Notice the Master's tender considerateness, Mark 8:1-9. He would not have the people faint on their way home. There are distinct differences between this miracle and the feeding of the five thousand. Most of these are evident to the English reader, but that between the baskets used for the fragments is clear only from the original-those used in the case of the five thousand being quite different from the large ones used here, Mark 8:20; Matthew 15:37. Our Lord never repeats His work.
The Savior sighed in the previous chapter over physical need; here He sighs over moral obtuseness, Mark 8:10-21. The language is very strong, and gives a glimpse into the Redeemer's heart. Had the Pharisees been as willing to discern the signs of the age as to read the weather, they must have been able to recognize Him and His claims; but their foolish heart was darkened. Having sighed over the hard-heartedness of the Pharisees, might He not equally have done so over the obtuseness of the Twelve? They thought that He was referring to their carelessness in omitting to take bread. How little they realized that the cause lay far deeper! Let us be quick to read the divine intention in very simple incidents, and to learn that all God's past dealings contain lessons for the present! [source]
Chapter Summary: Mark 8
1Jesus feeds the people miraculously; 10refuses to give a sign to the Pharisees; 14admonishes his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod; 22gives a blind man his sight; 27acknowledges that he is the Jesus who should suffer and rise again; 34and exhorts to patience in persecution for the profession of the gospel
Greek Commentary for Mark 8:7
A few small fishes [ιχτυδια ολιγα] Mark mentions them last as if they were served after the food, but not so Matthew 15:34. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 8:7
Acts 28:2Showed us [παρειχαν] Imperfect active of παρεχω parechō with αν ̇an instead of ον ̇on as ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7 (Robertson, Grammar, p. 339). It was their habit on this occasion, Luke means, they kept on showing. No common kindness (ου την τυχουσαν πιλαντρωπιαν ou tēn tuchousan philanthrōpian). The old word πιλαντρωπια philanthrōpia (πιλος philos αντρωπος anthrōpos), love of mankind, occurs in the N.T. only here and Titus 3:4 (adverb in Acts 27:3). See note on Acts 19:11 for this use of ου την τυχουσαν ou tēn tuchousan “not the kindness that happens every day.” They were not “wreckers” to take advantage of the calamity. They kindled a fire The only N.T. example and Acts 28:3 of the old word πυρα pura (from πυρ pur fire), a pile of burning fuel (sticks). First aorist active participle of απτω haptō to set fire to, to kindle. Cf. αναπτω anaptō in Luke 12:49. Received us all (προσελαβοντο παντας ημας proselabonto pantas hēmās). Second aorist middle (indirect indicative of προσλαμβανω proslambanō They took us all to themselves (cf. Acts 18:26). The present Second perfect active participle (intransitive) of επιστημι ephistēmi “the rain that stood upon them” (the pouring rain). Only in Luke and Paul in N.T. [source]
2 John 1:5Lady [κυρια] Vocative case and in the same sense as in 2 John 1:1.As though I wrote (ως γραπων hōs graphōn). Common idiom ως hōs with the participle (present active) for the alleged reason.New As in 1 John 2:7., which see.We had (ειχαμεν eichamen). Imperfect active (late α ̇a form like ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7) of εχω echō and note ειχετε eichete with απ αρχης ap' archēs in 1 John 2:7. Not literary plural, John identifying all Christians with himself in this blessing.That we love one another Either a final clause after ερωτω erōtō as in John 17:15 or an object clause in apposition with εντολην entolēn like 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:23 and like 2 John 1:6. [source]
2 John 1:5New [καινην] As in 1 John 2:7., which see.We had (ειχαμεν eichamen). Imperfect active (late α ̇a form like ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7) of εχω echō and note ειχετε eichete with απ αρχης ap' archēs in 1 John 2:7. Not literary plural, John identifying all Christians with himself in this blessing.That we love one another Either a final clause after ερωτω erōtō as in John 17:15 or an object clause in apposition with εντολην entolēn like 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:23 and like 2 John 1:6. [source]
2 John 1:5We had [ειχαμεν] Imperfect active (late α ̇a form like ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7) of εχω echō and note ειχετε eichete with απ αρχης ap' archēs in 1 John 2:7. Not literary plural, John identifying all Christians with himself in this blessing. [source]
Revelation 9:8They had [ειχαν] Imperfect active, late form as in Mark 8:7 in place of the usual ειχον eichon hair of women That is long hair (1 Corinthians 11:15), with no reference to matters of sex at all, for αντρωπων anthrōpōn just before is used, not ανδρων andrōn (men as distinct from women). Perhaps the antennae of the locust were unusually long. [source]
What do the individual words in Mark 8:7 mean?
Andthey hadsmall fisha fewhaving blessedthemHe orderedalsotheseto be set before [them]
Greek Commentary for Mark 8:7
Mark mentions them last as if they were served after the food, but not so Matthew 15:34. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 8:7
Imperfect active of παρεχω parechō with αν ̇an instead of ον ̇on as ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7 (Robertson, Grammar, p. 339). It was their habit on this occasion, Luke means, they kept on showing. No common kindness (ου την τυχουσαν πιλαντρωπιαν ou tēn tuchousan philanthrōpian). The old word πιλαντρωπια philanthrōpia (πιλος philos αντρωπος anthrōpos), love of mankind, occurs in the N.T. only here and Titus 3:4 (adverb in Acts 27:3). See note on Acts 19:11 for this use of ου την τυχουσαν ou tēn tuchousan “not the kindness that happens every day.” They were not “wreckers” to take advantage of the calamity. They kindled a fire The only N.T. example and Acts 28:3 of the old word πυρα pura (from πυρ pur fire), a pile of burning fuel (sticks). First aorist active participle of απτω haptō to set fire to, to kindle. Cf. αναπτω anaptō in Luke 12:49. Received us all (προσελαβοντο παντας ημας proselabonto pantas hēmās). Second aorist middle (indirect indicative of προσλαμβανω proslambanō They took us all to themselves (cf. Acts 18:26). The present Second perfect active participle (intransitive) of επιστημι ephistēmi “the rain that stood upon them” (the pouring rain). Only in Luke and Paul in N.T. [source]
Vocative case and in the same sense as in 2 John 1:1.As though I wrote (ως γραπων hōs graphōn). Common idiom ως hōs with the participle (present active) for the alleged reason.New As in 1 John 2:7., which see.We had (ειχαμεν eichamen). Imperfect active (late α ̇a form like ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7) of εχω echō and note ειχετε eichete with απ αρχης ap' archēs in 1 John 2:7. Not literary plural, John identifying all Christians with himself in this blessing.That we love one another Either a final clause after ερωτω erōtō as in John 17:15 or an object clause in apposition with εντολην entolēn like 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:23 and like 2 John 1:6. [source]
As in 1 John 2:7., which see.We had (ειχαμεν eichamen). Imperfect active (late α ̇a form like ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7) of εχω echō and note ειχετε eichete with απ αρχης ap' archēs in 1 John 2:7. Not literary plural, John identifying all Christians with himself in this blessing.That we love one another Either a final clause after ερωτω erōtō as in John 17:15 or an object clause in apposition with εντολην entolēn like 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:23 and like 2 John 1:6. [source]
Imperfect active (late α ̇a form like ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7) of εχω echō and note ειχετε eichete with απ αρχης ap' archēs in 1 John 2:7. Not literary plural, John identifying all Christians with himself in this blessing. [source]
Imperfect active, late form as in Mark 8:7 in place of the usual ειχον eichon hair of women That is long hair (1 Corinthians 11:15), with no reference to matters of sex at all, for αντρωπων anthrōpōn just before is used, not ανδρων andrōn (men as distinct from women). Perhaps the antennae of the locust were unusually long. [source]