Mark 6:34 Meaning and Explanation
“And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Seeing the great crowd like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus is moved with compassion and teaches them many things.
What Does Mark 6:34 Mean?
Jesus steps from the boat into the crowd that swallowed his day of rest, and what rises in him is not irritation but compassion, a stirring in the depths. He sees past the crush of bodies to the truth: sheep with no shepherd, scattered and unfed. So he begins to teach, giving first the food of the word.
The image reaches back through Scripture, to Moses praying for a shepherd for Israel and to the promise of God himself to shepherd his flock. Here that promise stands on a beach and teaches. Every reader wearied by leaderless wandering may hear it: there is a Shepherd, and his first response to your need is compassion.
Mark 6:34 in the Original Language
splanchnizomai (σπλαγχνίζομαι), 'moved with compassion' -- stirred with pity in the inward parts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 6:34
What does Mark 6:34 mean?
Seeing the great crowd like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus is moved with compassion and teaches them many things.