Mark 6:36

KJV

Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

KJV (with Strong's)

Send {G630} them {G846} away {G630}, that {G2443} they may go {G565} into {G1519} the country {G68} round about {G2945}, and {G2532} into the villages {G2968}, and buy {G59} themselves {G1438} bread {G740}: for {G1063} they have {G2192} nothing {G5101}{G3756} to eat {G5315}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Send the people away, so that they can go and buy food for themselves in the farms and towns around here."

Berean Standard Bible

Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 6:36 captures the disciples' pragmatic, human-centric assessment of a pressing need: a vast, hungry crowd in a desolate place. Faced with thousands of people and no immediate means of sustenance, the disciples propose a logical, albeit limited, solution. They suggest dismissing the multitude so they can disperse into the surrounding countryside and villages to purchase food for themselves, highlighting their immediate focus on human resources and the crowd's dire lack of provisions. This counsel sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent, divinely abundant response, powerfully contrasting human limitation with divine provision.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is pivotal, immediately preceding one of Jesus' most renowned miracles: the feeding of the five thousand. The narrative begins with the disciples returning from their mission trip, reporting their activities to Jesus [Mark 6:30](/mark/6-30 "Mark 6:30 - Disciples Return"). Seeking a moment of rest and solitude, Jesus and His disciples withdraw to a "desolate place" [Mark 6:31](/mark/6-31 "Mark 6:31 - Seeking Rest"), but a large crowd, eager for His teaching and healing, follows them, arriving even before them [Mark 6:33](/mark/6-33 "Mark 6:33 - Crowds Follow Jesus"). Jesus, seeing them as "sheep without a shepherd," is moved with deep compassion and begins to teach them at length [Mark 6:34](/mark/6-34 "Mark 6:34 - Jesus' Compassion"). As the day draws to a close, the disciples recognize the crowd's hunger and logistical challenge, prompting their suggestion in Mark 6:36, which directly leads to Jesus' command for them to feed the people themselves, culminating in the miraculous provision of food [Mark 6:37-44](/mark/6-37-44 "Mark 6:37-44 - Feeding the Five Thousand").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The event takes place in a "desolate place," likely a remote, uncultivated area on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, away from major towns. In this setting, large-scale provision for thousands of people would be logistically impossible without significant pre-planning, which was absent. The common practice for travelers or large groups in such areas was to rely on nearby villages or farms for food and lodging. The disciples' suggestion to "go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread" reflects this reality. There were no large markets or food vendors in such a wilderness. The people, having followed Jesus for hours, would be far from their homes and without provisions, making their hunger a pressing concern that required either dispersal or an extraordinary solution.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Mark's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Human Limitation vs. Divine Provision**. The disciples, operating from a purely human perspective, see only scarcity and logistical impossibility, leading them to suggest a pragmatic but ultimately insufficient solution. This directly contrasts with Jesus' impending demonstration of limitless divine power and compassion, setting the stage for a profound lesson on God's ability to provide beyond human imagination. Another key theme is **Jesus' Compassion and Responsibility**. While the disciples show a measure of concern for the crowd's hunger, their solution shifts the burden onto the people. Jesus, however, takes direct responsibility for their well-being, embodying a deeper, active compassion that not only recognizes but also directly meets the need. Finally, the verse highlights the **Disciples' Developing Understanding** of Jesus' identity and power. Despite witnessing numerous miracles, their initial response to this crisis reveals their continued reliance on conventional solutions, underscoring their ongoing journey of faith and their need to grasp the full scope of Jesus' divine capabilities, a theme echoed in parallel accounts like [John 6:5-7](/john/6-5-7 "John 6:5-7 - Philip's Question About Provision").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Send (Greek, _apolýō_ G630):** This verb means "to free fully, i.e., relieve, release, dismiss (reflexively, depart)." In this context, it conveys the disciples' desire for the crowd to be dispersed from their immediate presence, effectively "letting them go" to fend for themselves. It highlights their attempt to resolve the logistical problem by removing the people from the scene.
* **round about (Greek, _kýklōi_ G2945):** Derived from a word meaning "a ring" or "cycle," this adverb means "in a circle" or "all around." Its use emphasizes the widespread nature of the surrounding area, implying that finding food would not be concentrated in one spot but would require the multitude to scatter extensively, making the task both time-consuming and arduous for thousands of hungry people.
* **nothing to eat (Greek, _phágō_ G5315, combined with _ou_ G3756 and _tís_ G5101):** The verb `phágō` means "to eat." The phrase "nothing to eat" is a strong declaration of absolute lack. `Ou` (G3756) is the absolute negative adverb, and `tís` (G5101), an interrogative pronoun, is used here in an indefinite sense meaning "anything." Together, "οὐκ ἔχουσιν τί φάγωσιν" (ouk echousin ti phagōsin) succinctly captures the urgency and severity of the crowd's immediate and total lack of provisions.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Send them away":** This is the disciples' direct and pragmatic suggestion to Jesus. Faced with an overwhelming logistical challenge—a massive crowd in a remote area with no food—their immediate thought is to alleviate the problem by having the people leave. This reflects a human-centric, problem-solving approach focused on dispersal.
* **"that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages":** This clause specifies the intended destination for the dismissed crowd. The "country round about" refers to the rural, uncultivated areas, while "villages" indicates small settlements. The implication is that the people would need to scatter widely to find any sources of food, emphasizing the remoteness of their current location and the effort required to meet their basic need.
* **"and buy themselves bread":** This outlines the means by which the disciples expect the crowd to sustain themselves. It assumes the availability of food for purchase in the surrounding areas, and that the people have the financial means to acquire it. This highlights the disciples' conventional thinking, relying on existing economic structures rather than divine intervention.
* **"for they have nothing to eat":** This final clause provides the urgent justification for the disciples' suggestion. It succinctly states the core problem: the crowd's immediate and severe hunger, underscoring the pressing nature of the situation and the perceived impossibility of addressing it on the spot.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 6:36 employs several literary devices to enhance its meaning and prepare the reader for the subsequent miracle. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as the disciples' despair over the lack of food sets the stage for Jesus' miraculous provision, building anticipation for His divine solution. There is a clear **Contrast** established between the disciples' human-limited perspective and Jesus' impending demonstration of divine power. The disciples' practical, yet insufficient, suggestion highlights the disparity between human capacity and God's boundless ability. Furthermore, there's a subtle **Irony** in the disciples' proposal to "send them away," as Jesus' response is precisely the opposite: He brings the people closer and provides for them directly, demonstrating that true compassion involves drawing near and meeting needs, not dismissing them. The phrase "they have nothing to eat" also functions as a form of **Understatement** or **Litotes** (an ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary), as it succinctly captures a massive, overwhelming problem for thousands of people, emphasizing the scale of the challenge Jesus is about to address.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of divine provision in contrast to human inadequacy. The disciples' logical, yet limited, solution to a massive human need underscores a recurring biblical theme: humanity's inability to fully address its deepest needs through its own resources or ingenuity. Their suggestion to "send them away" reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of Jesus' mission and power, which is not to dismiss the needy but to draw them near and provide abundantly. This moment highlights Jesus as the ultimate Provider, who does not merely observe human suffering but actively intervenes, transforming scarcity into superabundance. It teaches us that God's solutions often transcend our logical frameworks, inviting us to trust in His boundless capacity rather than our finite resources.

* [Matthew 14:15-21](/matthew/14-15-21 "Matthew 14:15-21 - Feeding the Five Thousand")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")
* [Psalm 78:19-20](/psalms/78-19-20 "Psalm 78:19-20 - Doubting God's Provision in the Wilderness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 6:36 offers a timeless lesson for believers navigating the challenges of life. When confronted with overwhelming needs or seemingly impossible situations, our natural inclination, much like the disciples', is often to seek human-centric, logical solutions based on our limited resources and understanding. We might be tempted to "send away" the problem, either by dismissing its severity or by shifting responsibility onto others. However, this verse, when read in light of the subsequent miracle, challenges us to look beyond our own capacities and perceived limitations. It prompts us to consider whether we are truly bringing our insurmountable problems to Jesus, trusting in His boundless provision, or if we are inadvertently limiting God by our own finite perspectives. It encourages us to cultivate a posture of faith that anticipates divine intervention even when all human solutions appear exhausted, reminding us that God's power is not constrained by our circumstances.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When faced with overwhelming needs, do I first consider human solutions or seek divine intervention?**
* **How does my understanding of God's capacity for provision influence my response to seemingly impossible situations?**
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to "send away" problems rather than bringing them to Jesus for His miraculous provision?**

### FAQ
**Why didn't the disciples just ask Jesus to perform a miracle right away?**

Answer: The disciples, despite having witnessed many of Jesus' miracles, were still in the process of understanding the full scope of His divine power and mission. Their faith was developing, and their initial response often gravitated towards pragmatic, human-level solutions when faced with immediate logistical challenges. This moment highlights their ongoing journey of spiritual growth, where they had yet to fully grasp that Jesus was not merely a great teacher or healer, but the Son of God with limitless power over creation, capable of providing for thousands in a desolate place. This is a common theme in the Gospels, showing the disciples' human limitations before their full understanding of Christ's identity.

**What does "country round about" mean in this context?**

Answer: "Country round about" (Greek: _agrous kýklōi_) refers to the rural areas, fields, and uncultivated land surrounding the desolate place where Jesus and the crowd were gathered. It implies that there were no large towns or markets immediately nearby. The disciples' suggestion was for the people to disperse into these scattered, less populated areas and into any small "villages" (_kōmas_) that might be found there, in hopes of purchasing food from local inhabitants or small, informal vendors. It underscores the remoteness of their location and the significant effort required for such a large crowd to find sustenance.

**Is this verse a criticism of the disciples' faith?**

Answer: While it reveals the limitations of the disciples' current faith and understanding, it is not primarily a harsh criticism. Instead, it serves as an honest portrayal of their human perspective and a crucial teaching moment for them. Their suggestion was logical and practical from a human standpoint, demonstrating their concern for the crowd's welfare. However, it also sets up a powerful contrast with Jesus' divine solution, allowing Him to demonstrate His authority and compassion in a way that would deepen their faith and understanding of who He truly was. It highlights that even those closest to Jesus needed to grow in their reliance on His supernatural power.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 6:36, with the disciples' proposal to send the hungry crowd away, powerfully foreshadows Jesus' identity as the ultimate and eternal Provider. Unlike the disciples, who saw only scarcity and a logistical problem requiring dispersal, Jesus saw an opportunity to reveal His divine nature. He did not send the hungry away but drew them near, demonstrating that He is the true "Bread of Life" who satisfies every spiritual and physical hunger [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"). This miracle, born from compassion, points directly to Jesus' ultimate act of provision on the cross, where He gave His body and shed His blood to feed humanity spiritually and eternally [John 6:53-58](/john/6-53-58 "John 6:53-58 - Eating His Flesh and Drinking His Blood"). He is the Good Shepherd who leads His flock to green pastures and still waters, ensuring their provision and care [John 10:11](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - The Good Shepherd"); [Psalm 23:1](/psalms/23-1 "Psalm 23:1 - The Lord is My Shepherd"). Thus, the feeding of the five thousand, initiated by the disciples' human-limited suggestion, culminates in a profound Christ-centered truth: Jesus does not dismiss our needs but abundantly supplies them, pointing to the eternal feast He offers in His Kingdom [Revelation 19:9](/revelation/19-9 "Revelation 19:9 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:23

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

Mark 5:31

And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

Mark 3:21

And when his friends heard [of it], they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Matthew 16:22

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.