Mark 6:17-56 ▼

17 For Herod (heroic) himself had ordered that John (YHWH is gracious) be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.

18 For John (YHWH is gracious) had been telling Herod (heroic), “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!

19 So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,

20 because Herod (heroic) feared John (YHWH is gracious) and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.

21 On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod (heroic) held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee (circuit).

22 When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod (heroic) and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.

23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!

24 Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request? And her mother answered, “The head of John (YHWH is gracious) the Baptist.

25 At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John (YHWH is gracious) the Baptist on a platter immediately.

26 The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.

27 So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.

28 The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

29 When John’s disciples (pupils) heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

30 Meanwhile, the apostles (sent ones) gathered around Jesus (YHWH saves) and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

31 And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary (wilderness) place, and let us rest for a while. For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

32 So they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary (wilderness) place.

33 But many people saw them leaving and recognized them. They ran together on foot from all the towns and arrived before them.

34 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 {didaskein} them many things.

35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples (pupils) came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late.

36 Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.

37 But Jesus told them, “You⁺ give them something to eat. They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii (days’ wages) to give all of them bread to eat?

38 “Go and see (behold) how many loaves you⁺ have, He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.

39 Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit in groups on the green grass.

40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples (pupils) to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

42 They all ate and were satisfied,

43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

44 And there were five thousand men who had eaten the loaves.

45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples (pupils) get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida (fishing house), while He dismissed the crowd.

46 After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray.

47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.

48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night (between three and six in the morning), Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

49 but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost—

50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.

51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded,

52 for they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and moored the boat.

54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus

55 and ran through that whole region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was.

56 And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces (town square) and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.