Translation commentary on Mark 8:19

Exegesis:

This question refers to the first feeding of the multitude, narrated in 6.41-44.

eklasa (cf. 8.6; in 6.41 kataklaō) ‘I broke.’

kophinous klasmatōn plēreis ‘baskets full of pieces.’

kophinos (cf. 6.43) ‘basket.’

klasma (cf. 6.43) ‘piece,’ ‘broken piece.’

plērēs (cf. 4.28; in 6.43 the genuine text is plērōmata) ‘full.’

Translation:

If the first two clauses of verse 19 are taken as the object of the verb ‘remember,’ it may be necessary to change the order in order to place the principal clause first, e.g. ‘do you not remember how many baskets full of broken pieces you took up when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand?’

Terms for broke, loaves, baskets, and take up should agree with those used in the previous context, 6.41-43.

Five thousand may need to be translated as ‘five thousand men,’ since many languages require such an element with numerals. Similarly, twelve may require expansion to ‘twelve baskets’ or ‘we took up twelve baskets.’

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 8:19

8:19a

In this verse Jesus referred to the story in 6:30–44 about how he fed five thousand men.

I broke the five loaves for the five thousand: This phrase indicates that Jesus divided or tore five small loaves of bread into pieces to feed five thousand men (6:44). See how you translated broke in 6:41.

the five loaves: The phrase the five loaves refers to five units or pieces of bread. The loaves were probably in a round shape, like rolls or buns. See how you translated the five loaves in 6:38.

8:19b

how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect: This question emphasizes the fact that Jesus multiplied the bread to feed the crowd. The disciples picked up leftover pieces and filled baskets with them. See how you referred to “basketfuls” in 6:43.

General Comment on 8:19a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of these two verse parts. For example:

19bHow many baskets of leftovers did you pick up 19awhen I fed those five thousand people with only five small loaves of bread?

If you do reverse the order of the verse parts here in 8:19, you should follow the same type of reordering for 8:20.

8:19c

“Twelve,” they answered: The disciples answered Jesus’ question with the number Twelve. It refers to the number of baskets that the disciples filled with the bread and fish that remained after the people ate. In some languages it may be more natural to translate the disciples’ answer with a complete sentence:

They told him, “We filled twelve baskets.”

they answered: The Berean Standard Bible places the words they answered after the disciples’ reply. In Greek these words come before the reply. Place them where it is natural in your language.

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