Mark 8

1 In those days [a period of time, an era] the crowd [a large multitude, a great throng] once again became very large [immense, extremely great], and they had nothing [no food, not even a crumb] to eat [to consume, to nourish themselves]. Jesus [the Savior, the Messiah] called [summoned, invited] the disciples [learners, followers] to Him [to His presence, to His side] and said [spoke, uttered words], word study 2 “I have [deep] compassion [pity, sympathy] for this crowd [multitude, large group of people], because they have already [even now] been with Me [persisted, stayed] three [a specific number of] days and have nothing [no food, are hungry] to eat [consume, nourish themselves]. word study 3 If I send them home [without food, fasting] hungry, they will faint [become weak, exhausted] along the way [on the road, during the journey]. For some of them have come [arrived, been present] a great distance [from afar, a long way].” word study 4 His disciples [the learners, followers] replied, “Where [whence, from what source] in this desolate [wilderness, solitary] place could anyone [a person, someone] find enough bread [food, nourishment] to feed [satisfy, fill] all these people [men, crowds]?” word study 5 “How many [inquiring about the quantity] loaves [bread or food] do you have [possess or hold]?” Jesus [the Messiah, Savior] asked [to question or seek information]. “Seven,” they replied [to say or speak]. word study 6 And He instructed [ordered, commanded] the crowd [multitude, large group of people] to sit down [recline, lean back] on the ground [earth, soil]. Then He took [received, accepted] the seven [complete, perfect number] loaves [bread, food], gave thanks [expressed gratitude, was thankful] and broke [shared, distributed] them, and gave them to His disciples [learners, followers] to set before [present, offer to] the people [crowd, multitude]. And they distributed [handed out, served] them to the crowd [large group, assembly]. word study 7 They also had a few [little, small in number] small fish, and Jesus [the Messiah, Savior] blessed [praised, gave thanks for] them and ordered [commanded, instructed] that these be set before [presented to, served to] them as well [also, in addition]. word study 8 The people ate [and were filled, to eat until satisfied] and were satisfied [had enough, to feed or fill with food], and the disciples picked up [took away, lifted up] seven basketfuls [containers, flexible baskets] of broken pieces [fragments, leftovers] that were left over [remaining, a surplus]. word study 9 And about [approximately, nearly] four thousand [a multitude of 4000] men [people, individuals] were present [existing, gathered]. As soon as [when, at the time] Jesus had dismissed [released, sent away] the crowd [them, the multitude], word study 10 He got [straight away, immediately] into the boat [ship, vessel] with [accompanied by, among] His disciples [learners, followers] and went [came, traveled] to the district [region, parts] of [toward, into] Dalmanutha [a place in Palestine, near the Sea of Galilee]. word study 11 Then the Pharisees [a Jewish sect that followed strict religious rules] came and began to argue [dispute, debate] with Jesus, testing [trying, tempting] Him by demanding [seeking, requesting] from Him a sign [miraculous token, indication of divine power] from heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] [trying to get Him to prove Himself, tempting]. word study 12 Jesus sighed deeply [with a groan of frustration] in His spirit [the vital principle or mental disposition of a person] and said, “Why does this generation [people living at the same time] demand [seek after, ask for] a sign [a supernatural indication or token]? Truly [verily, amen] I tell you, no sign [miraculous token] will be given [bestowed, granted] to this generation [those alive today].” word study 13 And He [having left them to themselves] left them, got back [again, once more] into the boat [a vessel for crossing the water], and crossed [departed, went away] to the other side [across the lake, to a different region]. word study 14 Now the disciples [followers of Jesus] had forgotten [neglected, overlooked] to take [receive, accept] bread [food, nourishment], except for [but, only] one [single, solitary] loaf [cake, portion of bread] they had with [accompanied by, among] them in [on, aboard] the boat [ship, vessel]. word study 15 “Watch out [be cautious, beware]!” He cautioned them [gave orders, warned]. “Beware [take heed, be on guard] of the leaven [yeast, corrupting influence] of the Pharisees [strict Jewish sect] and of Herod [the ruler, king].” word study 16 So they began [to reason, to think carefully] to discuss [to ponder, to consider] with one another [mutually, among themselves] the fact [the reality, the truth] that they had [possessed, were in a state of] no [none, a complete lack of] bread [food, sustenance, loaves]. word study 17 Aware of their conversation [knowing their discussion, perceiving their thoughts], Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating [reasoning, discussing] about having no bread [no food, lacking provision]? Do you still not see [perceive, understand] or understand [comprehend, discern]? Do you have [possess, harbor] such hard hearts [hardened, stubborn, unfeeling]? word study 18 ‘Having eyes [to see and perceive], do you not see [look and understand]? And having ears [to hear and obey], do you not hear [listen and comprehend]?’ And do you not remember [recall and bring to mind]? word study 19 When [at that specific point in time] I broke [to break, especially bread] the five loaves [bread or food] for the five thousand, how many basketfuls [small wicker baskets] of broken pieces [fragments] did you collect [to take up or lift]?” “Twelve,” they answered [to say or speak]. word study 20 “And when [at that specific point in time] I broke [divided, shared] the seven [completeness, perfection] loaves [bread, spiritual nourishment] for the four thousand [a large crowd, multitude], how many [what quantity, amount] basketfuls [containers, vessels] of broken pieces [fragments, leftovers] did you collect [gather, take up]?” “Seven [completion, fulfillment],” they said [replied, answered]. word study 21 Then He asked [inquired of, said unto] them, “Do you [yet] still not [completely, utterly] understand [comprehend, discern, to have insight into]?” word study 22 When they arrived [came to, reached] at Bethsaida [a fishing village], some people brought [led, guided] a blind [physically and spiritually unable to see] man and begged [pleaded with, earnestly requested] Jesus to touch [lay hands on, make contact with] him. word study 23 So He took the blind man [physically or spiritually unaware] by the hand [a symbol of power or guidance] and led him [guided him out] out of the village [a small rural town]. Then He spit [an act of healing and restoration] on the man’s eyes [the windows to the soul] and placed His hands [instruments of divine power] on him. “Can you see [perceive or understand] anything [something or someone]?” He asked [inquired with concern]. word study 24 The man looked up [and around] and said, “I can see [behold, perceive] the people [men, human beings], but they look like [as, similar to] trees [a plant with a trunk and branches] walking [moving, living] around [surrounding, encircling].” word study 25 Once again [a second time, moreover] Jesus placed His hands [as a symbol of power and healing] on the man’s eyes [his vision, sight], and when he opened them [looked up, gazed intently] his sight [vision, ability to see] was restored [made whole, healed], and he could see [discerned, looked into] everything [all things] clearly [plainly, with clarity]. word study 26 Jesus sent him home [away from the crowd] and said, “Do not [nor ever, neither] go back [return, enter again] into the village [town, rural area].” word study 27 Then Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] and His disciples went on to the villages [small towns, rural areas] around Caesarea Philippi [a city in Palestine, named after Caesar]. On the way [during their journey, as they traveled], He questioned [asked, inquired of] His disciples: “Who do people [human beings, men and women] say I am [claim me to be, think I am, perceive me as]?” word study 28 They replied, “Some say [the prophet] John the Baptist [who baptizes, preparing for Jesus]; others say [the prophet] Elijah [who returned from heaven]; and still others [one of the former], one of the prophets [a messenger of God, speaking His will].” word study 29 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who [which one, what kind] do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the [anointed, Messiah] Christ [the chosen one, Savior].” word study 30 And Jesus [sharpely, strictly] warned [rebuked, charged] them not to tell [say, speak] anyone [no man, nothing] about [concerning, regarding] Him [having the nature of the Messiah]. word study 31 Then He began [to rule, commenced] to teach them that the Son of Man [the human, a human being] must suffer [experience pain, endure hardship] many things [much, a great amount] and be rejected [disapproved of, repudiated] by the elders [respected leaders, those in authority], chief priests [high-priest, top Jewish leaders], and scribes [scholars, teachers of the law], and that He must be killed [destroyed, taken away] and after three [a specific number of] days rise again [be resurrected, come back to life]. word study 32 He spoke this message [openly, with boldness] quite frankly [with freedom in speaking], and Peter [the rock, a disciple] took Him aside [privately, to Himself] and began [to rule, to commence] to rebuke [to warn, to reprimand] Him. word study 33 But Jesus, turning [to face them, having turned about] and looking [gazing, seeing] at His disciples, rebuked [warned, scolded] Peter and said, “Get behind Me [depart from My presence, go away], Satan [the adversary, the accuser]! For you do not have in mind [think, consider] the things of God [the divine will, God’s nature], but the things of men [human thoughts, worldly desires].” word study 34 Then Jesus called [summoned, invited] the crowd [multitude, large group of people] to Him along with His disciples [learners, followers], and He told them, “If anyone [whoever, any person] wants to come after [follow, accompany] Me, he must [is required to] deny [utterly refuse, disown] himself [his own desires, interests] and take up [lift up, bear] his cross [instrument of sacrifice] and follow [accompany, obey] Me. word study 35 For whoever [desires to preserve] wants to save his life [soul, the breath of life] will lose it, but whoever loses his life [soul, the seat of emotions] for My sake [because of me, on my account] and for the gospel [good news, message of salvation] will save it [preserve, deliver from harm]. word study 36 What does it profit [or benefit, to help] a man [a human being] to gain [acquire, to get] the whole [all] world [an orderly arrangement], yet forfeit [lose] his soul [the breath of life, the seat of emotions and desires]? word study 37 Or [what choice] what can a man [a human being, a person] give [bestow, grant] in exchange [as a trade, a swap] for his [his own] soul [the breath of life, the seat of emotions and desires]? word study 38 If anyone is [frightened of, ashamed before] ashamed of Me and My words [messages, teachings] in this [present, current] adulterous [unfaithful, immoral] and sinful [wrongdoing, wicked] generation [people living at the same time], the Son of Man [the one who came from heaven] will also be [feel regret, be embarrassed] ashamed of him when He comes [arrives, returns] in His Father’s [God’s] glory [honor, praise] with the holy [set apart, dedicated] angels [messengers of God].” word study