Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:38
He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
38. go and see ] In the interval between their going and return they learnt that a lad in their company had five barley loaves, and two small fishes, which they could secure for purchase. They were only barley loaves (Joh 6:9), the food even then, for the most part, of beasts, or of the poor and the unfortunate. Comp. 2Ki 7:1. The fact has an important bearing on Jdg 7:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
38. He saith unto them, How manyloaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, andtwo fishesJohn is more precise and full: “One of Hisdisciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto Him, There is alad here which hath five barley loaves and two small fishes: but whatare they among so many?” (Joh 6:8;Joh 6:9). Probably this was thewhole stock of provisions then at the command of the disciplesnomore than enough for one meal to themand entrusted for the time tothis lad. “He said, Bring them hither to me” (Mt14:18).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he saith unto them, how many loaves have ye?…. 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Go and see ( ). John says that Jesus asked Philip to find out what food they had (Joh 6:5f.) probably after the disciples had suggested that Jesus send the crowd away as night was coming on (Mr 6:35f.). On this protest to his command that they feed the crowds (Mark 6:37; Matt 14:16; Luke 9:13) Jesus said “Go see” how many loaves you can get hold of. Then Andrew reports the fact of the lad with five barley loaves and two fishes (Joh 6:8f.). They had suggested before that two hundred pennyworth ( . See on Mt 18:28) was wholly inadequate and even that (some thirty-five dollars) was probably all that or even more than they had with them. John’s Gospel alone tells of the lad with his lunch which his mother had given him.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye?” (ho de legei autois posous echete artous) “And He asked them, how many loaves do you all have, all together?” He secured a commitment from these disciples, not because He did not know, but for emphasis relating to their own selfishness and greed, to teach them a lesson of trust in and obedience to Him, even relating to material things, Pro 3:3-5; 1Pe 5:7.
2) ”Go and see.” (hupagete idete) “You all go and determine, find out,” verify for yourselves for the record, that they might realize the greatness of His miracle.
3) “And when they knew, they say,” (kai gnontes legousm) “And when they knew they said,” or reported to Him, what they could verify. And Philip said that the food and money was insufficient to feed the crowd, but Andrew told him of a little lad who was willing to share five loaves and two fishes, Joh 6:7-9.
4) “Five, and two fishes.” (pente kai duo ichthunas) “Five and two fishes,” and apparently the additional funds to buy two hundred pennyworth more, if necessary, Mar 6:37. Yet they had the very God present with them who had increased the oil and food of the widow who waited on Elisha, 2Ki 4:2-7.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘And he says to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” And when they knew they say, “Five, and two fish.”
Then He called their attention to what they did have. His command was firm. They must sum up their resources. And when they did so they found that they had five loaves and two fish. And little though they knew it, that would be enough. The loaves would not be large loaves. They would be the flat cakes. Joh 6:9 tells us that they were barley loaves, the food of the poor. The fish would also be fairly small.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
Ver. 38. See Trapp on “ Mat 14:17 “ See Trapp on “ Joh 6:8 “ See Trapp on “ Joh 6:9 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
knew = found out. Greek. ginosko. App-132.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mar 8:5, Mat 14:17, Mat 14:18, Mat 15:34, Luk 9:13, Joh 6:9
Reciprocal: Mat 4:4 – but Mat 16:9 – the five loaves Mar 8:19 – the five
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8
These few loaves and fishes would not supply even a taste for all the multitude, but the lesson should be gathered that the Lord expects man to do what he can in accomplishing desired results.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 6:38. Go and see, lit., go, see. Peculiar to Mark.
When they knew. By finding a lad with these provisions; see Joh 6:8-9. The answer was given by Andrew.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 38
Have ye? that is, in the common supply, prepared for the Savior and his immediate disciples.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Jesus asked them how many loaves of bread they had because He would use what they had to feed the multitude. Normally Jesus uses what His disciples have to meet the needs of others. While the loaves were inadequate, they were still essential elements in this miracle. Likewise disciples need to realize the inadequacy of their resources, but they also need to understand that it is those resources, as inadequate as they are, that Jesus uses. The barley loaves in view were small and flat (cf. Joh 6:9). One person could eat several of them in one meal. [Note: Wessel, p. 673.] The two small fish (Gr. opsaria) were probably salted and dried, and were commonly eaten, bones and all, with bread as a relish. [Note: Edersheim, 1:682.]