Mark 8 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said,
1 In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself and said to them,
2 “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days and have nothing to eat.
3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.”
3 If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way.”
4 His disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could anyone find enough bread to feed all these people?”
4 His disciples answered him, “From where could one satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?”
5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.
5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”
6 And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd.
6 He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the multitude.
7 They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.
7 They also had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also.
8 The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
8 They ate and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over.
9 And about four thousand men were present. As soon as Jesus had dismissed the crowd,
9 Those who had eaten were about four thousand. Then he sent them away.
10 He got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
10 Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples and came into the region of Dalmanutha.
11 Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven.
11 The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven and testing him.
12 Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
12 He sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
13 And He left them, got back into the boat, and crossed to the other side.
13 He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.
14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.
14 They forgot to take bread; and they didn’t have more than one loaf in the boat with them.
15 “Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.”
15 He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16 So they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.
16 They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.”
17 Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts?
17 Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet or understand? Is your heart still hardened?
18 ‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember?
18 Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember?
19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered.
19 When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Twelve.”
20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said.
20 “When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Seven.”
21 Then He asked them, “Do you still not understand?”
21 He asked them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
22 He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him.
23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.
23 He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spat on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.
24 The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”
24 He looked up, and said, “I see men, but I see them like walking trees.”
25 Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly.
25 Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly.
26 Jesus sent him home and said, “Do not go back into the village.”
26 He sent him away to his house, saying, “Don’t enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village.”
27 Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say I am?”
27 Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
28 They told him, “John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others, one of the prophets.”
29 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”
29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”
30 And Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him.
30 He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.
31 Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again.
31 He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 He spoke this message quite frankly, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
32 He spoke to them openly. Peter took him and began to rebuke him.
33 But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
33 But he, turning around and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.”
34 Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
34 He called the multitude to himself with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.
35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.
36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
37 For what will a man give in exchange for his life?
38 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
38 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
Places
Bethsaida
Bethsaida lay near the Jordan's inflow to the Sea of Galilee. Its precise site is debated (et-Tell and el-Araj are candidates; approximate location). Jesus rebuked it for unbelief.
Cited in the guide: Mark 8:22; John 1:44; Luke 9:10
Caesarea Philippi
Caesarea Philippi (Banias) sat at the northern edge of the land by a spring of the Jordan and a shrine to Pan. Here Peter made his great confession of Jesus as Messiah.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 16:13; Mark 8:27
Cross references (37)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Matthew 15:32–39; Mark 6:34–44
- 2 Matthew 9:36; Micah 7:19; Psalm 103:13; Psalm 145:15; Hebrews 4:15
- 3 Isaiah 40:31; Judges 8:4–6; 1 Samuel 14:28–31; 1 Samuel 30:10–12
- 4 Mark 6:52; Matthew 15:33; Psalm 78:19–20; Mark 6:36–37; Numbers 11:21–23
- 5 Matthew 14:15–17; Matthew 15:34; Luke 9:13; Mark 6:38
- 6 Colossians 3:17; John 6:10–11; Matthew 14:18–19; Matthew 15:35–36; 1 Corinthians 10:30–31
- 7 Matthew 14:19; John 21:5; John 21:8–9; Luke 24:41–42; Luke 6:41
- 8 Matthew 16:10; Psalm 145:16; Mark 8:19–20; 2 Kings 4:42–44; Psalm 107:8–9
- 10 Matthew 15:39
- 11 Matthew 12:38; John 4:48; 1 Corinthians 10:9; Malachi 3:15; Luke 12:54–57
- 12 Matthew 12:39–40; Mark 7:34; John 12:37–43; Matthew 16:4; Luke 11:29–30
- 13 Acts 18:6; Hosea 9:12; Matthew 7:6; Acts 13:45–46; Psalm 81:12
- 14 Matthew 16:5
- 15 1 Corinthians 5:6–8; Matthew 16:6; Matthew 16:11–12; Mark 12:13; Luke 12:1–2
- 16 Luke 20:5; Luke 9:46; Matthew 16:7–8
- 17 Mark 6:52; Hebrews 5:11–12; Mark 2:8; Isaiah 63:17; Mark 3:5
- 18 Acts 28:26–27; Matthew 13:14–15; Jeremiah 5:21; Mark 4:12; Ezekiel 12:2
- 19 Matthew 14:17–21; Luke 9:12–17; Mark 6:38–44; John 6:5–13
- 20 Matthew 15:34–38; Mark 8:1–9
- 21 Psalm 94:8; Mark 6:52; John 14:9; Mark 8:17; 1 Corinthians 15:34
- 22 Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13; Mark 6:45; Mark 2:3; John 1:44
- 23 Mark 7:33; John 9:6–7; Acts 9:8; Mark 5:23; Isaiah 51:18
- 24 Isaiah 29:18; 1 Corinthians 13:9–12; Isaiah 32:3; Judges 9:36
- 25 Proverbs 4:18; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 3:18; Matthew 13:12
- 26 Matthew 8:4; Matthew 12:16; Matthew 9:30; Mark 8:23; Mark 7:36
- 27 Luke 9:18–20; Matthew 16:13–20
- 28 John 1:21; Mark 9:11–13; Matthew 14:2; Malachi 4:5; Luke 9:7–9
- 29 1 John 4:15; Matthew 16:15–16; 1 John 5:1; John 11:27; Luke 9:20
- 30 Matthew 16:20; Luke 9:21; Mark 9:9; Mark 7:36; Mark 8:26
- 31 Mark 10:33–34; John 2:19; Luke 24:26; Hosea 6:2; 1 Samuel 10:19
- 32 Matthew 16:22; John 16:25; John 16:29; John 18:20; Mark 4:38
- 33 Matthew 4:10; Philippians 3:19; 1 John 2:15; James 3:15–18; Mark 3:34
- 34 Matthew 10:38; Luke 14:26–27; John 10:27; Galatians 5:24; Galatians 2:20
- 35 2 Timothy 2:11–13; 1 Corinthians 9:23; Luke 17:33; Matthew 16:25; 2 Timothy 1:8
- 36 Matthew 16:26; Psalm 49:17; Luke 9:25; James 1:9–11; Philippians 3:7–9
- 37 Psalm 49:7–8; 1 Peter 1:18–19
- 38 Luke 12:8–9; Romans 1:16; 1 John 2:23; James 4:4; Luke 9:26
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
In expounding to you the Holy Scriptures, I as it were break bread for you. Do ye in hunger receive it, and break forth with a fulness of phrase from the heart; and ye who are rich in your banquet, be not meagre in good works and deeds. What I deal out to you is not mine own.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
… for the remission of sins be preached in His name among all nations." Now this is He who was born of Mary; for He says: "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected, and crucified, and on the third day rise again." The Gospel, therefore, knew no other son of man but Him who was of Mary, …
Hard and grievous does that appear which the Lord hath enjoined, that "whosoever will come after Him, must deny himself." But what He enjoineth is not hard or grievous, who aideth us that what He enjoineth may be done.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
But Mark saith, that when they were come unto Him, and were questioning with Him, "He sighed deeply in His spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign?" And yet surely their inquiry was deserving of anger and great displeasure; yet nevertheless the benevolent and provident One is not angry, but pities and bewails them as incurably …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
We ask them to listen to the Lord Himself, distinctly setting forth the equal dignity of His glory with the Father, in His words, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father;" and again, "When the Son cometh in the glory of his Father;" that they "should honour the Son even as they honour the Father;" and, "We beheld …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)