Bible Strands
Mark 14:22
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to his disciples during a shared meal, immediately following his warning about the imminent betrayal of the Son of Man. He distributes the bread he has just taken and blessed to them while they are eating.
The words — The participle λαβὼν (labōn) literally means "having taken," marking the deliberate action preceding the breaking and giving of the loaf. The verb εὐλογήσας (eulogēsas) translates as "having spoken a blessing," denoting the ritual consecration before distribution.
The thread — The narrative of Jesus taking and blessing the bread runs parallel to Matthew 26:26 and frames the subsequent cup in Mark 14:23. Paul later references this meal pattern in 1 Corinthians 10:16 when discussing communal participation.
Why it lands — The text explicitly commands the listeners to "Take it" and identifies the physical bread as "My body." It requires readers to accept the meal as a direct institution of covenant participation rather than a symbolic memorial.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
Cross-references
- Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”
- Mark 14:24 He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
- 1 Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
- 1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,
- Luke 22:18 For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
- Luke 24:30 While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.
- John 6:48 I am the bread of life.
- Genesis 41:26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning.
- Zechariah 5:7 And behold, the cover of lead was raised, and there was a woman sitting inside the basket.
- Matthew 14:19 And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.