Bible Commentary

When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. 15. take him by force ] Carry Him up to Jerusalem and proclaim Him king at the Passover. This again is peculiar to S. John. In his Epic he … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:15”

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. 14. Then those men ] Rather, The men therefore. the miracle that Jesus did ] Better, the sign that He did. The name Jesus has been inserted here, as … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:14”

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. 13. baskets ] All four accounts have the same word for basket, cophinus, i.e. the wallet which every Jew carried when on a journey, to keep himself independent … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:13”

When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 12. Gather up the fragments ] S. John alone tells of this command, though the others tell us that the fragments were gathered up. It has been noticed as a strong mark of truth, most unlikely … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:12”

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. 11. when he had given thanks ] The usual grace before meat said by the head of the house or … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:11”

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, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:10”

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 9. a lad ] And therefore able to carry very little. The word is a diminutive in the Greek, a little lad; it might also mean ‘servant,’ but this is less likely. barley loaves … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:9”

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 8. One of his disciples ] Of course this does not imply that Philip was not a disciple; the meaning rather is, that a disciple had been appealed to without results, and now a disciple makes a communication out of which good results flow. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:8”

Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 7. Two hundred pennyworth ] Two hundred shillingsworth would more accurately represent the original. The denarius was the ordinary wage for a day’s work (Mat 20:2; comp. Luk 10:35); in weight of silver … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:7”

And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 6. to prove him ] This need not mean more than to try whether he could suggest any way out of the difficulty; but the more probable meaning is to test his faith, to try what impression Christ’s words and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:6”