9:36a

He was moved with compassion for them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as moved with compassion means “had pity or sympathy.” Jesus understood the people and cared about their problems.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

He felt compassion for them (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
he felt sorry for them (God’s Word)
-or-
he pitied them

You may have an idiom to translate this term. In English, here are some examples:

his heart was filled with pity for them (Good News Translation)
-or-
his heart went out to them

9:36b

because: The word because introduces the reason that Jesus pitied the people. He pitied them because they were harassed.

In some languages, it is more natural to put some of this part of the verse before 9:36a. For example:

aJesus saw that bthe crowds were harassed and helpless. cThey were like sheep without a shepherd. a⌊So⌋ he had compassion for them.

they were harassed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as harassed refers to being oppressed or having troubles.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

they had many difficulties/troubles
-or-
they had many burdens
-or-
people oppressed them

and helpless: The word helpless means that the people “did not have the ability to take care of themselves.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

no one helped them
-or-
they didn’t know where to go for help (New Living Translation (1996))

9:36c

like sheep without a shepherd: This is a simile. In this simile, the crowd is compared to sheep without a shepherd. The way that they are similar is that both are helpless without a leader.

A shepherd leads the sheep to places with food and protects them from wild animals. The people had political and religious leaders, but the leaders were not leading and protecting well.

Here are some other ways to translate this simile:

like sheep with no shepherd

-or-

like sheep who have no one to take care of them

shepherd: The word shepherd means “a person who takes care of sheep and guards them.”

Here is another way to translate this word:

a person who cares for sheep

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