Mark 6:32

Modern

So they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary place.

Traditional

And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

Literal

And they went away in the boat to a wilderness place by themselves.

Latin

Et ascendentes in navim, abierunt in desertum locum seorsum.

Greek

English

So they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary place.

Come with me: Jesus and the disciples likely traveled north along the western shore of the Sea of Galilee toward Bethsaida (Luke 9:10). As they moved, the crowds could still see them along the shore.
many people: The large crowds show the success of the apostles' mission and the greatness of Jesus, whom the apostles represented.

The disciples finish their mission (6:6–13, 30–34). Then the story of feeding the 5,000 follows (6:35–44; see also Matthew 14:13–21; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–15). The feeding of the 4,000 is different enough to show these were two separate events (see Mark 8:1–10).

Theme notes and profiles

Mark 8:2–9
“I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
Mark 4:36
After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him.
Mark 6:45
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
Mark 3:9
Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him.
John 6:5–13
When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”
Matthew 14:13–21
When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.
Luke 9:10–17
Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida.