
  • also: Greek "καὶ" (kai). This particle is crucial, emphasizing that the fish were included in addition to the bread, providing a complete meal and showcasing Jesus's holistic provision.
  • before them: Referring to the hungry crowd.

Mark 8 7 Word-groups analysis

• "And they had a few small fish": This phrase starkly highlights the absolute insufficiency of human resources in the face of widespread hunger. The combined emphasis on "few" and "small" intentionally magnifies the miracle that follows, ensuring that the abundance is clearly attributed to divine power, not human capability.
• "and he blessed, and commanded": This sequence encapsulates Jesus's dual role. "Blessed" points to His dependence on and acknowledgement of the Father as the ultimate source of all good, while "commanded" reveals His inherent authority over creation and His active participation in the miraculous distribution. It portrays a divine act orchestrated by reverence and authority.
• "to set them also before them": This demonstrates the completion and generosity of Jesus's provision. The word "also" signifies that the fish were an integral part of the meal, alongside the bread, underscoring Jesus's desire to provide not just basic sustenance but a satisfying, complete, and abundant meal for all present.

Mark 8 7 Bonus section

The specific inclusion of "small fish" (ἰχθύδια, ichthýdia) in this feeding miracle (of the 4000) distinct from the first (of the 5000) using a more general term for fish, has been noted by scholars. This detail might not only underline the scarcity more acutely but could also subtly indicate Jesus's thoroughness in provision—that He provides everything needed for a full meal. Furthermore, in early Christian symbolism, the fish (ichthys) became an acronym for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior," and its frequent appearance in the Gospel narratives, particularly surrounding provision, links His miracles directly to His identity. While this verse focuses on the physical provision, it also anticipates the deeper spiritual truths that Jesus provides complete and satisfying life for those who follow Him, echoing His power over the abundance of creation for a spiritual purpose (e.g., Peter's miraculous catch).

Mark 8 7 Commentary

Mark 8:7, though brief, is profound. It records Jesus's intentional act of blessing and commanding the distribution of a minuscule amount of fish, thereby expanding the preceding bread miracle into a complete meal. This highlights several key aspects: first, Jesus's continuous and comprehensive compassion extends to the detailed physical needs of people, providing both staple (bread) and complement (fish). Second, His act of blessing reinforces the recognition of God as the source of all provision and the supernatural means by which ordinary elements become extraordinary. The inadequacy of the initial "small fish" serves to magnify the divine power at work, making it unequivocally clear that the abundance resulted from His will. Situated within the feeding of the four thousand, often understood as targeting a primarily Gentile audience, the provision of fish underscores the universal scope of Jesus's ministry and the Father's willingness to sustain all people. It quietly sets the stage for later teachings about true nourishment.