“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.
Parallel translations
- KJV I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me 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 for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Mic 7:19He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
- Ps 103:13Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.
- Ps 145:15The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season.
- Matt 20:34Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.
- Luke 7:13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Don’t cry.”
- Matt 14:14Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
- Heb 4:15For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.
- Heb 5:2The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness.
- Mark 5:19He didn’t allow him, but said to him, “Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.”
- Mark 6:34Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
- Mark 9:22Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.”
- Mark 1:41Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.”
- Matt 6:32–33For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
- Matt 4:2–4When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.
- Luke 15:20“He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
- Ps 145:8Yahweh is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.
- Heb 2:17Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
- John 4:30–34They went out of the city, and were coming to him.
- John 4:6–8Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired 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.