Mark 3:9

9 And he said to his disciples that a little boat may wait on him, because of the multitude, that they may 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 withdrew with his disciples unto the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea,

8 and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon -- a great multitude -- having heard how great things he was doing, came unto him.

9 And he said to his disciples that a little boat may wait on him, because of the multitude, that they may not press upon him,

10 for he did heal many, so that they threw themselves on him, in order to touch him -- as many as had plagues;

11 and the unclean spirits, when they were seeing him, were falling down before him, and were crying, saying -- `Thou art the Son of God;'