“I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
Parallel translations
- WEB “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.
- KJV I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
- NKJV “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
- NASB “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me for three days already and have nothing to eat.
- NLT “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat.
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 expresses heartfelt compassion for the crowd because they have stayed three days without food. His mercy moves him to act.
Overview
The word for compassion denotes a deep, gut-level pity, the same that moved Jesus before the first feeding (Mark 6:34). His concern for their hunger demonstrates that he cares for the whole person. This compassion ultimately drives Jesus to the cross, where he gives himself as the bread of life for a world starving for God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Matt 9:36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Mic 7:19He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.
- Ps 103:13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
- Ps 145:15The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season.
- Matt 20:34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.
- Luke 7:13When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”
- Matt 14:14When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
- Heb 4:15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
- Heb 5:2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.
- Mark 5:19But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”
- Mark 6:34When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
- Mark 9:22“It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
- Mark 1:41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
- Matt 6:32–33For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
- Matt 4:2–4After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.
- Luke 15:20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
- Ps 145:8The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.
- Heb 2:17For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.
- John 4:30–34So they left the town and made their way toward Jesus.
- John 4:6–8Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
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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 8:2 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.