Mark 8:7

KJV

And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before [them].

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they had {G2192} a few {G3641} small fishes {G2485}: and {G2532} he blessed {G2127}, and commanded {G2036} to set {G3908} them {G846} also {G2532} before {G3908} them.

Complete Jewish Bible

They also had a few fish; making a b'rakhah over them he also ordered these to be served.

Berean Standard Bible

They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.

American Standard Version

And they had a few small fishes: and having blessed them, he commanded to set these also before them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse details the meager provisions available to Jesus and His disciples—a few small fish—just before the miraculous feeding of the four thousand. It highlights Jesus' compassionate action of blessing these humble resources and commanding their distribution, setting the stage for a profound demonstration of divine abundance from scarcity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 8:7 is situated within the narrative of Jesus' second miraculous feeding of a large multitude, often distinguished as the "feeding of the four thousand." This event immediately follows Jesus' deep compassion for the hungry crowd who had been with Him for three days, risking fainting on their journey home ([Mark 8:1-3](/mark/8-1-3 "Mark 8:1-3 - Jesus' Compassion for the Hungry Multitude")). The disciples' initial response, questioning how anyone could satisfy so many in a desolate place ([Mark 8:4](/mark/8-4 "Mark 8:4 - Disciples' Doubt")), sets up the contrast with Jesus' power. The verse directly follows the disciples' report of their limited provisions: seven loaves ([Mark 8:5](/mark/8-5 "Mark 8:5 - The Seven Loaves")). The inclusion of the "few small fishes" in verse 7 completes the inventory of what little they had, before Jesus takes these items, gives thanks, breaks them, and instructs the disciples to distribute them to the vast crowd ([Mark 8:6](/mark/8-6 "Mark 8:6 - Jesus Gives Thanks and Breaks the Loaves")). This miracle parallels the earlier feeding of the five thousand ([Mark 6:30-44](/mark/6-30-44 "Mark 6:30-44 - The Feeding of the Five Thousand")), inviting readers to compare and contrast the two events and their implications for understanding Jesus' identity and mission.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting for this miracle is likely in the Decapolis region, a largely Gentile area east of the Sea of Galilee, suggested by Jesus' movements in [Mark 7:31](/mark/7-31 "Mark 7:31 - Jesus in the Decapolis Region"). This location is significant because it implies a largely non-Jewish audience, differentiating it from the feeding of the five thousand, which occurred in a Jewish area. The practice of "blessing" food before a meal was a common Jewish custom, a prayer of thanksgiving to God for His provision. However, in Jesus' hands, this blessing transcends mere custom, becoming an act of consecration that precedes supernatural multiplication. The scarcity of food in a desolate, rural area was a common challenge for large gatherings, making the miracle even more impactful to those present, who would have understood the practical impossibility of feeding thousands without ample provisions. The disciples' question about obtaining bread in the wilderness reflects this reality.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 8:7 contributes significantly to several key themes within the Gospel of Mark. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Provision and Abundance**, demonstrating Jesus' capacity to meet overwhelming needs from meager resources, echoing God's provision for Israel in the wilderness ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna in the Wilderness")). Secondly, it underscores Jesus' profound **Compassion and Holistic Care** for humanity, as He is moved not only by spiritual hunger but also by the physical needs of the multitude, fearing they would faint ([Mark 8:2-3](/mark/8-2-3 "Mark 8:2-3 - Jesus' Concern for the Crowd")). Thirdly, the event highlights the **Messianic Identity of Jesus** as the one who fulfills prophetic expectations of a new Moses, providing bread in the wilderness, and as the divine Son of God with unparalleled authority over creation. Finally, it subtly points to the **Disciples' Ongoing Misunderstanding** and their slow spiritual perception, as they still struggle to grasp the implications of Jesus' power despite having witnessed a similar miracle previously ([Mark 8:14-21](/mark/8-14-21 "Mark 8:14-21 - The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **small fishes (Greek, _ichthýdion'_):** This word is a diminutive form of _ichthys_ (fish), literally meaning "little fish" or "petty fish." The use of the diminutive emphasizes the insignificance of the available fish in terms of quantity and size, underscoring the extreme scarcity of the provisions. This choice of word heightens the miraculous nature of the subsequent multiplication, as Jesus works with the humblest of starting points.
* **blessed (Greek, _eulogéō'_):** Derived from _eu_ (well) and _logos_ (word), this verb means "to speak well of," and in a religious context, "to bless," "thank," or "invoke a benediction upon." In this instance, Jesus' act of blessing is more than a customary prayer; it is an act of divine consecration and empowerment. It signifies His acknowledgment of God the Father as the source of all provision and His own authority to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, setting the stage for the miraculous multiplication.
* **commanded to set them also before (Greek, _paratíthēmi'_):** This verb means "to place alongside," "to present (food, truth)," or "to deposit." Here, it signifies Jesus' authoritative instruction to His disciples to distribute the now-blessed and multiplied food. The phrase "set them also before [them]" implies a direct and immediate action of serving the multitude. It highlights Jesus' organized and intentional approach to meeting the needs of the crowd, ensuring that the miraculous provision is effectively and equitably shared.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they had a few small fishes:"** This clause establishes the meager extent of the remaining provisions. Following the seven loaves mentioned in the preceding verse, these "few small fishes" represent the entirety of the disciples' available resources. The emphasis on "few" and "small" (from _ichthýdion_) serves to magnify the impending miracle, highlighting the vast disproportion between the resources and the need. It sets the scene for a display of divine power that transcends human limitations.
* **"and he blessed,"** This phrase describes Jesus' crucial action. In line with the practice before the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus takes the humble provisions and offers a blessing or thanksgiving. This act is not merely a ritual but an invocation of divine power and an acknowledgment of God as the ultimate provider. It is the spiritual catalyst for the physical miracle that follows, transforming the limited into the limitless.
* **"and commanded to set them also before [them]."** This final clause details Jesus' directive to His disciples. After blessing the fish, He instructs them to distribute these items, along with the bread, to the vast multitude. The word "commanded" (from _épō_) implies authority, and "set them also before [them]" (from _paratíthēmi_) denotes the act of serving the food directly to the people. This highlights the disciples' role as instruments in Jesus' miraculous work, participating in the distribution of God's abundant provision to the hungry crowd.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to enhance its meaning and impact. **Understatement** is evident in the description "a few small fishes," which starkly contrasts with the immense need of over four thousand people, thereby amplifying the magnitude of the subsequent miracle. This **juxtaposition** of scarcity and impending abundance creates dramatic tension. The act of Jesus "blessing" the food serves as **Symbolism**, representing not only a traditional prayer of thanksgiving but also the divine consecration and empowerment that transforms ordinary elements into instruments of extraordinary provision. Furthermore, the scene is part of a larger **typology**, where Jesus, as the new Moses, provides bread in the wilderness, echoing God's miraculous provision of manna to Israel in the Old Testament.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 8:7 profoundly illustrates the boundless nature of God's provision and Jesus' compassionate engagement with human need. It underscores that divine abundance is not contingent on human sufficiency but rather on God's sovereign power and willingness to multiply even the most meager offerings. This miracle, like the earlier feeding of the five thousand, serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' identity as the one who truly satisfies, providing for both physical and spiritual hunger. It teaches that when we bring our limited resources to Christ, He can take them, bless them, and use them to accomplish far more than we could ever imagine, demonstrating His kingdom's reality breaking into the present.

* [Matthew 14:19-21](/matthew/14-19-21 "Matthew 14:19-21 - Feeding of the Five Thousand in Matthew")
* [John 6:11-13](/john/6-11-13 "John 6:11-13 - Jesus Feeds the Multitude")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 8:7 invites us to reflect on our own perceptions of scarcity and sufficiency in light of God's boundless capacity to provide. Often, we are tempted to believe that our resources—whether financial, emotional, spiritual, or relational—are too small or insignificant to make a difference in a world filled with overwhelming needs. This verse challenges that mindset, demonstrating that when we surrender our "few small fishes" to Jesus, He can bless them and multiply them in ways that far exceed our expectations. It calls us to cultivate a posture of radical trust, offering what little we have with open hands, confident that God's power is made perfect in our weakness. Furthermore, it reminds us that Jesus cares for our holistic well-being, addressing not only our spiritual hunger but also our physical and practical needs, urging us to extend similar compassion to those around us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "few small fishes" (meager resources, talents, or time) do I currently possess that I am hesitant to offer to God, believing them to be insufficient?**
* **How does Jesus' act of blessing and multiplying the fish challenge my own anxieties about scarcity or my reliance on self-sufficiency?**
* **In what ways can I, like Jesus, demonstrate compassion for the physical and practical needs of others, not just their spiritual needs?**

### FAQ

**Why does Mark include two separate accounts of Jesus feeding large multitudes?**

Answer: Mark's inclusion of two distinct feeding miracles—the feeding of the five thousand ([Mark 6:30-44](/mark/6-30-44 "Mark 6:30-44 - The Feeding of the Five Thousand")) and the feeding of the four thousand ([Mark 8:1-10](/mark/8-1-10 "Mark 8:1-10 - The Feeding of the Four Thousand"))—is highly significant. While similar, they serve different theological purposes and highlight different aspects of Jesus' ministry. The first miracle likely occurs in a Jewish context, symbolizing Jesus as the Messiah who provides for Israel, perhaps echoing the manna in the wilderness. The second miracle, set in the Decapolis (a Gentile region), demonstrates Jesus' universal compassion and provision, extending His saving work beyond the Jewish people to the Gentiles. This distinction underscores the expansive nature of God's kingdom and Jesus' role as Lord over all nations. The disciples' continued lack of understanding after witnessing both miracles ([Mark 8:14-21](/mark/8-14-21 "Mark 8:14-21 - The Disciples' Hard Hearts")) also serves as a crucial teaching point about spiritual perception.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 8:7, with its depiction of Jesus blessing and multiplying meager provisions, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate provision found in Christ Himself. The "few small fishes" and loaves, multiplied to feed thousands, point to Jesus as the true "Bread of Life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")) and the one who offers abundant life ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Abundant Life")). Just as He took humble elements and transformed them into sustenance for the multitude, so too did He take His own humble human life, offer it as a sacrifice on the cross, and through His resurrection, provide eternal sustenance for all who believe. The act of blessing the food anticipates the institution of the Lord's Supper, where Christ's body and blood become the spiritual nourishment for His disciples, a new covenant meal that perpetually reminds believers of His self-giving love and never-ending provision ([Luke 22:19-20](/luke/22-19-20 "Luke 22:19-20 - Institution of the Lord's Supper")). Thus, this miracle is not merely a historical event but a profound **type** of Christ's redemptive work, demonstrating His power to take our insufficiency and transform it into overflowing grace, satisfying our deepest spiritual hunger and thirst for righteousness ([Matthew 5:6](/matthew/5-6 "Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness")).

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 14:19

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to [his] disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

Luke 6:41

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Luke 24:41

And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

Luke 24:42

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

John 21:5

Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

John 21:8

And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

John 21:9

As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.