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.

And {G1161} Jesus {G2424} said {G2036}, Make {G4160} the men {G444} sit down {G377}. Now {G1161} there was {G2258} much {G4183} grass {G5528} in {G1722} the place {G5117}. So {G3767} the men {G435} sat down {G377}, in number {G706} about {G5616} five thousand {G4000}.

Yeshua said, “Have the people sit down.” There was a lot of grass there, so they sat down. The number of men was about five thousand.

“Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them.

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.

John 6:10 is a crucial verse in the narrative of the feeding of the five thousand, highlighting Jesus' divine authority and the orderly nature of His miraculous provision. It sets the stage for one of the most significant miracles recorded in all four Gospels.

Context

This verse immediately precedes the miraculous distribution of bread and fish to a massive crowd. Jesus and His disciples were on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, likely near Bethsaida, and a large multitude had followed Him, drawn by His healing miracles (John 6:2). With the Passover feast drawing near, the presence of such a large gathering was not uncommon. Faced with the practical problem of feeding so many, Jesus takes command, demonstrating His awareness of the situation and His plan for provision.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority and Order: Jesus' simple command, "Make the men sit down," underscores His absolute authority and the divine order He brings to chaotic situations. Even before the miracle, He establishes a structured environment, ensuring everyone is organized and accounted for. This contrasts with potential pandemonium if the crowd remained standing.
  • Anticipation of Abundance: The detail, "Now there was much grass in the place," is not merely a scenic description. It implies a comfortable, abundant setting suitable for a large gathering to recline as if at a banquet. It subtly foreshadows the abundant provision Jesus is about to give, where there will be more than enough for everyone.
  • Immense Human Need: The stated number, "in number about five thousand," refers specifically to men, implying that the total crowd, including women and children (as noted in parallel accounts like Matthew 14:21), was considerably larger. This emphasizes the vast scale of the human need that Jesus was about to meet with very limited resources.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "sit down" is anaklinō (ἀνακλίνω), which often means "to recline" or "to lie down," particularly at a meal. This detail suggests that Jesus intended for them to be positioned as if at a banquet, adding to the imagery of a divine feast. The precision of "five thousand" (πεντακισχίλιοι - pentakischilioi) highlights the exactness of the count, further emphasizing the magnitude of the miracle that was about to unfold.

Reflection and Application

John 6:10 offers profound lessons for believers today. It reminds us that Jesus is a God of order, not confusion, even amidst great challenges. When we face overwhelming needs or seemingly impossible situations, we are called to trust in His authority and His ability to bring order and provide abundantly. Just as He instructed the disciples to organize the crowd, we are often called to prepare ourselves in faith for God's miraculous work. This verse encourages us to surrender our limited resources and trust His boundless power to meet our needs and even exceed our expectations, just as He did for the vast crowd on the grassy plain. The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand is a powerful demonstration of Jesus' identity as the true Bread of Life.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 9:14

    For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

  • Luke 9:16

    Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

  • Matthew 14:18

    He said, Bring them hither to me.

  • Matthew 14:19

    And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to [his] disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

  • Mark 8:6

    And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before [them]; and they did set [them] before the people.

  • Mark 8:7

    And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before [them].

  • Matthew 15:35

    And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

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