Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:10
And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
10. much grass ] As we might expect early in April ( Joh 6:4). S. Mark (Mar 6:39-40) mentions how they reclined in parterres, by hundreds and by fifties, on the green grass. This arrangement would make it easy to count them.
the men sat down ] The women and children were probably apart by themselves. S. Matthew (Mat 14:21) tells us that the 5000 included the men only. Among those going up to the Passover there would not be many women or children.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 10. There was much grass in the place.] Perhaps newly mown grass, or hay, is meant, (so the Vulgate faenum,) and this circumstance marks out more particularly that the passover was at hand. In Palestine the grass is ready for mowing in March; and this miracle seems to have been wrought only a few days before the commencement of that festival: see Joh 6:4.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Jesus said, make the men sit down,…. The Syriac version reads, “all the men”; and the Persic version, “all the people”; men, women, and children: Christ, without reproving his disciples for their unbelief, ordered them directly to place the people upon the ground, and seat them in rows by hundreds and by fifties, in a rank and company, as persons about to take a meal:
now there was much grass in the place; at the bottom of the mountain; and it was green, as one of the evangelists observes, it being the spring of the year, and was very commodious to sit down upon:
so the men sat down, in number about five thousand; besides women and children, Mt 14:21, so that there was but one loaf for more than a thousand persons.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Sit down (). Literally, “fall back,” lie down, recline. Second aorist active infinitive of .
Much grass ( ). Old word for pasture, green grass (Mr 6:39) or hay (1Co 3:12). It was spring (Joh 6:4) and plenty of green grass on the hillside.
The men ( ). Word for men as distinct from women, expressly stated in Mt 14:21.
In number ( ). Adverbial accusative (of general reference).
About (). General estimate, though they were arranged in orderly groups by hundreds and fifties, “in ranks” like “garden beds” (, Mr 6:40).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Sit down [] . Literally, recline.
Grass [] . Originally an enclosure. Thus Homer speaks of Peleus offering a sacrifice, aujlhv ejn cortw, in the enclosure of the court (” Iliad, ” 11, 774). Hence a feeding – place, and so grass, provender. The sense is merely that of our abstract pasture. Matthew and Mark mention the grass, Mark with the epithet green. Wyc., hay.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And Jesus said, Make the men sit down.” (eipen ho lesous poiesate tous anthropous anapesain) “Jesus said directly to them (to His disciples), make or cause the men to recline,” to sit or lean upon the ground, to recline, be at ease.
2) “Now there was much grass in the place.” (en de chortos polus en to topo) “Now there was much grass in the location, perhaps in March, when the vernal rains of the area were over. The much grass of this area was in contrast with many cornfields and olive yards on the opposite side of the sea. Mark focuses attention on the contrast between the color of their garments in the ranks, as they sat down, and the green grass, Mar 6:39.
3) “So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.” (anepesan oun hoi andres ton arithmon hos pentakischilioi) “Therefore the men reclined, about five thousand in number.” The obedience of the crowd, to the command of Jesus, tested their faith. They trusted His word, obeyed, and sat down in orderly groups, ranks, or companies, by hundreds and by fifties, much like flower beds in rows, Mar 6:40; This He also did on another occasion, Mar 8:6, Luk 9:13-15.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
10. Make the men sit down. That the disciples were not sooner prepared to cherish the hope which their Master held out, and did not remember to ascribe to his power all that was proper, was a degree of stupidity worthy of blame; but no small praise is due to their cheerful obedience in now complying with his injunction, though they know not what is his intention, or what advantage they will derive from what they are doing. The same readiness to obey is manifested by the people; for, while they are uncertain about the result, they all sit down as soon as a single word of command has been pronounced. And this is the trial of true faith, when God commands men to walk, as it were, in darkness. For this purpose let us learn not to be wise in ourselves, but, amidst great confusion, still to hope for a prosperous issue, when we follow the guidance of God, who never disappoints his own people.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) Much grass.This is an addition in this account. St. Mark, who also represents the impression of an eye-witness, tells us that the grass was green (Joh. 6:39). We know from Joh. 6:4 that it was at the time of the Passoveri.e., about our April, when the hill-country on the west of the lake would naturally be clothed with verdure.
So the men sat down.The word () means men as such, as distinct from women. (Comp. Note on Joh. 1:51.) St. Matthew tells us there were five thousand men besides the women and children (Joh. 14:21; see Note there).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down in number about five thousand.’
Jesus now commanded that the people be made to sit down, and as the disciples obeyed they must all have been asking, ‘what on earth is He going to do?’
‘There was much grass in the place’. This is noted less clearly by Matthew and Mark, although Mark mentions that the grass was green. The comment bears the stamp of an eyewitness who remembers it vividly. It is pathetic to suggest that such reminiscences are inventions intended to give a touch of authenticity to the narrative, for they are made so casually that this is unlikely, and indeed it would have been gross deceit. We may well ask, how could one who wrote about truth so sublimely be guilty of such deceit? Blindness is not only limited to the Judaisers.
‘Men — in number about five thousand.’ Five is the number of the covenant. The mention of ‘five thousand’ was probably in order to symbolise a covenant meal. This was the number of men. There were also women and children (Mat 14:21). We learn elsewhere that they sat them down in ‘fifties’ for better organisation. Thus they had a rough idea how many people there were.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The miracle:
v. 10. And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
v. 11. And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
v. 12. When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain that nothing be lost.
v. 13. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
v. 14. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. Jesus now assumed charge of affairs, He became master of ceremonies, governor of the feast. He ordered the disciples to have the people recline on the green grass, which grew in abundance at this place, in the lowlands near the mouth of the Jordan, and had attained its full growth at this time of year. Since the men reclined in groups, it was an easy matter to find their number, which was five thousand, without women and children. Before the entire vast assembly which was now seated in anxious expectation, Jesus next took the loaves and gave thanks; He dedicated them to God by His prayer. And He at the same time proved Himself the almighty God and Lord, for His blessing upon the bread caused the miracle. The few loaves did not grow into great stacks, but they multiplied under His almighty touch during the distribution. No matter how often the disciples returned to the Lord for further supplies, there was always enough on hand. They obtained not only of the bread all that they wished for, but they were also given of the fishes, as much as everyone desired. All the people were fully satisfied, they had all that they could eat. Here was a powerful proof of the almighty power of Christ. The simple Nazarene is the Creator and Preserver of all things, who gives food and sustenance to all creatures. The hand of the Lord is not shortened even now, but is able and willing to help in all emergencies, if we but place our trust in Him. It is our duty to use the means He has given us, to do the work of our calling faithfully; then His blessing will never fail us. Incidentally, Jesus taught proper food conservation. He commanded that the disciples should pick up the small pieces that remained, the fragments, that nothing might go to waste. And when they did so, they filled twelve large wicker baskets or hampers, such as are used in the orient and elsewhere by gardeners for carrying fruit and vegetables on the back. The evangelist emphasizes that these fragments remained over and above that which had been eaten by the multitude. There is a lesson for all times in this story, namely, that infinite resources do not justify waste. There is a far cry from being anxiously careful for the future and being careful of the gifts which God has given. But the people did not draw the right conclusion from the miracle. They merely thought that this was “the beginning of that reign of earthly abundance which the prophets were thought to have foretold. ” Some of them may have believed that Jesus was truly the Messiah, but the majority voiced their opinion in the statement that this man was of a truth, beyond doubt, that prophet that should come into the world, for they understood the words of Moses, Deu 18:15, of a mere man, with the spirit and the power of Moses. Note: There are many people in the midst of Christendom whose ideas concerning Christ are just as hazy as were those of the Jews on this occasion. It is only by continual study of the Bible that a full and clear understanding of the person and office of Jesus may be gained.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Joh 6:10. Now there was much grass This circumstance of the grass shews, that the miracle of the loaves happened in the month of February or March, when the grass is in its perfection in Syria; and to this agrees what we are told Joh 6:4. It is observable, that in computing the number of persons fed at this meal, the evangelists mention none but the men, and of them only such as were of age; and they all agree that there were about 5000. In this they do not speak by guess; for the disposition of the multitude in ranks of a determinate number, (see on Mar 6:39.) enabled them to make the computation with certainty. If they were not five thousand precisely, one of the ranks incomplete would make them less; and an additional rank, or part of a rank, would make them more: but besides the men, there were women also, and children, who, we may suppose, were not inferior in number to the men; and who, if they were not fed with the men, as seems probable from this verse, must have been set down by themselves to a separate meal; some of the disciples beingappointed to wait on them and serve them. St. John gives us the reason why so great a crowd was now with Jesus, the passover was at hand, Joh 6:4 consequently numbers from every quarter being on the road to Jerusalem, they might have been drawn round Christ by the fame of his miracles, of which they desired to be eye-witnesses.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Joh 6:10-13 . ] They were men only who formally sat down to the meal, as may be explained from the subordinate position of the women and children; but the feeding of these latter, whose presence we must assume from Joh 6:4 , is not, as taking place indirectly, excluded.
] Accusative of closer definition. See Lobeck, Paralip . p. 528.
Joh 6:11 . .] The grace before meat said by the host. See on Mat 14:19 . There is no indication that it contained a special petition (“that God would let this little portion feed so many,” Luthardt, comp. Tholuck).
] He distributed the bread (by the disciples) collectively to those who were sitting; and of the fishes as much as they desired. [226]
Joh 6:12 . It is not given as a command of Jesus in the synoptical account. As to the miracle itself, [227] and the methods of explaining it away, wholly or in part, see on Mat 14:20-21 , note, and on Luk 9:17 , and observe besides on Joh 6:13 , that according to John the twelve baskets were filled with fragments of bread only (otherwise in Mar 6:43 ).
Luthardt, without any sanction from the text, assumes a typical reference in the baskets to the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus will not have anything wasted, and each apostle fills his travelling wallet with the surplus. John indicates nothing further, not even that the Lord wished to provide (Euthymius Zigabenus, Erasmus, and most others).
[226] Luther’s translation, “as much as He would ,” rests upon an unsupported reading in Erasmus, edd. 1 and 2.
[227] By Ewald ( Gesch. Chr . p. 442 sq. Exo 3 ) apprehended ideally , like the turning of the water into wine at Cana, as a legend , upon the formation of which great influence was excited by the holy feeling of higher satisfaction, which resulted from the participation in the bread of life partaken of by the disciples after Christ’s resurrection. This is incompatible with the personal recollection and testimony of John, whom Hase, indeed, supposes by some accident to have been absent from the scene. With equally laboured and mistaken logic, Schleiermacher ( L. J . 234) endeavours to show that ver. 26 excludes this event from the category of . Weizscker leaves the fact, which is here the symbol of the blessing of Jesus, in perfect uncertainty; but the description by an eye-witness of the work effected in its miraculous character, which only leaves the how unexplained, does not admit of such an evasion.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
Ver. 10. Make the men sit down ] And they did so, though they saw no sense for it. This kind of blind obedience is very acceptable: Clausis oculis Deum sequi debemus ducem. We must wink and put ourselves into God’s hand to be led whither he pleaseth.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
10. ] , in accordance with the time of year, the latter end of spring, after the rainy season.
On see Mark and Luke, who describe the manner.
] This is a particular touch of accuracy in the account of an eye-witness which has not I think been noticed. Why in the other accounts should mention be made only of the men in numbering them? Matt. has, it is true, . . ., leaving it to be inferred that there was some means of distinguishing; the others merely give [ ] . without any explanation. But here we see how it came to be so the men alone were arranged in companies, or alone arranged so that any account was taken of them: the women and children being served promiscuously; who indeed, if the multitude were a paschal caravan (?), or parts of many such, would not be likely to be very numerous; and here again we have a point of minute truthfulness brought out.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 6:10 . The moral ground for the miracle being thus prepared Jesus at once says, . [For the form of speech cf. Soph., Philoct. , 925, .] This order was given for two reasons: (1) that there might be no unseemly crowding round Him and crushing out of the weaker; and (2) that they might understand they were to have a full meal, not a mere bite they could take in their hand in passing. Obedience to this request tested the faith of the crowd. They trusted Jesus. , “now there was much grass in the place,” contrasting with the corn-lands and olive-yards of the opposite shore, where the large crowd could not easily have found a place to lie down. Mark rather brings out the contrast between the colours of the dresses and the green grass (Joh 6:39 ): . , like beds of flowers. [better ] the men reclined, not counting women and children ( , Mat 14:21 ), in number about five thousand; the women, though not specified, would take their places with the men. Some of the children might steal up to Jesus to receive from His own hand.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
men. App-123.
sit down = recline.
Now, &c. See note on “and we”, Joh 1:14. in. Greek en. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
10.] , in accordance with the time of year, the latter end of spring, after the rainy season.
On see Mark and Luke, who describe the manner.
] This is a particular touch of accuracy in the account of an eye-witness which has not I think been noticed. Why in the other accounts should mention be made only of the men in numbering them? Matt. has, it is true, . . ., leaving it to be inferred that there was some means of distinguishing;-the others merely give [] . without any explanation. But here we see how it came to be so-the men alone were arranged in companies, or alone arranged so that any account was taken of them: the women and children being served promiscuously; who indeed, if the multitude were a paschal caravan (?), or parts of many such, would not be likely to be very numerous;-and here again we have a point of minute truthfulness brought out.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 6:10. , make to sit down) The faith of the disciples and of the people is put to trial.-, grass) A convenience for sitting down.- , the men) The number of them was counted, without the women and children.-, distributed) by the hand of the disciples.-, as much as) This refers to the loaves and to the fishes.-, they were wishing) Comp. Psa 145:16, Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 6:10
Joh 6:10
Jesus said, Make the people sit down.-There is no doubt in the movement or purposes of Jesus. Without ostentation or boasting he proposed and effected the most stupendous and impossible things with all the assurance and composure that others undertake the most commonplace affairs of life. So he seated the multitude.
Now there was much grass in the place.-It was April, the time for grass and flowers.
So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.-[About, not exactly five thousand. Mark tells that they sat down in companies. About one loaf to every thousand men. Matthew states besides women and children. How many of these is not stated.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Make: Mat 14:18, Mat 14:19, Mat 15:35, Mat 15:36, Mar 6:39-41, Mar 8:6, Mar 8:7, Luk 9:14-16
Now: No wonder, since it was the spring, being near the passover; and, from the plenty of grass, it would be a place much more suitable to the purpose. This circumstance, says Dr. Paley, is plainly the remark of an eye-witness.
Reciprocal: Jos 6:12 – the priests Isa 44:8 – neither Mat 14:21 – about
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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There was much grass. This fact is mentioned to show the propriety of asking the people to sit down. It would have required another miracle to provide seats for five thousand people, hence it was perfectly reasonable to have them sit down, when there was an abundance of the green grass on which to be seated.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 6:10. Jesus said, Make the people sit down. The people, a general word, including both men and women, is used here. They are directed to sit down, partly for the sake of order and ease in the distribution of the food, but also because the Lord is preparing to set a feast before them, and they sit down with Him as His guests.
Now there was much grass in the place. So Mark speaks of the green grass,a minute but interesting coincidence. The circumstance is one that an eye-witness would naturally note, especially after relating the direction given that the multitude should sit down. John alone has given the season of the year (Joh 6:4); on this day of early spring the grass would be flourishing and abundant.
So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. The men are now singled out for special mention, probably because they, according to the custom of the East, sat down first. We may also suppose that the number of women and children would not be very large.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Ver. 10. But Jesus said: Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men sat down, therefore, in number about five thousand.
In these scanty provisions Jesus has found that which He needs, the material on which omnipotence can work. Now, in His view, the banquet is prepared, the table spread: Make the people sit down, He says to His apostles. The mountain-plateaus which rise behind the site of Bethsaida Julias displayed, at that time, their spring-time verdure. Mark, as well as John, draws the picture of this grassy carpet on which the multitudes took their places ( Joh 6:39). He describes, likewise, the cheerful spectacle which was presented by these regular ranks ( , ) of hundreds and fifties. denotes the men in the restricted meaning of the word; if they alone are indicated, it is not, as Meyer alleges, because the women and children were not seated, but because they kept themselves apart and the men only werecounted. Women and children, in the East, always keep themselves at a respectful distance from the head of the family and his guests.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
When the disciples had confessed their own inadequacy Jesus proceeded to demonstrate His adequacy. He instructed the disciples to seat the multitude on the comfortable grass. Perhaps we should view Jesus as the Good Shepherd making His sheep lie down in green pastures (cf. Psa 23:2). Perhaps Jesus did this also to discourage the people from rushing madly for the food once they realized what was happening. All four evangelists recorded the size of the crowd in terms of the males present. This was customary since these people lived in a predominantly paternalistic culture. The scene also recalls Moses feeding the Israelites in the wilderness with bread from heaven.