Devine Scripture

Mark 8:4

What does Mark 8:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 8:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 8:4 means

The disciples' response reveals their perplexity and limited perspective, struggling to envision how such a large crowd could be fed in a desolate location. Their question, "Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?" indicates a failure to recall Jesus' previous miracle of feeding the five thousand. This highlights their spiritual dullness and immediate focus on human limitations rather than divine capability.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And his disciples said in answer, How will it be possible to get enough bread for these men here in a waste place?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And his disciples answered him, `Whence shall any one be able these here to feed with bread in a wilderness?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And his disciples answered him: From whence can any one fill them here with bread in the wilderness?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to satisfy these with bread here in a desert place?

Context

This verse presents the disciples' immediate, human-centered reaction to Jesus' concern for the multitude. It follows Jesus' explanation about the danger of sending them away hungry and directly precedes Jesus' inquiry about the food they possess, demonstrating the contrast between Jesus' divine awareness and the disciples' earthly practicalities.

v.3and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way; and some of them are come from far.

v.4This passage

v.5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 6:7

    Philip answered him, Two hundred shillings’ worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.

  • Numbers 11:21

    And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.

  • Mark 6:36

    send them away, that they may go into the country and villages round about, and buy themselves somewhat to eat.

  • Mark 6:52

    for they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

  • 2 Kings 7:2

    Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if Jehovah should make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

  • Matthew 15:33

    And the disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude?

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