Mark 6:56

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(56) Or country.—Better, as before in Mark 6:36, farms or hamlets. The three words form almost an exhaustive list of the various grades of aggregate human habitations.

In the streets.—Better, in the market-places.

The border of his garment.—Better, the hem, or fringe. See Note on Matthew 9:20.

Were made whole.—The Greek tense implies an event frequently recurring.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:45-56 The church is often like a ship at sea, tossed with tempests, and not comforted: we may have Christ for us, yet wind and tide against us; but it is a comfort to Christ's disciples in a storm, that their Master is in the heavenly mount, interceding for them. And no difficulties can hinder Christ's appearance for his people, when the set time is come. He silenced their fears, by making himself known to them. Our fears are soon satisfied, if our mistakes are set right, especially our mistakes as to Christ. Let the disciples have their Master with them, and all is well. It is for want of rightly understanding Christ's former works, that we view his present works as if there never were the like before. If Christ's ministers now could cure people's bodily diseases, what multitudes would flock after them! It is sad to think how much more most care about their bodies than about their souls.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The border of his garment - Compare the notes at Matthew 9:20.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

56. and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment—having heard, no doubt, of what the woman with the issue of blood experienced on doing so (Mr 5:25-29), and perhaps of other unrecorded cases of the same nature.

and as many as touched him—or "it"—the border of His garment.

were made whole—All this they continued to do and to experience while our Lord was in that region. The time corresponds to that mentioned (Joh 7:1), when He "walked in Galilee," instead of appearing in Jerusalem at the passover, "because the Jews," that is, the rulers, "sought to kill Him"—while the people sought to enthrone Him!

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 6:53"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country,.... Whether in smaller towns, or larger cities, or the fields, where were houses, here and there one:

they laid the sick in the streets; or "markets", in any public places:

and besought him that they but might touch the border of his garment; if they might not be admitted to touch his person, or he did not choose to lay his hands on them:

and as many as touched him; or "it", the border of his garment, as they desired:

were made whole; of whatsoever sickness, or disease, they were afflicted with; See Gill on Matthew 14:36.

Geneva Study Bible

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched {a} him were made whole.

(a) Or the hem of his garment.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 6:56. κώμας, πόλεις, ἀγρούς: point probably to a wider sphere of activity than the plain of Gennesaret. This was practically the close of the healing ministry, in which the expectation and faith of the people were wound pp to the highest pitch.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

56. but the border of his garment] The numbers that pressed upon Him seemed almost too large for Him to be able to heal them singly by laying His hands upon them, therefore many begged that they might be allowed to touch if it were but the border of His garment. Comp. above, Mark 5:27. Soon after followed the ever memorable discourse so strikingly in accordance with the present Passover-season in the synagogue of Capernaum respecting “the Bread of Life” (John 6:22-65).

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 6:56. [Ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς, in the streets [or the fora]) where they would have the greater certainty of meeting Him, and where the greatest number might obtain relief at once.—V. g.]—Κἂν) This particle is compounded here, not of καὶ and ἐὰν, as it is usually, but of καὶ and ἂν, as in 2 Corinthians 11:16. Comp. note on Chrys. de Sacerd., p. 459.—ἅψωνται, they might touch) after the example of the woman with the issue of blood: ch. Mark 5:27.—αὐτοῦ) τοῦ κρασπέδου.

Mark 6:56

Vincent's Word Studies

Peculiar to Mark.

In the streets (ἀγοραῖς)

Rightly, Rev., market-places. See on Matthew 11:16.

Border

See on Matthew 9:20.