I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now 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.
- BSB “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already 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 9:36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
- Mic 7:19He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
- Ps 103:13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
- Ps 145:15The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
- Matt 20:34So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
- Luke 7:13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
- Matt 14:14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
- Heb 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- Heb 5:2Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
- Mark 5:19Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
- Mark 6:34And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
- Mark 9:22And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
- Mark 1:41And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
- Matt 6:32–33(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
- Matt 4:2–4And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
- Luke 15:20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
- Ps 145:8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
- Heb 2:17Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
- John 4:30–34Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
- John 4:6–8Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.