Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
Parallel translations
- WEB He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass.
- KJV And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
- BSB Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit in groups on the green grass.
- NKJV Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.
- NASB And He ordered them all to recline by groups on the green grass.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus arranged the crowd in orderly groups on the grass. The detail shows His authority and the deliberate, public nature of the miracle.
Overview
Seating the multitude in groups allowed for orderly distribution and made the miracle unmistakable to all. The mention of green grass marks the springtime near Passover, the season of God's provision. The scene recalls the Lord who makes His sheep lie down in green pastures (Psalm 23:2).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 1 Cor 14:40Let all things be done decently and in order.
- 1 Cor 14:33for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
- Matt 15:35He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;
- Esth 1:5–6When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
- 1 Kgs 10:5the food of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his officials, their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to Yahweh’s house; there was no more spirit in her.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 6:39 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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