Mark 6:30-52

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.
31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and 1they had no leisure even to eat.
32 2And they went away in 3the boat to a desolate place by themselves.
33 Now many saw them going and 4recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
34 When he went ashore he 5saw a great crowd, and 6he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late.
36 7Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."
37 But he answered them, 8"You give them something to eat." And 9they said to him, 10"Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii[a] worth of bread and give it to them to eat?"
38 And he said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they had found out, they said, 11"Five, and two fish."
39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.
41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he 12looked up to heaven and 13said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.
42 And they all ate and were satisfied.
43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.
44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Jesus Walks on the Water

45 14Immediately he 15made his disciples get into 16the boat and go before him to the other side, 17to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
46 And after he had taken leave of them, 18he went up on the mountain to pray.
47 And when 19evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land.
48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about 20the fourth watch of the night[b] he came to them, walking on the sea. 21He meant to pass by them,
49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out,
50 for they all saw him and 22were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, 23"Take heart; it is I. 24Do not be afraid."
51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,
52 for 25they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts 26were hardened.

Cross References 26

  • 1. Mark 3:20
  • 2. For ver. 32-44, see Matthew 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13; [Mark 8:2-9]
  • 3. See Mark 3:9
  • 4. ver. 54
  • 5. [Matthew 9:36]
  • 6. [Matthew 9:36]
  • 7. ver. 45; [Matthew 15:23]
  • 8. [2 Kings 4:42-44]
  • 9. [John 6:7]
  • 10. [Num. 11:13, 21, 22]
  • 11. Mark 8:19
  • 12. Mark 7:34; John 11:41; John 17:1
  • 13. Mark 8:7; Mark 14:22; 1 Samuel 9:13; Matthew 26:26; Luke 24:30; [1 Corinthians 14:16]
  • 14. For ver. 45-51, see Matthew 14:22-32; John 6:15-21
  • 15. [Matthew 8:18]
  • 16. ver. 32
  • 17. Mark 8:22; [Luke 9:10]
  • 18. Luke 6:12; Luke 9:28; [Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16]
  • 19. [Mark 13:35]
  • 20. [See ver. 47 above]
  • 21. [Luke 24:28]
  • 22. [Luke 24:37]
  • 23. Matthew 17:7; [Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 41:13; Isaiah 43:1, 2; John 16:33]
  • 24. Matthew 17:7; [Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 41:13; Isaiah 43:1, 2; John 16:33]
  • 25. Mark 8:17-21
  • 26. John 12:40; Romans 11:7; 2 Corinthians 3:14; See Mark 3:5

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
  • [b]. That is, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.