Mark 8:2

Mercy and compassion

¹ In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said,

“I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.

³ If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.”

⁴ His disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could anyone find enough bread to feed all these people?”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
KJV: I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
WEB: “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days and have nothing to eat.
ASV: I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat:
DARBY: I have compassion on the crowd, because they have stayed with me already three days and they have not anything they can eat,
BLB: “I have compassion toward the crowd, because already three days they continue with Me and have nothing that they might eat.

ÅB: Jeg ynkes inderlig over folket; for de har alt vært hos meg i tre dager, og de har ikke noe å spise;
OTB: "Jeg har medfølelse med disse menneskene, fordi de har vært med meg i tre dager nå og ikke har noe å spise.
B1930: Jeg ynkes inderlig over folket; for de har alt vært hos mig i tre dager, og de har ikke noget å ete;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Matthew 9:36
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Read in context
Micah 7:19
He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Read in context
Psalms 103:13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Read in context
Psalms 145:15
The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season.
Read in context
Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
Read in context
Mark 6:34
When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
Read in context
Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”
Read in context
Matthew 20:34
Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.
Read in context