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Mark 6

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Jesus Rejected in Nazareth 1–6

1
And he went out from thence; and he cometh into his own country; and his disciples follow him. ​
2
And when the sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, Whence hath this man these things? and, What is the wisdom that is given unto this man, and what mean such mighty works wrought by his hands? ​
3
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended in him. ​
4
And Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. ​
5
And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. ​
6
And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages teaching. ​

The Mission of the Twelve 7–13

7
And he calleth unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits; ​
8
and he charged them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse; ​
9
but to go shod with sandals: and, said he, put not on two coats.
10
And he said unto them, Wheresoever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart thence.
11
And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them. ​
12
And they went out, and preached that men should repent. ​
13
And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. ​

Herod and the Death of John the Baptist 14–29

14
And king Herod heardthereof; for his name had become known: and he said, John the Baptizer is risen from the dead, and therefore do these powers work in him. ​
15
But others said, It is Elijah. And others said, It is a prophet, even as one of the prophets.
16
But Herod, when he heard thereof, said, John, whom I beheaded, he is risen.
17
For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. ​
18
For John said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. ​
19
And Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him; and she could not;
20
for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly. ​
21
And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, and the high captains, and the chief men of Galilee; ​
22
and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and them that sat at meat with him; and the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
23
And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. ​
24
And she went out, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptizer.
25
And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou forthwith give me on a platter the head of John the Baptist.
26
And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her. ​
27
And straightway the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28
and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother.
29
And when his disciples heard thereof, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand 30–44

30
And the apostles gather themselves together unto Jesus; and they told him all things, whatsoever they had done, and whatsoever they had taught. ​
31
And he saith unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. ​
32
And they went away in the boat to a desert place apart.
33
And the people saw them going, and many knew them, and they ran together there on foot from all the cities, and outwent them.
34
And he came forth and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. ​
35
And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, The place is desert, and the day is now far spent;
36
send them away, that they may go into the country and villages round about, and buy themselves somewhat to eat.
37
But he answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred shillings’ worth of bread, and give them to eat? ​
38
And he saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
39
And he commanded them that all should sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40
And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
41
And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake the loaves; and he gave to the disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. ​
42
And they all ate, and were filled.
43
And they took up broken pieces, twelve basketfuls, and also of the fishes. ​
44
And they that ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Jesus Walks on Water 45–52

45
And straightway he constrained his disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side to Bethsaida, while he himself sendeth the multitude away. ​
46
And after he had taken leave of them, he departed into the mountain to pray. ​
47
And when even was come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
48
And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them, about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them: ​
49
but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
50
for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he straightway spake with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. ​
51
And he went up unto them into the boat; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves;
52
for they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened. ​

Widespread Healing in Gennesaret 53–56

53
And when they had crossed over, they came to the land unto Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.
54
And when they were come out of the boat, straightway the people knew him,
55
and ran round about that whole region, and began to carry about on their beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
56
And wheresoever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Mark 6

Verse 1

his own country — Patris, the native town; here Nazareth, 'where he had been brought up' (Luke 4:16). The disciples 'follow him' there, as learners. The same town had earlier tried to cast him down from the hill (Luke 4:29–30), yet he comes again.

Verse 2

what wisdom is this — The question joins two things: 'what wisdom is this which is given unto him' and 'mighty works' (dunamis, works of power) wrought 'by his hands'. At Capernaum too the synagogue was 'astonished at his doctrine' (Mark 1:21–22).

Verse 3

the carpenter — Tekton, a craftsman in wood. Matthew has 'the carpenter's son' (Matt 13:55). Four brothers are named, James, Joses, Juda and Simon, with sisters; Jude calls himself 'brother of James' (Jude 1:1). 'Offended' is skandalizo, to stumble; contrast 'blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me' (Matt 11:6).

Verse 4

A prophet is not without honour — This is Christ's own saying, given in three circles: 'country', 'kin' (suggenes, blood relatives) and 'house'. Luke records it at Nazareth, 'No prophet is accepted in his own country' (Luke 4:24); John adds it after Samaria (John 4:44).

Verse 5

could there do no mighty work — Dunamai, 'could', and dunamis, 'mighty work'. Matthew gives the reason: 'because of their unbelief' (Matt 13:58). The exception is exact: he 'laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them', the laying on of hands Jairus had asked for his daughter (Mark 5:23).

Verse 6

he marvelled — Thaumazo. Jesus marvels at 'their unbelief' (apistia), where elsewhere he marvelled at faith: 'I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel' (Matt 8:10). Rejected at Nazareth, he 'went round about the villages, teaching'.

Verse 7

by two and two — The pairing meets the law of witness: 'at the mouth of two witnesses… shall the matter be established' (Deut 19:15). The seventy were sent the same way (Luke 10:1). The 'power' is exousia, authority, here over 'unclean spirits'.

Verse 8

save a staff only — Rhabdos, a walking-stick. Matthew says 'nor yet staves' (Matt 10:10); Mark allows the one staff, but no 'scrip' (pera, a bag), bread or money. The rule belonged to this mission; later he said 'he that hath a purse, let him take it' (Luke 22:36).

Verse 11

shake off the dust — The act is ektinasso, to shake out; Paul and Barnabas did it at Antioch, 'they shook off the dust of their feet against them' (Acts 13:51). It stands 'for a testimony' (marturion) against that town, whose judgment is set beside Sodom and Gomorrha.

Verse 12

preached that men should repent — Kerusso, to herald, and metanoeo, to change the mind. It is the message Christ himself began with: 'Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' (Matt 4:17), and John before him (Matt 3:2).

Verse 13

anointed with oil many that were sick — Aleipho, to anoint with oil, the verb of James 5:14: 'anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord'. In both places the oil accompanies healing; James adds 'in the name of the Lord'. The casting out of 'many devils' stands first.

Verse 14

king Herod — Herod Antipas, whom Matthew and Luke call 'tetrarch' (Matt 14:1; Luke 3:1); Mark uses the popular title. 'Mighty works do shew forth themselves' is energeo, to be at work: Herod explains the power by John risen from the dead.

Verse 17

his brother Philip's wife — She is Herodias, whom Herod 'had married'. John had rebuked him 'for Herodias his brother Philip's wife', and Herod 'shut up John in prison' (Luke 3:19–20). The law forbade it: 'Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife' (Lev 18:16).

Verse 18

It is not lawful — John's words rest on the law: 'thy brother's wife… it is thy brother's nakedness' (Lev 18:16), with the penalty that 'they shall be childless' (Lev 20:21). Exesti, 'lawful', is the word of permission under the law, and John says it to the ruler himself.

Verse 20

Herod feared John — Phobeo, to fear or revere: he knew John 'a just man and an holy' (dikaios, hagios) and 'observed him'. He 'heard him gladly' (hedeos) and 'did many things', yet kept Herodias (v.17). At Matt 14:5 he is also afraid of the multitude.

Verse 21

on his birthday — Genesia, birthday ceremonies. A birthday feast of Pharaoh likewise decided the fate of his servants: 'he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker' (Gen 40:20). 'Convenient day' is eukairos, a well-timed opportunity, for Herodias (v.19).

Verse 23

unto the half of my kingdom — This is the same pledge a king gave Esther: 'it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom' (Esth 5:3). Herod 'sware' (omnuo) it, and the oath of v.26 binds him; Matthew says he 'promised with an oath' (Matt 14:7).

Verse 26

for his oath's sake — Horkos, oath. Herod's grief gives way to two reasons: the oath, and 'their sakes which sat with him'. Matthew has the same two (Matt 14:9). He 'would not reject' (atheteo, to set aside) the request, and so a righteous man died.

Verse 30

the apostles — Apostolos, one sent; the title fits the return of those just sent out (v.7). They 'told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught'. Luke says 'told him all that they had done' (Luke 9:10).

Verse 31

rest a while — Anapauo, to refresh by rest. The reason is given: many 'coming and going', so that 'they had no leisure so much as to eat' (eukaireo, to have opportunity). The same pressure appears in Mark 3:20, 'they could not so much as eat bread'.

Verse 34

moved with compassion — Splanchnizomai, from splanchna, the inward parts. 'As sheep not having a shepherd' echoes Moses' prayer that Israel 'be not as sheep which have no shepherd' (Num 27:17). Matthew places the same words on Christ (Matt 9:36). His first act is to teach 'many things'.

Verse 37

two hundred pennyworth — The denarion, a labourer's wage: a 'penny a day' (Matt 20:2). Two hundred are some two hundred days' pay. 'Give ye them to eat' is the command to the disciples; they answer by counting money, and Luke gives their other answer, 'five loaves and two fishes' (Luke 9:13).

Verse 41

looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake — The four acts, take, bless, break, give, are those of the Last Supper: 'Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them' (Mark 14:22). They recur at Emmaus (Luke 24:30). Here the bread is given to the disciples 'to set before' the crowd.

Verse 43

twelve baskets full — Kophinos, a small basket. The number stays in memory: 'how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve' (Mark 8:19). John adds that they filled twelve baskets 'with the fragments of the five barley loaves' (John 6:13).

Verse 45

he constrained his disciples — Anankazo, to compel. John gives the cause: the crowd 'would come and take him by force, to make him a king' (John 6:15). The disciples go 'unto Bethsaida', the town where he later heals a blind man (Mark 8:22).

Verse 46

into a mountain to pray — Proseuchomai. Prayer apart marks the great moments of his ministry: before dawn in 'a solitary place' (Mark 1:35), and all night before choosing the twelve, when he 'continued all night in prayer to God' (Luke 6:12).

Verse 48

would have passed by them — Parerchomai, to go past. The wording recalls Job: 'treadeth upon the waves of the sea' (Job 9:8) and 'he goeth by me, and I see him not' (Job 9:11). The 'fourth watch' is the last of the night's four; he comes to them 'walking upon the sea'.

Verse 50

it is I — Ego eimi, 'I am', in the Greek the same words as 'Before Abraham was, I am' (John 8:58). Here they are a plain self-identification, joined to 'Be of good cheer' (tharseo) and 'be not afraid', spoken to men who 'supposed it had been a spirit' (v.49).

Verse 52

their heart was hardened — Poroo, to harden like stone; the same verb is used of this very failure at Mark 8:17, 'have ye your heart yet hardened?', and in John 12:40 of those whose heart is 'hardened'. 'Considered not' is suniemi, to put together: they did not link the loaves to the figure on the sea.

Verse 56

the border of his garment — Kraspedon, the fringe or tassel, which the law required on every garment (Num 15:38). The woman with the issue touched the same (Matt 9:20), saying 'If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole' (Mark 5:28). 'Made whole' is sozo, to save or heal.