And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
Parallel translations
- WEB “When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Seven.”
- BSB “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said.
- NKJV “Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?” And they said, “Seven.”
- NASB “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they *said to Him, “Seven.”
- NLT “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?” “Seven,” they said.
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
He recalls the seven baskets left after feeding the four thousand. A second proof of his more-than-sufficient provision.
Overview
Both feedings together testify that Jesus abundantly supplies for Jew and Gentile alike. The disciples correctly recite the numbers yet have not grasped their meaning. Jesus is leading them to see that the One who multiplies bread need never be limited by their lack.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Matt 15:34–38And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
- Mark 8:1–9In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
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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 8:20 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.