Mark 6:38

38 And he said to them, How much bread have you? go and see. And when they had seen, they said, Five cakes of bread and two fishes.

Mark 6:38 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 6:38

And he saith unto them, how many loaves have ye?
&c.] This he said, not as ignorant, but as willing to try their faith yet more, and that the after miracle might be more manifest and illustrious:

go and see;
meaning, either that they should examine their own store, if they had any; or rather go and see what was to be had upon the spot, among the company, for money;

and when they knew, they say five loaves and two fishes:
when they had made inquiry what provisions there were, and the most that could be got at any rate, they tell him, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, particularly, that there was a boy among the multitude that had five barley loaves, and two small fishes; and, at the same time, suggests, that they were nothing for so great a company.

Mark 6:38 In-Context

36 Send them away, so that they may go into the country and small towns round about, and get some food for themselves.

37 But he said to them in answer, Give them food yourselves. And they said to him, Are we to go and get bread for two hundred pence, and give it to them?

38 And he said to them, How much bread have you? go and see. And when they had seen, they said, Five cakes of bread and two fishes.

39 And he made them all be seated in groups on the green grass.

40 And they were placed in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.