Mark 6:38

38 He said unto them, "How many loaves have ye? Go and see." And when they knew, they said, "Five, 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, that they may go into the country round about and into the villages and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat."

37 He answered and said unto them, "Give ye them to eat." And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread and give them to eat?"

38 He said unto them, "How many loaves have ye? Go and see." And when they knew, they said, "Five, and two fishes."

39 And He commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.