Mark 8:6

6 And he commanded the crowd to recline for a meal on the ground, and taking the seven loaves, [after he] had given thanks he broke [them] and began giving [them] to his disciples so that they could set [them] before [them]. And they set [them] before the crowd.

Mark 8:6 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 8:6

And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground
(See Gill on Matthew 15:35);

and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake them;
(See Gill on Matthew 15:36);

and gave to his disciples to set before [them],
the multitude,

and they did set [them] before the people;
in which they were obedient to their Lord's commands, though they were so forgetful, unbelieving, and stupid.

Mark 8:6 In-Context

4 And his disciples answered him, "Where is anyone able to feed these [people] with bread here in the desert?"

5 And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" So they said, "Seven."

6 And he commanded the crowd to recline for a meal on the ground, and taking the seven loaves, [after he] had given thanks he broke [them] and began giving [them] to his disciples so that they could set [them] before [them]. And they set [them] before the crowd.

7 And they had a few small fish, and [after] giving thanks for them, he said to set these [before them] also.

8 And they ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces that were left, seven baskets [full].

Footnotes

• [a] *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("had given thanks") which is understood as temporal
• [b] *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [c] The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began giving")
• [d] *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [e] *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [f] *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [g] *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation