Mark 8:3

3 If I were to send them home hungry, they would faint on the way, some of them having come a great distance."

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 About that time there was again an immense crowd, and they found themselves with nothing to eat. So He called His disciples to Him.

2 "My heart yearns over the people," He said; "for this is now the third day they have remained with me, and they have nothing to eat.

3 If I were to send them home hungry, they would faint on the way, some of them having come a great distance."

4 "Where can we possibly get bread here in this remote place to satisfy such a crowd?" answered His disciples.

5 "How many loaves have you?" He asked. "Seven," they said.