Mark Chapter 8 · Verse 6
And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
παρήγγειλεν
he commanded
G3853
παρήγγειλεν
he commanded
Strong's:
G3853
Word #:
2 of 26
to transmit a message, i.e., (by implication) to enjoin
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὄχλῳ
the people
G3793
ὄχλῳ
the people
Strong's:
G3793
Word #:
4 of 26
a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot
ἐπὶ
on
G1909
ἐπὶ
on
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
6 of 26
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γῆς·
the ground
G1093
γῆς·
the ground
Strong's:
G1093
Word #:
8 of 26
soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
9 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
εὐχαριστήσας
and gave thanks
G2168
εὐχαριστήσας
and gave thanks
Strong's:
G2168
Word #:
14 of 26
to be grateful, i.e., (actively) to express gratitude (towards); specially, to say grace at a meal
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
16 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐδίδου
gave
G1325
ἐδίδου
gave
Strong's:
G1325
Word #:
17 of 26
to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτοῦ
G846
αὐτοῦ
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
20 of 26
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
παρέθηκαν
set before
G3908
παρέθηκαν
set before
Strong's:
G3908
Word #:
22 of 26
to place alongside, i.e., present (food, truth); by implication, to deposit (as a trust or for protection)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
23 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
παρέθηκαν
set before
G3908
παρέθηκαν
set before
Strong's:
G3908
Word #:
24 of 26
to place alongside, i.e., present (food, truth); by implication, to deposit (as a trust or for protection)
Historical Context
This feeding occurred in the Decapolis region (Mark 7:31), predominantly Gentile territory east of the Sea of Galilee. The crowd had remained with Jesus three days (v. 2), suggesting Gentile eagerness to hear Jewish teaching—remarkable given first-century Jewish-Gentile tensions. The disciples' distribution role recalls OT manna provision (Exodus 16), where Moses mediated God's bread to Israel. Early church fathers saw these two feeding miracles (5,000 and 4,000) as symbols of gospel proclamation to Jews and Gentiles respectively.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus' thanksgiving before the miracle demonstrate that gratitude should precede, not follow, God's provision?
- What does the disciples' role as distributors reveal about how Christ works through His church to feed spiritually hungry people?
- How do the two feeding miracles (Jewish and Gentile audiences) prefigure the gospel's universal scope?
Analysis & Commentary
He commanded the people to sit down on the ground—Jesus orders (παραγγέλλω, parangellō) the crowd, demonstrating His authority over the multitude. He took the seven loaves, and gave thanks (εὐχαριστήσας, eucharistēsas)—the same verb from which we derive 'Eucharist,' signifying grateful acknowledgment of God's provision. Jesus models dependence on the Father even in miraculous acts.
He brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them—the pattern mirrors the feeding of the 5,000 (Mark 6:41) and the Last Supper (14:22), establishing Jesus as the true Bread who multiplies provision through His servants. The disciples function as mediators of Christ's abundance, foreshadowing the church's sacramental ministry. This second feeding (4,000 in Gentile Decapolis vs. 5,000 in Jewish Galilee) demonstrates that Jesus' messianic provision extends beyond ethnic Israel to all nations.