Mark 8:3

3 If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way."

Mark 8:3 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 8:3

And if I send them away fasting to their own houses
Greek, "to their own house", or home; but all the Oriental versions render it as we do, in the plural, "their own houses", or habitations; and it seems from hence that they were now tasting, and at least had had no food all that day, whatever they might have the day before, which it not certain.

They will faint by the way;
for want of food their strength will be exhausted, their animal spirits will fail, their nerves will be loosened, they will not be able to perform their journey, or get to the end of it:

for divers of them came from far;
perhaps some had followed him from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, from whence he came last; and others from Decapolis, through the midst of the borders of which he passed hither; and others from different parts, who had heard of his coming; (See Gill on Matthew 15:32).

Mark 8:3 In-Context

1 In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself, and said to them,

2 "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.

3 If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way."

4 His disciples answered him, "From where will one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?"

5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven."