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Mark 6:33

ESV Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
NIV But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
NASB The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them.
CSB but many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.
NLT But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them.
KJV And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
NKJV But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him.

What does Mark 6:33 mean?

The Gospel writers, like most ancients, are not as specific about times and places as modern readers would prefer. It's likely Jesus and the Twelve left from Capernaum. This is where Peter, Andrew, James, and John live, and where Jesus makes his ministry center. Luke 9:10 says Jesus took them to Bethsaida. This agrees with Matthew 14:22, as Bethsaida is on the other side of the Jordan River, which both feeds and drains the Sea of Galilee.

The plain of Bethsaida easily fits the description of a "desolate" place (Mark 6:32), since the Greek word erēmon refers to an area which is uncultivated, lonely, or secluded. This is why the same place can also be said to contain green grass (Mark 6:39). However, Mark 6:45, which describes the return home, seems to infer Bethsaida is "on the other side" of the desolate place.

Most likely, Jesus meant for the Twelve to go from the plain to Bethsaida to get the boat, then continue to the other side of the Sea toward Capernaum (John 6:16–17).

Capernaum is only about six miles away from Bethsaida, so it's reasonable that some of the people can quickly cover the distance and arrive before the Twelve have a chance to row to Bethsaida, moor the boat, and walk to the plain. It's also possible that "got there ahead of them" means "anticipated where they were going." The parallel passages in Matthew 14:13, Luke 9:11, and John 6:2 say the people "followed" Jesus. It's likely that some men ran quickly and made it there first while others followed behind.

Jesus has been a victim of His own success since the day He freed the demon-possessed man in the synagogue and healed Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:21–34). Now the crowd recognizes individual members of the Twelve as well. The Twelve are looking forward to some rest after a busy missions trip, but the success of that very mission leaves the people wanting more.
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