Mark 6:38

38 “Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

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 Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

37 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?”

38 “Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

39 Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit in groups on the green grass.

40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.