Mark 8 · Verse 4

Mark 8:4

And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
Mark 8:4, King James Version

Mark 8:4 in other translations

BSBHis disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could anyone find enough bread to feed all these people?”
WEBHis disciples answered him, “From where could one satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?”
ASVAnd his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?
YLTAnd his disciples answered him, ‘Whence shall any one be able these here to feed with bread in a wilderness?'
DARBYAnd his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to satisfy these with bread here in a desert place?
BBEAnd his disciples said in answer, How will it be possible to get enough bread for these men here in a waste place?
WebsterAnd his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

What does Mark 8:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?--Though the question here is the same as when He fed the five thousand, they evidently now meant no more by it than that they had not the means of feeding the multitude; modestly leaving the Lord to decide what was to be done. And this will the more appear from His not now trying them, as before, by saying, "They need not depart, give ye them to eat"; but simply asking what they had, and then giving His directions.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4.

(o) "From whence" Mk 6:36,37

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 etc. - See on Mat 14:14 (note); Mat 15:35.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 8:1-10

Our Lord Jesus encouraged the meanest to come to him for life and grace. Christ knows and considers our frames. The bounty of Christ is always ready; to show that, he repeated this miracle. His favours are renewed, as our wants and necessities are. And those need not fear want, who have Christ to live upon by faith, and do so with thanksgiving.

Read the full comment on Mark 8:1-10 →

Mark 8:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
ἀπεκρίθησανapekrithēsanansweredG611
αὐτῷautōHimG846
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
πόθενpothenFrom whereG4159
τούτουςtoutoustheseG3778
δυνήσεταίdunēsetaiwill be ableG1410
τιςtisanyoneG5100
ὧδεhōdehereG5602
χορτάσαιchortasaito satisfyG5526
ἄρτωνartōnwith breadG740
ἐπ᾽ep᾽inG1909
ἐρημίας;erēmiasthis desolate place?G2047

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 8:4

  • Mark 6:52

    For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

  • Matthew 15:33

    And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

  • Psalms 78:19-20

    Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?

  • Mark 6:36-37

    Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

  • Numbers 11:21-23

    And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them? And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

  • John 6:7-9

    Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

  • 2 Kings 7:2

    Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

  • 2 Kings 4:42-44

    And there came a man from Baal–shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat. And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
From.
6:36,37,52; Nu 11:21-23; 2Ki 4:42-44; 7:2; Ps 78:19,20; Mt 15:33
Joh 6:7-9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 8:3

    And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

  • Mark 8:4

    And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

  • Mark 8:5

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

Read all of Mark 8

Mark 8:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y sus discípulos le respondieron: ¿De dónde podrá alguien hartar á estos de pan aquí en el desierto?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et ses disciples lui répondirent: D’où pourra-t-on les rassasier de pain, ici, dans le désert?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und seine Jünger antworteten ihm: Woher wird jemand diese hier in der Einöde mit Brot sättigen können?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et responderunt ei discipuli sui: Unde illos quis poterit saturare panibus in solitudine?