Mark 8:6
What does Mark 8:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Mark 8:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Mark 8:6 means
Jesus commanded the large crowd to sit on the ground, a practical step to organize them for the meal. He then took the seven loaves, gave thanks to God, broke them, and gave the pieces to His disciples to distribute. This echoes the previous feeding miracle and emphasizes Jesus' role as the provider, with the disciples acting as His agents in serving the multitude.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he commandeth the multitude to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he brake, and gave to his disciples, to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he commandeth the multitude to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he brake, and gave to his disciples, to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he made the people be seated on the earth: and he took the seven cakes and, having given praise, he gave the broken bread to his disciples to put before them; and they put it before the people.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And he commanded the multitude to sit down upon the ground, and having taken the seven loaves, having given thanks, he brake, and was giving to his disciples that they may set before <FI>them<Fi> ; and they did set before the multitude.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground. And taking the seven loaves, giving thanks, he broke and gave to his disciples for to set before them. And they set them before the people.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. And having taken the seven loaves, he gave thanks, and broke [them] and gave [them] to his disciples, that they might set [them] before [them]; and they set [them] before the crowd.
Context
This verse describes the methodical initiation of the miraculous feeding. It follows the disciples' report of having seven loaves and precedes the mention of the few small fish, detailing Jesus' actions with the bread and setting the pattern for the distribution of food to the hungry crowd.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 6:23
(howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks):
- Luke 24:30
And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them.
- Luke 12:37
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.
- Matthew 14:18
And he said, Bring them hither to me.
- Romans 14:6
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
- Matthew 15:35
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;
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