Mark 3:9

9 And he told his disciples that a small boat should stand ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not press upon him.

Mark 3:9 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 3:9

And he spake unto his disciples
In an authoritative way; he ordered and commanded them,

that a small ship should wait on him:
that a boat should be got ready, be near at hand, and attend him, who was on shore; that he might go into it, should there be any occasion for it; and from thence preach to the people:

because of the multitude;
which came from the above parts, and all together made a very numerous body of people:

lest they should throng him;
crowd, press, afflict, and distress, and make him uneasy, that he could not be able to stand conveniently, and preach to them: so that should this be the case, as it was very likely it would, having a small vessel near the shore, he could go into it, and free himself from such an inconvenience.

Mark 3:9 In-Context

7 And Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd from Galilee followed [him]. And from Judea

8 and from Jerusalem and from Idumea and the other side of the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon a great crowd came to him [because they] heard all that he was doing.

9 And he told his disciples that a small boat should stand ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not press upon him.

10 For he had healed many, so that all those who {were suffering from diseases} pressed about him in order that they could touch him.

11 And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, were falling down before him and crying out, saying, "You are the Son of God!"