John 6:7

Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

Philip {G5376} answered {G611} him {G846}, Two hundred {G1250} pennyworth {G1220} of bread {G740} is {G714} not {G3756} sufficient {G714} for them {G846}, that {G2443} every one {G1538} of them {G846} may take {G2983} a {G5100} little {G1024}.

Philip answered, “Half a year’s wages wouldn’t buy enough bread for them — each one would get only a bite!”

Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.”

Philip answered him, Two hundred shillings’ worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.

Context

John 6:7 is a pivotal moment preceding Jesus' miraculous feeding of over five thousand people. After seeing the large crowd, Jesus poses a question to Philip in John 6:5, "Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" This verse records Philip’s immediate, pragmatic, and financially-focused response, highlighting the human perspective before Jesus demonstrates His divine power.

Key Themes

  • Human Limitation vs. Divine Provision: Philip's answer starkly highlights the inadequacy of human resources and logic when faced with a seemingly impossible task. He calculates the immense cost (200 denarii) but fails to consider Jesus' divine power. This sets the stage for Jesus to demonstrate His ability to provide supernaturally, far beyond human means.
  • Testing of Faith: Jesus' question was not because He lacked a plan, but to test Philip and the disciples (as noted in John 6:6). Philip's response reveals a reliance on earthly economics rather than spiritual faith in Jesus' capabilities. It underscores the ongoing lesson for disciples to look beyond their own limitations to God's boundless power.

Linguistic Insight

The term "pennyworth" refers to a denarius, which was a common silver Roman coin, typically representing a day's wage for a laborer. Thus, "two hundred pennyworth" would be the equivalent of roughly two hundred days' wages, a substantial sum that Philip correctly assessed as insufficient to feed such a vast multitude adequately, even for "a little" for each person.

Practical Application

This verse encourages believers to consider where their focus lies when faced with overwhelming challenges. Do we, like Philip, immediately calculate the human impossibility, or do we remember that "with God nothing shall be impossible"? It’s a call to move beyond merely human arithmetic and trust in God's infinite resources and power to meet needs, often in ways we cannot foresee.

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.

  • Mark 6:37

    He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

  • Numbers 11:21

    And Moses said, The people, among whom I [am, are] six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.

  • Numbers 11:22

    Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?

  • John 12:5

    Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

  • 2 Kings 4:43

    And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave [thereof].

  • Matthew 18:28

    But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

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