Mark 8:5

And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

And {G2532} he asked {G1905} them {G846}, How many {G4214} loaves {G740} have ye {G2192}? And {G1161} they said {G2036}, Seven {G2033}.

"How many loaves do you have?" he asked them. They answered, "Seven."

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.

And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

Commentary on Mark 8:5 (KJV)

Mark 8:5 is a pivotal moment within the account of Jesus feeding the four thousand, illustrating His divine power and the disciples' ongoing learning process. This verse captures a direct question from Jesus to His disciples regarding their available resources, specifically bread, in the face of a large, hungry multitude.

Context

This verse is situated early in the narrative of the feeding of the four thousand, a significant miracle performed by Jesus in the wilderness. Preceding this, Jesus expresses deep compassion for the multitude who had been with Him for three days and had nothing to eat. He acknowledges their potential to faint on the way home if sent away hungry. His question, "How many loaves have ye?", serves as a direct inquiry into their inventory, setting the stage for His miraculous intervention. This event parallels the earlier feeding of the five thousand, showcasing Jesus' consistent pattern of divine provision.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision: Despite the vast needs of the crowd and the apparent scarcity of food, Jesus initiates a process that will demonstrate God's limitless ability to provide. His question highlights the human assessment of resources before the divine multiplication.
  • Testing and Teaching the Disciples: Jesus' question is not born of ignorance but serves to involve His disciples in the problem and prompt them to assess their own capacity and faith. Even after witnessing the feeding of the five thousand, their immediate response often reveals a struggle to fully grasp Jesus' supernatural power.
  • Jesus' Compassion and Practicality: The preceding verses emphasize Jesus' concern for the physical well-being of the crowd. His question in verse 5 shows a practical approach to addressing their immediate need, even as He prepares to perform a miracle.

Linguistic Insights

The word for "loaves" in Greek is artous (ἄρτους), referring to small, flat loaves of bread, common in that region. These were not large, western-style loaves but more akin to pita bread or tortillas, making the "seven" loaves a truly meager amount for such a large crowd. The simplicity of the disciples' answer, "Seven," underscores the limited resources they possessed.

Practical Application

Mark 8:5 reminds us that God often begins with what we have, no matter how little it seems. Like the disciples, we might first focus on our limited resources or the overwhelming scale of a problem. However, Jesus invites us to bring our "seven loaves"—our small talents, resources, or efforts—to Him. When we offer what we have to Christ, He can take it, bless it, and multiply it far beyond our natural capabilities to meet needs and accomplish His purposes. It encourages us to trust in God's abundant provision, even when circumstances suggest scarcity.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 14:15

    And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

  • Matthew 14:17

    And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

  • Mark 6:38

    He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

  • Luke 9:13

    But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

  • Matthew 15:34

    And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

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