Mark 8:3
New International Version
If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

New Living Translation
If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.”

English Standard Version
And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”

Berean Standard Bible
If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.”

Berean Literal Bible
And if I shall send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. For some of them are come from afar."

King James Bible
And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

New King James Version
And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.”

New American Standard Bible
And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.”

NASB 1995
“If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.”

NASB 1977
and if I send them away hungry to their home, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a distance.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.”

Amplified Bible
If I send them away to their homes hungry, they will faint [from exhaustion] on the road; because some of them have come a long way.”

Christian Standard Bible
If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance.”

American Standard Version
and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way; and some of them are come from far.

Contemporary English Version
Some of them live a long way from here. If I send them away hungry, they might faint on their way home."

English Revised Version
and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way; and some of them are come from far.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If I send them home before they've eaten, they will become exhausted on the road. Some of them have come a long distance."

Good News Translation
If I send them home without feeding them, they will faint as they go, because some of them have come a long way."

International Standard Version
If I send them away to their homes hungry, they'll faint on the road. Some of them have come a long distance."

Majority Standard Bible
If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.”

NET Bible
If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from a great distance."

New Heart English Bible
If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come a long way."

Webster's Bible Translation
And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for some of them came from a distance.

Weymouth New Testament
If I were to send them home hungry, they would faint on the way, some of them having come a great distance."

World English Bible
If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and if I will let them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way, for certain of them are come from far.”

Berean Literal Bible
And if I shall send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. For some of them are come from afar."

Young's Literal Translation
and if I shall let them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way, for certain of them are come from far.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And if I loose them fasting to their house, they will be relaxed in the way: for some of them have come from far.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And if I shall send them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way; for some of them came from afar off.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And if I were to send them away fasting to their home, they might faint on the way.” For some of them came from far away.

New American Bible
If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.”

New Revised Standard Version
If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great distance.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And if I dismiss them to their homes, while they are fasting, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come from a distance.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And if I send them away fasting to their houses they will faint in the road, for some among them have come from far away.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And if I send them home fasting, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.

Godbey New Testament
If I shall send them away to their homes fasting, they will faint on the road; indeed some of them have come from afar.

Haweis New Testament
and if I send them away fasting to their houses, they will faint on the road; for many of them came from a great distance.

Mace New Testament
if I send them home fasting, they will faint by the way: for some of them are come very far.

Weymouth New Testament
If I were to send them home hungry, they would faint on the way, some of them having come a great distance."

Worrell New Testament
and, if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way; and some of them are from afar."

Worsley New Testament
and if I send them away fasting to their own home, they will faint by the way; for some of them are come from far.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Feeding of the Four Thousand
2“I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.” 4His disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could anyone find enough bread to feed all these people?”…

Cross References
Matthew 15:32
Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”

Matthew 14:15-21
When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” / “They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.” / “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. ...

Mark 6:34-44
When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things. / By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. / Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” ...

John 6:5-13
When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” / But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do. / Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.” ...

Luke 9:12-17
As the day neared its end, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in a desolate place here.” / But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” / (There were about five thousand men.) He told His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” ...

2 Kings 4:42-44
Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. / But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

Exodus 16:3-4
“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!” / Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.

Numbers 11:4-6
Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat? / We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. / But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!”

Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Psalm 78:19-20
They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness? / When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?”

Psalm 132:15
I will bless her with abundant provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.

Isaiah 49:10
They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.

Isaiah 55:1-2
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! / Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.

Ezekiel 34:29
And I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations.

Matthew 6:31-33
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ / For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. / But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.


Treasury of Scripture

And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

Judges 8:4-6
And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them

1 Samuel 14:28-31
Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint…

1 Samuel 30:10-12
But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor…

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Collapse Dismiss Distance Divers Faint Far Fasting Food Great Home Homes Houses Hungry Overcome Way Weariness
Mark 8
1. Jesus feeds the people miraculously;
10. refuses to give a sign to the Pharisees;
14. admonishes his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod;
22. gives a blind man his sight;
27. acknowledges that he is the Jesus who should suffer and rise again;
34. and exhorts to patience in persecution for the profession of the gospel.














If I send them home hungry
This phrase reflects Jesus' deep compassion and concern for the physical needs of the people. The Greek word for "send" (ἀπολύω, apolyō) can also mean to release or let go, indicating a sense of responsibility Jesus feels for the crowd. The term "hungry" (λιμός, limos) is not just a physical state but can symbolize spiritual hunger, a recurring theme in the Gospels where physical needs often parallel spiritual truths. Jesus acknowledges the necessity of addressing both physical and spiritual needs, emphasizing His holistic approach to ministry.

they will faint along the way
The word "faint" (ἐκλύω, ekluo) in Greek suggests a weakening or exhaustion, which can be both physical and spiritual. Historically, the journey home for many in the crowd would have been arduous, often through harsh terrain. This phrase underscores the practical wisdom of Jesus, who understands the limitations of human endurance. It also serves as a metaphor for the spiritual journey, where without sustenance from Christ, believers may falter.

For some of them have come a great distance
This phrase highlights the dedication and commitment of the crowd, who traveled far to hear Jesus. The Greek word for "distance" (πόρρωθεν, porrothen) implies not just physical distance but also the spiritual journey many undertook to seek truth and healing. This reflects the universal call of the Gospel, drawing people from all walks of life and backgrounds. It also serves as a reminder of the lengths to which people will go to encounter the divine, and the responsibility of the Church to meet them with compassion and provision.

(3) For divers of them.--Better, and some of them are (or, are come) from afar. The words are given as spoken by our Lord, and are in the perfect tense.

Verse 3. - For divers of them came from far. These words, as they stand in the Authorized Version, might be supposed to be an observation thrown in by the evangelist himself. But the correct rendering of ἥκασι, is not "came," but have come, or rather, are come and instead of τινὲς γὰρ at the beginning of the clause, the more correct reading is καὶ τινὲς. This change makes the clause almost of necessity to be a part of our Lord's own words going before. It was not until the third day that our Lord interposed with a miracle, when the people were absolutely without food, and would therefore feel more sensibly the blessing as well as the greatness of the miracle. Their extremity was his opportunity.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
If
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

I send
ἀπολύσω (apolysō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 630: From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce.

them
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

home
οἶκον (oikon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3624: A dwelling; by implication, a family.

hungry,
νήστεις (nēsteis)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3523: Fasting, not eating. From the inseparable negative particle ne- and esthio; not eating, i.e. Abstinent from food.

they will faint
ἐκλυθήσονται (eklythēsontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1590: To loose, release, unloose (as a bow-string), relax, enfeeble; pass: To be faint, grow weary. From ek and luo; to relax.

along
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

way.
ὁδῷ (hodō)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3598: A way, road, journey, path. Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress; figuratively, a mode or means.

For
καί (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

some
τινες (tines)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

of them
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

have come
ἥκασιν (hēkasin)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2240: To have come, be present, have arrived. A primary verb; to arrive, i.e. Be present.

a great distance.”
μακρόθεν (makrothen)
Adverb
Strong's 3113: From a (long) distance, afar. Adverb from makros; from a distance or afar.


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