A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them.
Parallel translations
- WEB They had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also.
- KJV And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
- BSB They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.
- NKJV They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.
- NASB They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He told the disciples to serve these as well.
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
A few small fish are also blessed and distributed. Jesus brings even modest resources under his blessing.
Overview
As with the loaves, Jesus gives thanks before distributing, modeling gratitude to the Father as the source of every good gift. The fish supplement the meal, showing the fullness of his provision. Nothing offered to Christ is too small for him to use and multiply for others' good.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Matt 14:19He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
- Luke 24:41–42While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
- John 21:5Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
- John 21:8–9But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.
- Luke 6:41Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?
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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 8:7 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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