Mark 8:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →They likewise recall the feeding of the four thousand: seven large baskets of fragments remained.
What Does Mark 8:20 Mean?
The drill continues with the more recent meal. Again the disciples answer correctly: seven baskets remained after four thousand ate. Mark even preserves two different Greek words for the baskets — small hand-baskets after the five thousand, great hampers after the four thousand — keeping each miracle distinct in the telling.
Twice over, on both sides of the lake, among Jews and among Gentiles, Jesus has proved that scarcity does not constrain him. The arithmetic of grace runs the same direction every time: the leftovers exceed the starting supply. A double witness stands in their own recent memory. The question that follows in the next verse is whether they will finally add it up.
Mark 8:20 in the Original Language
spyris (σπυρίς), 'basket' -- a large hamper, far bigger than the hand-baskets of the earlier feeding.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 8:20
What does Mark 8:20 mean?
They likewise recall the feeding of the four thousand: seven large baskets of fragments remained.