And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus invites his disciples, "Come away by yourselves... and rest a while." Notice the emphasis on "yourselves"—He wants them to withdraw as a team, recognizing that even the most dedicated servants need time to reconnect with each other and with Him, away from the demands of ministry and the constant influx of people. This isn't just about physical exhaustion; it's about spiritual and emotional replenishment, which is hard to find when there's "no leisure even to eat."
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a strenuous and successful mission, Jesus' disciples return, eager to share their experiences with him. However, the constant stream of people coming and going leaves everyone, including Jesus and his apostles, so busy they can't even eat, prompting Jesus to seek a quiet place for them to rest.
Ever feel like you're on 24/7, with no time to even catch your breath? Jesus understood.
Jesus' disciples had just returned from a demanding mission, preaching and healing. Imagine their exhaustion! The crowds, however, were relentless, coming and going without pause. This created an environment so overwhelming that they 'had no leisure even to eat.' This wasn't just about physical hunger; it was about the deep depletion that comes from constant engagement without space for restoration. Jesus, seeing this, called them away: 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' He recognized their need for a break not as a luxury, but as a necessity for continued effectiveness and well-being.
Jesus didn't just say 'take a break.' He directed them to a specific kind of break.
Jesus’ invitation wasn't to just any kind of rest, but to 'come away by yourselves to a desolate place.' This points to the power of strategic solitude. A 'desolate place' wasn't necessarily barren, but a place free from the demands and noise of the crowd—a place where they could be undistracted. Jesus himself often sought solitude for prayer and reflection. This wasn't about escaping responsibility, but about stepping back to reconnect with God and regain perspective. It allowed for introspection, prayer, and deeper communion with Him, which is essential for spiritual refueling.
Understand the original words
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erēmos · Greek Adjective/Noun
A remote, uninhabited, or wilderness area characterized by a lack of resources or human settlement. It often serves as a setting for testing, solitude, or divine encounter in Scripture.
anapauō · Greek Verb
The act of ceasing from work or activity to refresh oneself, often carrying the spiritual connotation of trusting in God’s provision rather than one's own labors.
This moment highlights Jesus' deep care for his disciples' well-being, recognizing their need for rest amidst constant ministry and overwhelming public demand.
Early 1st Century AD
Jesus commissions the Twelve Apostles
Jesus sends out his 12 disciples in pairs to preach, heal, and cast out demons, empowering them with authority and instruction for their mission.
Early 1st Century AD
Return of the Twelve Apostles
The disciples return from their mission, excited to report to Jesus all that they had done and taught.
Early 1st Century AD— this verse
Jesus and disciples withdraw to a desolate place
Jesus, sensing the need for rest after the disciples' strenuous mission and their recent travels, suggests they retreat to a quiet, sparsely populated area by boat.
Early 1st Century AD
Crowds follow Jesus and disciples
Despite Jesus' attempt to find a secluded spot, large crowds recognize them and follow on foot, arriving before them at their destination.
Early 1st Century AD
Jesus teaches and heals the multitude
Seeing the vast crowd as sheep without a shepherd, Jesus, moved with compassion, begins to teach them many things and heal the sick among them.
Early 1st Century AD
Disciples urge Jesus to send crowds away
As the day wears on, the disciples express concern about the lack of food, urging Jesus to dismiss the people so they can buy provisions.
Early 1st Century AD
Jesus feeds the five thousand
Jesus performs a miracle, feeding over five thousand men (plus women and children) with just five loaves and two fish, with twelve baskets of leftovers.
Jesus calls out to those who are weary and burdened, offering them rest, which directly parallels His invitation to His disciples in Mark 6:31 to find rest away from the crowds.
1 Kings 19:3-4This passage shows Elijah, after a great spiritual victory, feeling overwhelmed and desiring to die, highlighting that even prophets need moments of solitude and rest when exhausted.
Exodus 33:11This verse describes Moses speaking with God 'face to face, as a man speaks to his friend,' illustrating the intimate, restorative communication Jesus sought with His disciples in a private place.
Luke 9:10This passage, from Luke's account of the same event, mentions Jesus leading His disciples to a place 'belonging to the town called Bethsaida,' providing geographical context to their need for a retreat.
pooleMark 6:31: "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."
Ver. 31-33. Matthew makes the cause of this motion of our Saviour’s to have been his receiving the report of Herod’s dealing with John the Baptist, as we often find him yielding to the fury of his adversaries. Mark assigns another reason, (as there may be several reasons or motives of and to the same action or motion…
vincentMark 6:31: "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."
Come apartSee on Mark 3:7.
Jesus invites his disciples, "Come away by yourselves... and rest a while." Notice the emphasis on "yourselves"—He wants them to withdraw as a team, recognizing that even the most dedicated servants need time to reconnect with each other and with Him, away from the demands of ministry and the constant influx of people. This isn't just about physical exhaustion; it's about spiritual and emotional replenishment, which is hard to find when there's "no leisure even to eat."
After a strenuous and successful mission, Jesus' disciples return, eager to share their experiences with him. However, the constant stream of people coming and going leaves everyone, including Jesus and his apostles, so busy they can't even eat, prompting Jesus to seek a quiet place for them to rest.
After a strenuous and successful mission, Jesus' disciples return, eager to share their experiences with him. However, the constant stream of people coming and going leaves everyone, including Jesus and his apostles, so busy they can't even eat, prompting Jesus to seek a quiet place for them to rest.
"And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat." — Jesus invites his disciples, "Come away by yourselves... and rest a while." Notice the emphasis on "yourselves"—He wants them to withdraw as a team, recognizing that even the most dedicated servants…
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Last reviewed October 2026