Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave the order to depart to the other side.
- BSB When Jesus saw a large crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the sea.
- NKJV And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.
- NASB Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea.
- NLT When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.
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
Seeing the great crowds, Jesus orders his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. He withdraws from the press of the multitude to continue his mission.
Overview
Matthew records Jesus' decision to depart amid surging crowds, leading into the calming of the storm and the deliverance of the demoniacs. The move shows Jesus directing his own ministry rather than being driven by popular demand. It also sets the stage for two further demonstrations of his authority over nature and the powers of darkness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Luke 8:22Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
- Luke 4:42–43And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
- Mark 4:35And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
- John 6:15When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
- Matt 14:22And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
- Mark 8:13And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.
- Mark 5:21And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.
- Mark 1:35–38And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
- Matt 8:1When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
- Mark 6:45And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 8:18 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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