Mark 8:8

So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken [meat] that was left seven baskets.

So {G1161} they did eat {G5315}, and {G2532} were filled {G5526}: and {G2532} they took up {G142} of the broken {G2801} meat that was left {G4051} seven {G2033} baskets {G4711}.

The people ate their fill; and the talmidim took up the leftover pieces, seven large basketsful.

The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

And they ate, and were filled: and they took up, of broken pieces that remained over, seven baskets.

Commentary

Context

This verse concludes the narrative of Jesus' second miraculous feeding of a large multitude, specifically four thousand people, in the Gospel of Mark. It immediately follows Jesus' deep compassion for the hungry crowd who had been with Him for three days (Mark 8:2). The miracle involved seven loaves and a few small fish (Mark 8:6-7). This event closely parallels the earlier feeding of five thousand people (Mark 6:30-44), but with distinct details regarding the number of people, the initial provision, and the quantity of leftovers.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision and Abundance: The core message of Mark 8:8 is God's limitless ability to provide abundantly for His people. The phrase "they were filled" emphasizes complete satisfaction, and the "seven baskets" of leftovers highlight the superabundance of divine provision, far exceeding the initial meager resources.
  • Jesus' Compassion: This miracle stems directly from Jesus' empathy for the physical needs of the hungry crowd, demonstrating that His concern extends beyond spiritual well-being to practical, earthly needs (Mark 8:2).
  • The Significance of Leftovers: The gathering of "seven baskets" of fragments is a crucial detail. It underscores not only the miraculous nature of the feeding but also the principle of not wasting God's provision. The number seven often symbolizes completeness or perfection in biblical contexts.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version's phrase "broken [meat]" refers to the fragments of bread and fish that remained after everyone had eaten. The word "meat" here, common in older English, simply means "food" or "provision," not necessarily animal flesh. The Greek word for "broken" is klasmatōn, emphasizing the *fragments* or *broken pieces* that were carefully collected.

The "baskets" mentioned here are from the Greek word spuris. This is distinct from the kophinos (a smaller, hand-held basket) used in the feeding of the five thousand. A spuris was typically a larger hamper or wicker basket, sometimes even big enough to carry a person (as seen when Paul escaped in one, Acts 9:25). This subtle difference in basket type, combined with the number seven, further accentuates the extraordinary abundance of this particular miracle.

Significance and Application

Mark 8:8 offers powerful lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Provision: This miracle encourages unwavering faith in God's capacity to meet all our needs, both physical and spiritual. Just as Jesus provided for the multitude, He promises to care for His people, reminding us that God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
  • Stewardship and Gratitude: The act of gathering the leftovers teaches the importance of good stewardship—not to waste what God has provided, even in times of abundance. It also fosters gratitude for His generosity.
  • Christ's Sufficiency: Jesus is presented as supremely sufficient to meet the needs of all who come to Him. His power is boundless, and His compassion is profound. The distinct numbers (4,000 people, 7 loaves, 7 baskets) compared to the first feeding (5,000 people, 5 loaves, 12 baskets) may also subtly point to Jesus' ministry extending beyond the Jewish people to embrace the Gentiles, demonstrating His universal love and provision.
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Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 4:42 (4 votes)

    And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

  • 2 Kings 4:44 (4 votes)

    So he set [it] before them, and they did eat, and left [thereof], according to the word of the LORD.

  • Matthew 16:10 (3 votes)

    Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

  • Mark 8:19 (3 votes)

    When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

  • Mark 8:20 (3 votes)

    And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

  • Psalms 145:16 (3 votes)

    Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

  • 2 Kings 4:2 (2 votes)

    And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.