Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 3:9
And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
9. a small ship ] The life on the sea, in the ship which was now His chief place of instruction in opposition to the synagogue, henceforth had its commencement.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A small ship – Rather a boat. There were properly speaking, no ships on the Sea of Tiberias. This was probably a small boat that belonged to the disciples, in which he could draw off from the shore, and teach the people without being pressed by them.
Lest they should throng him – They pressed upon him in great numbers. He had healed many, and those who were still diseased pressed or crowded on him, so that his labors were interrupted and embarrassed. He therefore withdrew from the multitude, and sought a situation where he might address them to greater advantage.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Mar 3:9
A small ship.
Christ was always willing to accept service
He borrowed a boat, an ass, a grave. He accepted a draught of water from a well, a few fishes from a net, and the money of those women who ministered unto Him. He who loves the Saviour will be surprised to find how many things there are that He can consecrate and that Christ can use. Some persons cannot preach unless they have a proper pulpit, their priestly robe, organ, choir, and other things; but Christ is at home anywhere, and can preach afloat as well as in the synagogue. Note this characteristic of Christ. The late Bishop Selwyn, who was a devoted missionary bishop in New Zealand, said that all a missionary wanted in going about was a blanket and a frying pan. He might have gathered that homely ease from the example of the great Master Himself. (R. Glover.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 9. A small ship] . The lytil boot, Old English MS. It was doubtless something of the boat kind, which probably belonged to some of the disciples. Our Lord was at this time teaching by the sea of Galilee. The word ship is utterly improper in many places of our translation, and tends to mislead the people.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And he spake unto his disciples,…. In an authoritative way; he ordered and commanded them,
that a small ship should wait on him: that a boat should be got ready, be near at hand, and attend him, who was on shore; that he might go into it, should there be any occasion for it; and from thence preach to the people:
because of the multitude; which came from the above parts, and all together made a very numerous body of people:
lest they should throng him; crowd, press, afflict, and distress, and make him uneasy, that he could not be able to stand conveniently, and preach to them: so that should this be the case, as it was very likely it would, having a small vessel near the shore, he could go into it, and free himself from such an inconvenience.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
That a little boat should wait on him ( ). The boat was to keep close (note present tense subjunctive of ) to the shore in constant readiness and move as Jesus did. Whether he needed it or not is not told, but it was there at hand.
Lest they should throng him ( ). Press or crush him. Jesus stayed with the crowds for they needed him. Present subjunctive again.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And He spoke to His disciples,” (kai eipen tois mathetais autou) “And He told His disciples,” or instructed His disciples, who by their former vocation were able to provide a physical need for Him very soon, Mat 4:17-21.
2) “That a small ship should wait on Him,” (hina ploiarion proskartere auto) “That (in order that) a boat should remain near Him,” in readiness for Him, in order that He might speak to them, then get away from the crowds.
3) “Because of the multitude,” (dia ton ochlon) “Because of the crowd,” throng, or multitude that might both hinder Him in His teaching, and others who would hear.
4) “Lest they should throng Him.” (hina me thlibosin auton) “In order that they might not press upon Him, or rush Him, trample Him down.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(9) That a small ship should wait on him.The fact thus mentioned incidentally shows that in what is recorded in Mat. 13:2 our Lord was but having recourse to a practice already familiar.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. A small ship A fishing boat. The Lake of Gennesaret was too small for what is called a ship. Should wait on him To be in readiness to receive him. This keeping a boat in readiness enabled Jesus to let out upon the lake in case the pressure was too great, but it does not appear that the boat was really used. There seems to be no immediate connection with the ship mentioned in Mar 4:1. Should throng him Should press upon him inconveniently with their crowds. So they did on a former occasion, so as to drive him into the desert. Mar 1:45.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And he requested his disciples that a small boat should await on him because of the crowd lest they press in on him, for he had healed many with the result that as many as had diseases pressed in on him that they might touch him.’
It soon became policy to make use of a small boat so that He could preach without people pressing in on Him and touching Him for healing (see Mar 4:1-2). Here we have an important indication that for Him His preaching still takes first place. For the people had discovered that but to touch Him was a way of obtaining relief from their diseases, while He Himself knew that His message was even more important than the healing and that it was exhausting Him.
This particular reminiscence may well be by Peter (see Luk 5:1-12) who in modesty did not wish his part in the matter to be exalted. But here the purpose of it is in order to bring out the size and importunity of the crowds and their urgency in pressing on Him, because of the miracles that He was doing. Here were people being healed at a touch. The time of salvation was here (see Isa 35:3-6, compare Mat 11:4-6).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Miracles of healing:
v. 9. And He spake to His disciples that a small ship should wait on Him because of the multitude, lest they should throng Him.
v. 10. For He had healed many, insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him, as many as had plagues.
v. 11. And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
v. 12. And He straitly charged them that they should not make Him known. So great were the crowds that came to the seaside to see Jesus that He was obliged to take precautions. He gave His disciples instructions that they should have a small boat ready at all times, with the oars, sails, and the necessary provisions in place, that He might use it at once, should necessity so demand. This was rendered unavoidable by the mass of people, for they rushed upon Him in their impetuousness and might have borne Him down. At the same time, His Savior’s love urged Him to perform many miracles of healing, as they pressed upon Him, if only to touch Him. And the Lord permitted it in many cases that the mere touching of His garment or of His person brought healing, for they must realize that the power lay not in the clothing, but in the man. The word here used for sicknesses is very expressive, “scourge. ” Diseases are therefore scourges of God, either in the form of a punishment, or in the form of a merciful chastening, inflicted by God or permitted by Him for the purpose of drawing men nearer to Him. And one of the worst scourges was the possession by demons, for also such poor unfortunate people as were afflicted with this terrible ailment were brought to the Lord. Invariably these people, when they caught sight of Him, or when they had looked at Him closely, fell down before Him at the urging of the demon in them, who must needs recognize in Christ the Lord of all, and cried out a confession of His divinity: Thou art the Son of God. But that was not the confession that the Savior sought; He wants no praise out of the mouth of Satan and his angels. He did not want to be revealed, did not want to be made known by them as the Messiah. Testimony from the enemies may have its value, but Jesus wanted the people to accept His Word and come to the knowledge of Him as the promised Redeemer through His Gospel.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
Ver. 9. Lest they should throng him ] Gr. , afflict him, press, or pinch him, as they did a piece of his passion,Mar 3:10Mar 3:10 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
9. ] Meyer explains the construction , by that which was said being regarded as the purpose of its being said.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 3:9 . : a boat to be always in readiness, to get away from the crowds. Whether used or not, not said; shows how great the crowd was.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
disciples. See note on Mar 6:30.
because of = on account of. Greek. dia. App-104. Mar 3:2.
multitude = crowd. Not the same word an in verses: Mar 3:7, Mar 3:8.
lest they should = that they might not. Greek. hina me App-105.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
9.] Meyer explains the construction , by that which was said being regarded as the purpose of its being said.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 3:9. , a small ship) Nominative.-, should wait on) Not merely at that time alone.- , that not) Having thus a regard to His due convenience.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
because: Mar 5:30, Joh 6:15
Reciprocal: Mar 3:20 – so that Mar 4:36 – even Mar 5:24 – and thronged Luk 5:1 – it
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9. Small ship means a small boat that could take Jesus from the pressure of the crowd, and yet permit him to be seen and heard by the people.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 3:9. That a small boat. The original refers to a boat even smaller than the usual fishing-boats.
Wait on him. Be constantly at His service.
Because of the crowd. A different word from multitude (Mar 3:7-8), though the one usually so translated. The purpose was probably both to teach from the boat and to retire from the crowd when He wished. It was doubtless thus that He retired shortly afterwards (Mar 3:13). His ministry, rather than His personal comfort, was thus furthered.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 9
Wait on him; receive him on board.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
3:9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should {g} wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
(g) Should always be ready for him.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Jesus addressed the crowds from a little boat (Gr. ploiarion, not a fishing boat) on the lake when the crowds pressed too heavily upon Him. Apparently the disciples kept this little boat handy whenever Jesus spoke to the crowds from the shore. If He needed to step back from them, He would have a place of retreat. Mark probably mentioned this detail to stress the large numbers of people who followed Jesus. It also shows Jesus’ willingness to adapt His presentation to the needs of His audience. Perhaps "the big fisherman," Peter, was responsible for this notation.
The multitudes seemed to have little interest in worshipping Jesus as God, but they were eager to receive the physical benefits of His ministry. These benefits Jesus graciously bestowed on them.