Mark 8:2
in Mark 8“I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat:
KJV
I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
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This verse in Mark 8
Commentary
12 notes on this verseAfter the Lord had performed the former miracle concerning the multiplication of the loaves, now again, a fitting occasion presents itself, and He takes the opportunity of working a similar miracle; wherefore it is said, In those days, the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and, saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat.
This site's exposition
the crowd once again became very large
on Mark 8:1-3
Jesus names what moves Him: I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. Before any disciple names the danger, He does: they will faint along the way.
This site's exposition
I have compassion for this crowd
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown observe that this deep feeling in the Lord's heart always came before some great act of relief. Adam Clarke adds that whatever food the crowd had brought was now spent. Their need was immediate.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church4 voices
(ubi sup.) The typical difference between this feeding and the other of the five loaves and two fishes, is, that there the letter of the Old Testament, full of spiritual grace, is signified, but here the truth and grace of the New Testament, which is to be ministered to all the faithful, is pointed out.
I have compassion on the crowd, he said, because they have already been with me for three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. Why the crowd waited for the …
(in Marc. 2, 32) Why they who came from afar hold out for three days, Matthew says more fully: And he went up into a mountain, and sat down there, and great multitudes came unto him, having with them many sick persons, and cast them down at Jesus feet, and he healed them. (v. Matt. 15:29)
The Lord had already performed a similar miracle before. He works wonders now as well, having a fitting occasion for it. And the occasion was this: the people had been with Him for three days, and the food supply they had taken for the journey …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
I have compassion on the multitude,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
Once more we see our Lord feeding a great multitude with a few loaves and fish. He knew the heart of man. He saw the rise of cavilers and skeptics, who would question the reality of the wonderful works He performed. By repeating the mighty miracle here recorded, He stops the mouth of all who are not wilfully blind to evidence. Publicly, and before four thousand witnesses, He shows His almighty power a second time. Let us observe in this passage how great is the kindness and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ .
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
I have compassion on the multitude--an expression of that deep emotion in the Redeemer's heart which always preceded some remarkable interposition for relief.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
Once more we see our Lord feeding a great multitude with a few loaves and fish. He knew the heart of man. He saw the rise of cavilers and skeptics, who would question the reality of the wonderful works He performed. By repeating the mighty miracle here recorded, He stops the mouth of all who are not wilfully blind to evidence. Publicly, and before four thousand witnesses, He shows His almighty power a second time. Let us observe in this passage how great is the kindness and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ . He saw around Him a "very great multitude," who had nothing to eat. He knew that the great majority were following Him from no other motive than idle curiosity, and had no claim whatever to be regarded as His disciples. Yet when He saw them hungry and destitute, He pitied them — "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat." The feeling heart of our Lord Jesus Christ appears in these words. He has compassion even on those who are not His people — the faithless, the graceless, the followers of this world. He feels tenderly for them, though they know it not. He died for them, though they care little for what He did on the cross. He would receive them graciously, and pardon them freely, if they would only repent and believe on Him. Let us ever beware of measuring the love of Christ by any human measure. He has a special love, beyond doubt, for His own believing people. But He has also a general love of compassion, even for the unthankful and the evil. His love "passes knowledge." (Ephes. 3:19.) Let us strive to make Jesus our pattern in this, as well as in everything else. Let us be kind, and compassionate, and piteous, and courteous to all men. Let us be ready to do good to all men, and not only to friends and the household of faith.
Having nothing to eat - If they had brought any provisions with them, they were now entirely expended; and they stood in immediate need of a supply.
The words behind it
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| σπλαγχνίζομαι | splagchnizomai | I am moved with compassion | G4697 → | 12 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄχλον | ochlon | crowd | G3793 → | 175 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | because | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἤδη | ede | already | G2235 → | 61 times |
| ἡμέραι | hemerai | days | G2250 → | 389 times |
| τρεῖς | treis | three | G5140 → | 69 times |
| προσμένουσίν | prosmenousin | they continue | G4357 → | |
| μοι | moi | with Me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | nothing | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔχουσιν | echousin | they have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| τί | ti | that | G5101 → | 563 times |
| φάγωσιν. | phagosin | they may eat. | G5315 → | 93 times |
σπλαγχνίζομαιI am moved with compassion
splagchnizomaiG4697 →12 times
ἐπὶupon
epiG1909 →883 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ὄχλονcrowd
ochlonG3793 →175 times
ὅτιbecause
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἤδηalready
edeG2235 →61 times
ἡμέραιdays
hemeraiG2250 →389 times
τρεῖςthree
treisG5140 →69 times
προσμένουσίνthey continue
prosmenousinG4357 →
μοιwith Me
moiG3165 →1936 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὐκnothing
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔχουσινthey have
echousinG2192 →707 times
τίthat
tiG5101 →563 times
φάγωσιν.they may eat.
phagosinG5315 →93 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
Psalms 103:13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
it leads to
- Luke 11:11–12
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
- Hebrews 12:5–11
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
- Luke 15:21–22
The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
- Psalms 103:17
But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—
- Jeremiah 31:20
Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares…
- Luke 11:11–12
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.”
- Mark 6:34
When 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.
- Numbers 27:17
Through
Psalms 145:15The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season.
it leads to
- Psalms 136:25
He gives food to every creature. His loving devotion endures forever.
- Psalms 136:25
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
On this verse
About Mark
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of 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 (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark.