Mark 6:34
in Mark 6When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he came forth and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
KJV
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
⋯
This verse in Mark 6
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThe Pharisees, being ravenous wolves, did not shepherd the people but devoured them. Therefore the people, bypassing them, gather to Christ, the true Shepherd. And Christ gives them food—first the more profitable and precious kind, in word, and then bodily food as well.
This site's exposition
they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary place
on Mark 6:32-34
The planned rest fails, for the crowd ran on foot from all the towns and arrived before them. He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, the image the prophets use for a people with no leader.
This site's exposition
He had compassion on them
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown draw on John 6:4. The Passover was near, which accounts for the size of the crowd. Theophylact of Ohrid reads the shepherd image against the Pharisees, who devoured the people instead of feeding them.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church3 voices
And going out, Jesus saw a great crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. How He had compassion on them, Matthew explains more fully by saying: And He had compassion …
There follows, And Jesus when he came out saw much people, and was moved with compassion towards them, because they were as sheep having no shepherd. The Pharisees being ravening wolves did not feed the sheep, but devoured them; for which reason they gather themselves to Christ, the true Shepherd, who gave them spiritual food, that is, the word of God. Wherefore it goes on, And he began to teach them many things. For seeing that those who followed Him on account of His miracles were tired from the length of the way, He pitied them, and wished to satisfy their wish by teaching them.
(in Marc. 2, 26) Matthew says that He healed their sick, for the real way of pitying the poor is to open to them the way of truth by teaching them, and to take away their bodily pains.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And Jesus, when he came out,.... Of the ship, and was got ashore, saw much people; who came partly from the places where he came from, and partly from the cities and towns adjacent: and was moved with compassion towards them; See Gill on Mat 14:14, the reason follows, because they were as sheep, not having a shepherd.
The provision he made for them all; all his hearers he generously made his guests, and treated them at a splendid entertainment: so it might truly be called, because a miraculous one. The disciples moved that they should be sent home. When the day was not far spent, and night drew on, they said, This is a desert place, and much time is now past; send them away to buy bread,
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Here we have an important piece of information from the Fourth Evangelist (Joh 6:4), "And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh"--rather, "Now the passover, the feast of the Jews, was nigh." This accounts for the multitudes that now crowded around Him.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
Let us mark in this passage, the conduct of the apostles when they returned from their first mission as preachers . We read that they "gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught." These words are deeply instructive. They are a bright example to all ministers of the Gospel, and to all laborers in the great work of doing good to souls. All such should daily do as the apostles did on this occasion. They should tell all their proceedings to the great Head of the Church.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
Let us mark in this passage, the conduct of the apostles when they returned from their first mission as preachers . We read that they "gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught." These words are deeply instructive. They are a bright example to all ministers of the Gospel, and to all laborers in the great work of doing good to souls. All such should daily do as the apostles did on this occasion. They should tell all their proceedings to the great Head of the Church. They should spread all their work before Christ, and ask of Him counsel, guidance, strength, and help. Prayer is the main secret of success in spiritual business. It moves Him who can move heaven and earth. It brings down the promised aid of the Holy Spirit, without whom the finest sermons, the clearest teaching, and the most diligent labors, are all alike in vain. It is not always those who have the most eminent gifts who are most successful laborers for God. It is generally those who keep up closest communion with Christ and are most constant in prayer. It is those who cry with the prophet Ezekiel, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain that they may live." (Ezek. 37:9.) It is those who follow most exactly the apostolic model, and "give themselves to prayer, and the ministry of the word." (Acts 6:4.) Happy is that church which has a praying as well as a preaching ministry! The question we should ask about a new minister, is not merely "Can he preach well?" but "Does he pray much for his people and his work?" Let us mark, in the second place, the words of our Lord to the apostles, when they returned from their first public ministry . Jesus said to them, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." These words are full of tender consideration.
Much people, etc. - See this miracle explained on Mat 14:14 (note), etc.
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐξελθὼν | exelthon | having gone out | G1831 → | 216 times |
| εἶδεν | eiden | He saw | G1492 → | 374 times |
| πολὺν | polun | a great | G4183 → | 367 times |
| ὄχλον | ochlon | crowd | G3793 → | 175 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐσπλαγχνίσθη | esplagchnisthe | was moved with compassion | G4697 → | 12 times |
| ἐπ᾽ | ep᾽ | toward | G1909 → | 883 times |
| αὐτοὺς | autous | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | because | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἦσαν | esan | they were | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὡς | hos | like | G5613 → | 500 times |
| πρόβατα | probata | sheep | G4263 → | |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἔχοντα | echonta | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ποιμένα. | poimena | a shepherd. | G4166 → | |
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἤρξατο | erxato | He began | G757 → | 85 times |
| διδάσκειν | didaskein | to teach | G1321 → | 96 times |
| αὐτοὺς | autous | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| πολλά.¶ | polla | many things. | G4183 → | 367 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐξελθὼνhaving gone out
exelthonG1831 →216 times
εἶδενHe saw
eidenG1492 →374 times
πολὺνa great
polunG4183 →367 times
ὄχλονcrowd
ochlonG3793 →175 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐσπλαγχνίσθηwas moved with compassion
esplagchnistheG4697 →12 times
ἐπ᾽toward
ep᾽G1909 →883 times
αὐτοὺςthem
autousG846 →5565 times
ὅτιbecause
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἦσανthey were
esanG1510 →2333 times
ὡςlike
hosG5613 →500 times
πρόβαταsheep
probataG4263 →
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἔχονταhaving
echontaG2192 →707 times
ποιμένα.a shepherd.
poimenaG4166 →
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἤρξατοHe began
erxatoG757 →85 times
διδάσκεινto teach
didaskeinG1321 →96 times
αὐτοὺςthem
autousG846 →5565 times
πολλά.¶many things.
pollaG4183 →367 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 9:36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
it leads to
- Numbers 27:17
who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Zechariah 10:2
For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 50:6
My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.
- Ezekiel 34:3–6
You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock.
- Matthew 14:14
When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
- Numbers 27:17
Through
Numbers 27:17who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
it leads to
- 1 Kings 22:17
So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ezekiel 34:5
They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10
Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
- 1 Kings 22:17
Where this verse is studied
About Mark
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, On the Gospel of Mark; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Mark; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.