Mark 6:31 · Bible study
Mark 6:31 Commentary: Jesus' Compassionate Call to Rest
Greek · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Jesus command rest after ministry? This study examines the Greek imperative, historical context, and pastoral implications of Mark 6:31.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus commands his disciples to withdraw from the crowds and rest, showing his pastoral care for their well-being after an intense mission.
- Key words: ἀναπαύσασθε (anapausasthe, aorist middle imperative: 'rest yourselves'), ἔρημος (erēmos, deserted, solitary), εὐκαιρέω (eukaireō, to have opportunity).
- Main debate: Whether this rest is a one-time provision for the apostles or a pattern for ongoing Christian ministry.
- Theological theme: The rhythm of labor and rest as God’s design for human flourishing, modeled by Christ.
- Best use: Sermons on burnout, pastoral care, Sabbath principles, and small group discussions on work-life balance.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
WEB World English Bible 2000
He said to them, “Come away into a deserted place, and rest awhile.” For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
KJV King James Version 1769
And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And he saith unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and he said to them, `Come ye yourselves apart to a desert place, and rest a little,' for those coming and those going were many, and not even to eat had they opportunity,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And he said to them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place and rest a little. For those coming and those going were many, and they had not leisure even to eat.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he said to them: Come apart into a desert place, and rest a little. For there were many coming and going: and they had not so much as time to eat.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y él les dijo: Venid vosotros aparte|strong="G0846, G2596, G2398" al lugar desierto, y reposad un poco. Porque eran muchos los que iban y venían, que ni aun tenían lugar de comer.
E ele lhes disse: Vinde vós à parte a um lugar deserto, e descansai um pouco; pois havia muitos que iam e vinham, e não tinham tempo para comer.
Jésus leur dit: Venez à l’ écart dans un lieu désert, et reposez-vous un peu. Car il y avait beaucoup d’ allants et de venants, et ils n’ avaient même pas le temps de manger.
Und er sprach zu ihnen: Lasset uns besonders an eine wüste Stätte gehen und ruht ein wenig. Denn ihr waren viele, die ab und zu gingen; und sie hatten nicht Zeit genug, zu essen.
En Hij zeide tot hen: Komt gijlieden in een woeste plaats hier alleen, en rust een weinig; want er waren velen, die kwamen en die gingen, en zij hadden zelfs geen gelegen tijd om te eten.
Ed egli disse loro: Venitevene ora in disparte, in luogo solitario, e riposatevi un po’. Difatti, era tanta la gente che andava e veniva, che essi non aveano neppur tempo di mangiare.
I rzekł im: Pójdźcie wy sami osobno na miejsce puste, a odpocznijcie trochę; bo ich wiele było, co przychodzili, i odchodzili, tak iż nie mieli wolnego czasu, żeby jedli.
Он сказал им: пойдите вы одни в пустынное место и отдохните немного, — ибо много было приходящих и отходящих, так что и есть им было некогда.
他就 說：「你們 來， 同我暗暗地 到 曠野 地方 去歇一歇。」這是 因為 來 往 的人多，他們連吃飯 也 沒有 工夫。
And he said to them, Come away by yourselves to a quiet place, and take a rest for a time. Because there were a great number coming and going, and they had no time even for food.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Mark 6:31
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse reveals Jesus' compassion for his disciples after their exhausting mission. Matthew Henry notes that Jesus 'calls them apart' because he knows their need for refreshment. Gill emphasizes Christ's 'great compassion, tenderness, and care', he saw their weariness from preaching and healing, with crowds pressing in so they 'had no leisure so much as to eat.' Adam Clarke adds a blunt observation: 'Rest is necessary for those who labor; and a zealous preacher of the Gospel will as often stand in need of it as a galley slave.' The key verb ἀναπαύσασθε (anapausasthe) is an aorist middle imperative, a direct command, not a suggestion. The middle voice implies 'rest yourselves' or 'take rest,' and the aorist aspect indicates a definite action to be completed. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible agree that the 'desert place' was across the sea, chosen for privacy and freedom from interruption. The surrounding context, the beheading of John the Baptist (vv.27, 29), adds emotional weight: the disciples had just come from a ministry setting shadowed by loss. In this verse, Jesus does not give a new assignment but enforces a pause.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus directly commands his disciples to rest after their labor, affirming that physical and spiritual restoration is part of his care for them.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The nature of the rest | All commentators agree that Jesus calls for physical and mental withdrawal from the press of ministry. | Some emphasize the rest as primarily physical recuperation; others see it also as a spiritual retreat for prayer and reflection, since Jesus later prays alone (Mark 6:46). |
| Applicability to all believers | Christians across traditions agree that the verse models pastoral care by Jesus. | Some hold this as a specific instruction to the apostles in that moment; others view it as a principle for all who serve, applicable to any believer who is overworked. |
| Setting of the 'desert place' | The place is understood as a quiet, uninhabited location across the Sea of Galilee, chosen for solitude. | A few traditions read 'desert' (ἔρημος) as a literal wilderness, linking it to Israel's testing; most see it simply as a secluded spot for rest. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Mark 6:31 sits at a turning point in the narrative. The apostles have just returned from their first mission (Mark 6:7, 13, 30). They had been sent out two by two, preaching repentance, casting out demons, and healing. Meanwhile, the chapter opens with Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth (vv.1, 6) and Herod’s fear that Jesus is John the Baptist raised (vv.14, 16). Then comes John’s beheading (vv.27, 29). So the atmosphere is tense and sorrowful. The disciples return with reports of their work, and Jesus immediately responds with an invitation to withdraw.
The 'deserted place' (εἰς ἔρημον τόπον) likely refers to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, near Bethsaida (Luke 9:10; John 6:1). Barnes describes it as 'a retired place, across the sea from Capernaum.' The Cambridge Bible connects the crowds to the approaching Passover (John 6:4), which explains the vast numbers. The imperfect tense of εὐκαίρουν (eukairoun), 'they had opportunity', suggests an ongoing lack of free time. The press of people was constant: there were 'many coming and going,' so the disciples could not even eat (compare Mark 3:20).
Jesus’ response is not to drive them harder. He leads them away by boat (v.32). This withdrawal sets up the feeding of the five thousand (vv.34, 44), where rest is postponed because Jesus sees the crowd like sheep without a shepherd. The historical situation includes political danger, personal grief, and relentless demand, making rest both urgent and, eventually, interrupted.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Mark 6:31.
Reception History
Mark 6:31 has served as a touchstone for the Christian practice of retreat and Sabbath rest. Early desert monastics read it as a warrant for withdrawal from worldly pressures. In the medieval period, it was frequently cited in discussions of pastoral rhythm and the need for recreation. Protestant Reformers like Matthew Henry emphasized Jesus’ compassion in calling the disciples away. In modern times, the verse is often invoked in conversations about pastor burnout and the importance of self-care. The phrase 'come away and rest awhile' has entered common Christian language as a gentle invitation to pause.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Jesus sees their exhaustion. The disciples had poured themselves out in preaching and healing. Jesus notices the strain before they even ask for help.
- Jesus knows their limit. 'Many coming and going', the constant pressure left no room for basic needs like eating. He honors those limits.
- Jesus commands rest. The imperative 'rest a while' is not optional. It is a gift, not a luxury, and it is for a defined period.
Five-point outline
- The invitation: 'Come away', an inclusive call to withdraw together, not scatter individually.
- The place: 'A desert place', intentional solitude, away from the crowds and distractions.
- The duration: 'Rest a while', a short, specific period, not indefinite escape.
- The reason: 'For many coming and going', the pressure of constant demand makes rest necessary.
- The response: 'They went away in the boat' (v.32), obedience to the call, trusting Jesus with the ministry they left behind.
Illustration hooks
- A pastor who works seven days a week, finally taking a Tuesday off to sleep and pray.
- A parent overwhelmed by the constant needs of young children, stealing ten minutes to sit alone with coffee.
- A student during exam season who forces herself to take a twenty-minute walk without her phone.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it selfish to rest when there is so much work to do for the Kingdom?
- How do I know when I truly need rest, as opposed to just being lazy?
- Does this command apply to all believers, or only to those in full-time ministry?
Leading a Discussion
This verse puts Jesus’ care for his disciples on display. After a season of intense activity, he does not give them a new assignment, he invites them to rest. In a culture that often glorifies busyness, this is a striking counterpoint. Use the questions below to explore what this means for your own life and community.
Discussion questions
- What was happening in the disciples’ lives just before this verse? Read Mark 6:7, 13 and 30. What does their report suggest about their state?
- What specific words does Jesus use? Why does he say 'come away' rather than 'go rest'?
- Why does the evangelist include the phrase 'for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat'? What does this add to the picture?
- What does the command to 'rest a while' imply about the nature of rest, is it a luxury or a necessity?
- How does Matthew 14:13 parallel this verse? What does Jesus do there?
- What prevents you from resting when you need it most? Think of practical pressures and also internal ones like guilt.
- What could it look like for your small group or church to practice this rhythm of withdrawal and return?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 14:13 | Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities. |
| Mark 1:45 | But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places. People came to him from everywhere. |
| Mark 3:7 | Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples; and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea, |
| Mark 3:20 | The multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. |
| John 6:1 | After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws a stark comparison: a zealous preacher needs rest as much as a galley slave. For him, rest is a physical necessity for those who labor hard in the Gospel, not a luxury. Even the most devoted preacher works relentlessly and must pause to recover.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes clarifies that "desert place" means a secluded spot across the sea from Capernaum, chosen for privacy, not a barren wilderness. He interprets the phrase "many coming and going" as describing a vast throng pressing around Jesus for healing and teaching, not mere busyness.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible School notes that the large crowds coming and going signal the approaching Passover, when pilgrim bands were already traveling toward Jerusalem for the feast.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible captures the scene's urgency by noting the disciples were so swarmed by "commers and goers" they had no "leasure to eate." Jesus' solution is not just rest but withdrawal to a desert place, emphasizing the need for deliberate solitude when ministry
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights Christ's tender compassion in calling the exhausted disciples away from the constant press of the crowd. Even basic needs like eating had become impossible, so Jesus prioritized their rest and refreshment, showing his care for their physical and spiritual well-being.