Mark 8:4

4 And his disciples answered to him, Whereof shall a man be able to fill them with loaves here in wilderness?

Mark 8:4 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 8:4

And his disciples answered him
The Syriac version renders it, "say unto him"; and the Persic and Ethiopic, "said unto him"; forgetting the late miracle of feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fishes, when they had now a less number, and more provisions:

from whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the
wilderness?
from what place, and by what ways and means can it be thought, that such a quantity of bread can be got at any rate in a desert, as to satisfy so large a number of hungry men? (See Gill on Matthew 15:33).

Mark 8:4 In-Context

2 I have ruth on the people, for lo! now the third day they abide me, and they have not what to eat; [I have ruth on the company of people, for lo! now by three days they sustain, or abide, me, and have not what they shall eat;]

3 and if I let them go [and if I leave them] fasting into their houses, they shall fail in the way; for some of them came from far.

4 And his disciples answered to him, Whereof shall a man be able to fill them with loaves here in wilderness?

5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? Which said, Seven.

6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the earth. And he took the seven loaves, and did thankings, and brake, and gave to his disciples, that they should set forth. And they setted forth to the people [And they set forth to the company].