Mar 6:31 Come you yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while.

Alternative: Come here everyone, separately, on your own, into an isolated place and regain a little strength.

I find it interesting that the word translated as "place" or "position" as is also a metaphor for "opening" and "opportunity." Our place is indeed the opening for our opportunities.

In the normal English translation, the sense in the Greek of separating ourselves as individuals, privately, apart from society is somewhat lost. I am reminded of how Christ teaches us to pray, off by ourselves, not in groups, but privately, in a closet. There is a sense that our work in society weakens us, but our time alone, with Christ, refreshes our strength.

This chapter began with the idea that our personal power, at least as a prophet, works only outside our family, in society. We go out into society, to do our work, becoming part of a new group. We are sometimes rejected, but we have to shake it off and march on. To regain our strength, we have to separate ourselves from society, take time for ourselves, with God alone.

"Come" is from deute (deute), which means "come here" and "come hither." It is an imperative form, indicating a command.

"Apart" is from kata (kata), which means "downwards," "down from," "down into," "against," "down toward," "opposite," "separately," "individually," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."

The untranslated word that follows "apart" is idios (idios), which means "one's own," "pertaining to one's self," "private," "personal," "personally attached," "separate distinct," "strange," "unusual," "peculiar," and "appropriate."

"Desert" is from erêmoô (eremos), which means "strip bare," "desolate," "lay waste," "bereave," "abandon," "desert," "leave alone," and "keep isolated."

"Place" is from topos (topos), which means "place," "region," "position," "part [of the body]," "district," "room," and "topic." It is also a metaphor for "opening," "occasion," and "opportunity."

"Rest" is from anapauô (anapauo), which means "to make to cease," "stop or hinder," "put an end to," "bring to a close," "take rest," "sleep," "lie fallow," "regain strength," and "rest or settle [on an object]."

"Awhile" is from oligos (oligos), which means "little," "small," and "weak."