At the same time, by referring to some of the disciples’ eating “the loaves” (pl. τοὺς ἄρτους), Mark may be deliberately connecting this scene with “the loaves” (τοὺς ἄρτους) in 6:41, 44 and the reference to “the loaves” (τοὺς ἄρτους) in 8:14–21. The connection between the disciples’ lack of understanding of “the loaves” (τοὺς ἄρτους) in 6:51 and 8:14–21 corresponds as well to their lack of understanding in 7:15 (cf. Quesnell, Mind, 228–29).