Mark 6:38

38 He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." When they found out, they told him, "Five loaves of bread 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 Send the people to the closest farms and villages to buy themselves something to eat."

37 Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "Should we go and spend about a year's wages on bread to feed them?"

38 He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." When they found out, they told him, "Five loaves of bread and two fish."

39 Then he ordered all of them to sit down in groups on the green grass.

40 They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.