Mark 6:38

38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye ? go and see . And when they knew , they say , 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 say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat ?

38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye ? go and see . And when they knew , they say , 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.