John 6:7

7 Philip answered to him, The loaves of two hundred pence suffice not to them, that each man take a little what.

John 6:7 Meaning and Commentary

John 6:7

Philip answered him
Very quick and short, and in a carnal and unbelieving way:

two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them.
Two hundred pence, or "Roman denarii", which may be here meant, amount to six pounds five shillings of our money; and this sum is mentioned, because it might be the whole stock that was in the bag, or that Christ and his disciples had; or because this was a round sum, much in use among the Jews; (See Gill on Mark 6:37). Or this may be said by Philip, to show how impracticable it was to provide for such a company; that supposing they had two hundred pence to lay out in this way; though where should they have that, he suggests? yet if they had it, as much bread as that would purchase would not be sufficient:

that everyone of them might take a little;
it would be so far from giving them a meal, or proper refreshment, that everyone could not have a small bit to taste of, or in the least to stay or blunt his appetite: a penny, with the Jews, would buy as much bread as would serve ten men; so that two hundred pence would buy bread enough for two thousand men; but here were three thousand more, besides women and children, who could not have been provided for with such a sum of money.

John 6:7 In-Context

5 Therefore when Jesus had lifted up his eyes, and had seen, that a great multitude came to him, he saith to Philip, Whereof shall we buy loaves, that these men eat?

6 But he said this thing, tempting him; for he knew what he was to do.

7 Philip answered to him, The loaves of two hundred pence suffice not to them, that each man take a little what.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him,

9 A child is here, that hath five barley loaves and two fishes; but what be these among so many?