Mark 8:1

1 In those days, there being again a great crowd, and they having nothing that they could eat, having called his disciples to [him], he says to them,

Mark 8:1 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 8:1

In those days
The Ethiopic version reads, on that day; as if it was on the same day that the deaf man was healed; and so it might be; and on the third day from Christ's coming into those parts; and so is very properly expressed, "in those days"; see ( Mark 7:31 ) , compared with the following verse:

the multitude being very great:
for the number of men that ate, when the following miracle was wrought, were about four thousand; see ( Mark 8:9 ) . The Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions add, "again"; referring to the former miracle of the five thousand, who were fed with five loaves, and two fishes, ( Mark 6:44 ) .

And having nothing to eat;
what they might have brought with them being expended, and they in a desert, where nothing was to be had, nor bought for money:

Jesus called his disciples to him, and saith unto them;
(See Gill on Matthew 15:32).

Mark 8:1 In-Context

1 In those days, there being again a great crowd, and they having nothing that they could eat, having called his disciples to [him], he says to them,

2 I have compassion on the crowd, because they have stayed with me already three days and they have not anything they can eat,

3 and if I should dismiss them to their home fasting, they will faint on the way; for some of them are come from far.

4 And his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to satisfy these with bread here in a desert place?

5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.