Mark 8:1–9

The Feeding of Four Thousand

8In those days there was^* again a large crowd, and they did not have^* anything they could eat. Summoning the disciples, he said to them, ²“I have compassion on the crowd, because they have remained with me three days already and do not have anything to eat. ³And if I send them away hungry to their homes they will give out on the way, and some of them have come from far away.” ⁴And his disciples answered him, “Where is anyone able to feed these people with bread here in the desert?” ⁵And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” So they said, “Seven.” ⁶And he commanded the crowd to recline for a meal on the ground, and taking the seven loaves, after he^* had given thanks he broke them^* and began giving^a them^* to his disciples so that they could set them^* before them.^* And they set them^* before the crowd. ⁷And they had a few small fish, and after^* giving thanks for them, he said to set these before them also. ⁸And they ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces that were left, seven baskets full. ⁹Now there were about four thousand. And he sent them away.