1 In those days, there being again a great crowd, and they having nothing that they could eat, having called his disciples to [him], he says to them, 2 I have compassion on the crowd, because they have stayed with me already three days and they have not anything they can eat, 3 and if I should dismiss them to their home fasting, they will faint on the way; for some of them are come from far. 4 And his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to satisfy these with bread here in a desert place? 5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6 And 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. 7 And they had a few small fishes, and having blessed them, he desired these also to be set before [them]. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up of fragments that remained seven baskets. 9 And they [that had eaten] were about four thousand; and he sent them away. 10 And immediately going on board ship with his disciples, he came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 11 And the Pharisees went out and began to dispute against him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, tempting him. 12 And groaning in his spirit, he says, Why does this generation seek a sign? Verily I say unto you, A sign shall in no wise be given to this generation. 13 And he left them, and going again on board ship, went away to the other side. 14 And they forgot to take bread, and save one loaf, they had not [any] with them in the ship. 15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and [of] the leaven of Herod. 16 And they reasoned with one another, [saying], It is because we have no bread. 17 And Jesus knowing [it], says to them, Why reason ye because ye have no bread? Do ye not yet perceive nor understand? Have ye your heart [yet] hardened? 18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many hand-baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say to him, Twelve. 20 And when the seven for the four thousand, the filling of how many baskets of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. 21 And he said to them, How do ye not yet understand? 22 And he comes to Bethsaida; and they bring him a blind man, and beseech him that he might touch him. 23 And taking hold of the hand of the blind man he led him forth out of the village, and having spit upon his eyes, he laid his hands upon him, and asked him if he beheld anything. 24 And having looked up, he said, I behold men, for I see [them], as trees, walking. 25 Then he laid his hands again upon his eyes, and he saw distinctly, and was restored and saw all things clearly. 26 And he sent him to his house, saying, Neither enter into the village, nor tell [it] to any one in the village. 27 And Jesus went forth and his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea-Philippi. And by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Who do men say that I am? 28 And they answered him, saying, John the baptist; and others, Elias; but others, One of the prophets. 29 And he asked them, But ye, who do ye say that I am? And Peter answering says to him, Thou art the Christ. 30 And he charged them straitly, in order that they should tell no man about him. 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and of the chief priests and of the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise [again]. 32 And he spoke the thing openly. And Peter, taking him to [him], began to rebuke him. 33 But he, turning round and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, saying, Get away behind me, Satan, for thy mind is not on the things that are of God, but on the things that are of men. 34 And having called the crowd with his disciples, he said to them, Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whosoever shall desire to save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? 37 for what should a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him shall the Son of man also be ashamed when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Mark 8 Darby Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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
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)