Mark 8:1

KJV

¶ In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples [unto him], and saith unto them,

KJV (with Strong's)

In {G1722} those {G1565} days {G2250} the multitude {G3793} being {G5607} very great {G3827}, and {G2532} having {G2192} nothing {G3361}{G5101} to eat {G5315}, Jesus {G2424} called {G4341} his {G846} disciples {G3101} unto him, and saith {G3004} unto them {G846},

Complete Jewish Bible

It was during that time that another large crowd gathered, and they had nothing to eat. Yeshua called his talmidim to him and said to them,

Berean Standard Bible

In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said,

American Standard Version

In those days, when there was again a great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 8:1 introduces a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, setting the stage for the second miraculous feeding of a large multitude. This verse vividly portrays the dire circumstances of a vast crowd that has been with Jesus for an extended period in a desolate location, now facing severe hunger. It highlights Jesus' profound awareness of their physical need and His immediate, compassionate initiative to address it by calling His disciples to Himself, signaling His intent to provide for them.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 8:1 follows a period of intense ministry for Jesus, particularly in the region of Decapolis, a predominantly Gentile area, as detailed in [Mark 7:31-37](/mark/7-31-37 "Jesus Heals a Deaf Man with a Speech Impediment"). This verse immediately precedes the "Feeding of the Four Thousand" ([Mark 8:1-10](/mark/8-1-10 "The Feeding of the Four Thousand")), which intentionally parallels the earlier "Feeding of the Five Thousand" in [Mark 6:30-44](/mark/6-30-44 "The Feeding of the Five Thousand"). The repetition of such a significant miracle, yet with distinct details (different numbers, location, and potentially audience composition), serves to emphasize Jesus' consistent power and compassion. It also sets up a crucial dialogue with the disciples later in [Mark 8:14-21](/mark/8-14-21 "The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod"), where Jesus confronts their spiritual dullness and inability to fully grasp the implications of these miracles.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting, likely in the eastern region of the Sea of Galilee (Decapolis), suggests a more diverse, possibly Gentile, audience compared to the earlier feeding. The phrase "in those days" indicates a continuation of Jesus' active ministry, characterized by large crowds following Him for extended periods, drawn by His teaching and healing. The logistical challenge of feeding "a very great multitude" (estimated at 4,000 men, plus women and children, in [Mark 8:9](/mark/8-9 "Mark 8:9")) in a "desolate place" (implied by the lack of food) was immense. People traveling with a rabbi for three days would have depleted any provisions they carried, making their hunger a serious concern. This scenario underscores the reliance of the crowds on Jesus and the extraordinary nature of His subsequent provision, which defied typical means of sustenance in that era.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 8:1 introduces and reinforces several key themes. Foremost is **Jesus' Compassion**, which is the driving force behind His actions, as explicitly stated in [Mark 8:2](/mark/8-2 "Jesus' Compassion for the Multitude"). This deep empathy for human suffering, both physical and spiritual, is a hallmark of His ministry. Another significant theme is **Divine Provision**, demonstrating Jesus' authority over creation and His ability to meet needs supernaturally when human resources are utterly insufficient. This miracle, like the previous one, serves as a powerful testament to God's abundant care. Finally, the verse subtly introduces the theme of **Discipleship and Spiritual Understanding**. Jesus calls His disciples to Him, involving them in the problem, yet their subsequent questions ([Mark 8:4](/mark/8-4 "Disciples' Question about Bread")) reveal their continued struggle to comprehend His power, despite having witnessed a similar miracle. This highlights the ongoing process of faith development and the challenge of truly perceiving Christ's divine nature.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **multitude (Greek, _óchlos'_):** From a derivative of *echō* (meaning a vehicle); a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot. Here, it signifies a large, undifferentiated crowd, emphasizing its sheer size and perhaps its unorganized nature, making the logistical challenge of feeding them even greater.
* **having nothing to eat (Greek, _echō mē tis phágō'_):** Literally, "to hold not what to eat." This combination of words powerfully conveys a complete and absolute lack of food. The verb *echō* (to have/hold), combined with the strong negative particle *mē* (not), the interrogative/indefinite pronoun *tis* (what/anything), and the verb *phágō* (to eat), paints a picture of utter destitution and hunger, highlighting the urgent crisis the crowd faced.
* **called (Greek, _proskaléomai'_):** Middle voice from *pros* (to/toward) and *kaleō* (to call); to call toward oneself, i.e., summon, invite. This word emphasizes Jesus' intentional and authoritative action. He doesn't merely observe the situation; He actively initiates a response by summoning His inner circle, preparing them for His divine intervention and involving them in the process.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"In those days":** This phrase serves as a transitional marker, linking the current event to the preceding period of Jesus' ministry, particularly His work in the Gentile regions. It indicates a continuation of the narrative flow without specifying an exact temporal gap, suggesting a period of sustained activity and large crowds following Jesus.
* **"the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat":** This clause sets the urgent scene. It describes the overwhelming size of the crowd ("very great," *pámpolys*, implying immense) and their critical physical condition. The phrase "having nothing to eat" underscores their complete lack of provisions, making their hunger a pressing and immediate concern that demands intervention.
* **"Jesus called his disciples [unto him], and saith unto them":** This final clause reveals Jesus' initiative and method. He is not oblivious to the crowd's plight. Instead, He takes the lead, summoning His closest followers. This act of calling them "unto him" signifies His intention to involve them in His plan and to communicate His compassionate concern and forthcoming action, preparing them for the miracle He is about to perform.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 8:1 employs several **literary devices** to effectively convey its message. The depiction of "the multitude being very great" is a form of **hyperbole**, emphasizing the immense scale of the crowd and the logistical challenge, thereby magnifying the subsequent miracle. The verse also utilizes **foreshadowing**, subtly hinting at the miraculous provision to come by explicitly stating the problem of hunger. The act of Jesus calling His disciples to Him, before the miracle is performed, introduces an element of **dramatic irony**, as the reader knows (from the previous feeding) that Jesus possesses the power to solve this problem, while the disciples' subsequent questions reveal their continued lack of full comprehension. This sets up the narrative tension and highlights the ongoing theme of the disciples' spiritual dullness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 8:1 powerfully underscores the incarnational reality of Jesus' ministry: His divine power is always coupled with profound human compassion. He is not a distant deity but one who intimately understands and responds to the most basic human needs, even hunger. This verse reveals God's providential care for His creation, demonstrating that His concern extends beyond spiritual salvation to the physical well-being of His people. It also serves as a critical moment in the disciples' spiritual formation, challenging them to move beyond a limited understanding of Jesus' power and to trust in His boundless capacity to provide. The scene sets the stage for a deeper revelation of Jesus as the ultimate provider, foreshadowing His identity as the "Bread of Life."

* [Matthew 14:15-21](/matthew/14-15-21 "The Feeding of the Five Thousand")
* [Luke 9:12-17](/luke/9-12-17 "Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand")
* [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 8:1 offers profound insights for contemporary believers, reminding us that Jesus is deeply concerned with the tangible needs of humanity, not just their spiritual state. His compassionate response to the starving multitude serves as a powerful model for our own lives. In a world plagued by hunger, poverty, and various forms of suffering, this verse calls us to cultivate a similar empathy, seeing the needs around us not as insurmountable problems but as opportunities for divine intervention, often through our own hands. It encourages us to trust in God's abundant provision, even when our resources seem meager, and to remember His faithfulness in past circumstances. Just as Jesus involved His disciples, we are called to be active participants in His mission of compassion, extending practical help and spiritual nourishment to those in need, relying on His power to multiply our efforts.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' immediate awareness and response to the crowd's physical hunger challenge my own assumptions about God's priorities?**
* **In what areas of my life or community do I see a "very great multitude" with "nothing to eat," metaphorically or literally, and how might I be called to respond with Christ-like compassion?**
* **What past instances of God's provision in my life can I recall to strengthen my faith when faced with seemingly impossible needs today?**
* **How can I better involve others (like Jesus involved His disciples) in addressing needs, even when the solution seems beyond human capability?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the multitude being "very great" and having "nothing to eat" in Mark 8:1?**

Answer: The description of the multitude as "very great" (Greek: *pámpolys*, meaning "full many" or "immense") emphasizes the sheer scale of the human need and the logistical impossibility of feeding them through conventional means. Coupled with "having nothing to eat," it creates a scene of urgent crisis and complete human helplessness. This dramatic portrayal serves to magnify the power and compassion of Jesus, highlighting that His subsequent miracle is a truly divine intervention, not merely a clever solution. It sets the stage for a demonstration of God's boundless ability to provide, even in the most dire circumstances, reinforcing the theme of divine provision found throughout [the Gospels](/gospels "The Four Gospels").

**Why did Jesus call His disciples to Him before addressing the multitude's hunger?**

Answer: Jesus' act of calling His disciples to Him before the miracle is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it demonstrates His intention to involve them in His ministry and to teach them. He doesn't simply perform a miracle; He invites His inner circle to witness His compassion and power firsthand, preparing them for their future roles. Secondly, it provides an opportunity for dialogue, as seen in the subsequent verses ([Mark 8:2-4](/mark/8-2-4 "Jesus' Compassion and the Disciples' Question")), where Jesus articulates His compassion and the disciples reveal their limited understanding. This interaction underscores the ongoing process of discipleship and the need for spiritual growth, even for those closest to Jesus. It also serves to highlight the contrast between Jesus' divine awareness and the disciples' human limitations.

**Is the feeding of the four thousand in Mark 8:1-10 the same event as the feeding of the five thousand in Mark 6:30-44?**

Answer: No, the feeding of the four thousand described in [Mark 8:1-10](/mark/8-1-10 "The Feeding of the Four Thousand") is distinct from the feeding of the five thousand recorded earlier in [Mark 6:30-44](/mark/6-30-44 "The Feeding of the Five Thousand"). While both miracles involve Jesus miraculously multiplying bread and fish to feed a large crowd, there are key differences: the number of people (4,000 vs. 5,000), the number of loaves (7 vs. 5), the number of baskets of leftovers (7 large baskets vs. 12 small baskets), and likely the geographical location and audience (Decapolis, possibly more Gentile, vs. Galilee, primarily Jewish). The inclusion of both accounts in Mark's Gospel emphasizes Jesus' consistent power and compassion for all people, both Jew and Gentile, and serves to highlight the disciples' persistent struggle to grasp the full implications of Jesus' identity and power, as seen in [Mark 8:14-21](/mark/8-14-21 "The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 8:1, though seemingly a simple narrative introduction to a physical miracle, profoundly points to Christ's ultimate fulfillment as the divine provider and the "Bread of Life." Jesus' deep compassion for the physically hungry multitude foreshadows His greater spiritual provision for a humanity starving for truth and salvation. Just as He met their immediate physical need, He came to satisfy the deepest spiritual hunger of the world, declaring Himself to be the "bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "Jesus, the Bread of Life")). This miraculous provision is a tangible demonstration of His divine nature and His redemptive mission, extending beyond the physical realm to offer eternal sustenance. His concern for the multitude's hunger also prefigures His identification with the "least of these" ([Matthew 25:35-40](/matthew/25-35-40 "Caring for the Least of These")), establishing a paradigm where caring for physical needs is an expression of His kingdom. Ultimately, Mark 8:1 reveals Jesus as the compassionate Lord who sees, cares, and provides in every dimension of human existence, fulfilling God's promise to "supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" ([Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "God Will Supply All Your Needs")).

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 15:32

Then Jesus called his disciples [unto him], and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

Matthew 15:39

And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

Mark 6:34

And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Mark 6:44

And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.