Mark 6:39

39 Then He instructed them to have all the people sit down^[a] in groups on the green grass.

Mark 6:39 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 6:39

And he commanded them to make all sit down
Christ ordered his disciples, without any more ado, to cause the whole multitude, men, women, and children, to sit, or lie down, as they used to do at table when about to take a meal: and as they had no table before them, nor beds, or couches to sit, or lie down upon, he directed them to place them

by companies upon the green grass;
that there might be some order among them, as at a meal; and that their number might be the more easily known; and that all of them might more plainly see the miracle that was to be wrought: and the provision be more orderly distributed to them.

Mark 6:39 In-Context

37 "You give them something to eat," He responded. They said to Him, "Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"

38 And He asked them, "How many loaves do you have? Go look." When they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."

39 Then He instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.

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

41 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit people recline