Mark 6:37

KJV

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

He answered {G611} and {G1161} said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Give {G1325} ye {G5210} them {G846} to eat {G5315}. And {G2532} they say {G3004} unto him {G846}, Shall we go {G565} and buy {G59} two hundred {G1250} pennyworth {G1220} of bread {G740}, and {G2532} give {G1325} them {G846} to eat {G5315}?

Complete Jewish Bible

But he answered them, "Give them something to eat, yourselves!" They replied, "We are to go and spend thousands on bread, and give it to them to eat?"

Berean Standard Bible

But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?”

American Standard Version

But he answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred shillings’ worth of bread, and give them to eat?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 6:37 captures a pivotal exchange between Jesus and His disciples just before the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, starkly illustrating the chasm between human limitations and divine power. Following Jesus' compassionate observation of the vast, hungry crowd, He issues a direct command to His disciples to feed them. Their immediate response, rooted in human logic and financial constraints, reveals their incredulity, calculating the immense cost required—a sum equivalent to eight months' wages—thereby setting the stage for Jesus to demonstrate His supernatural provision.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the broader narrative of Jesus' ministry in Galilee, specifically following the disciples' return from their first missionary journey and the tragic news of John the Baptist's death. Jesus, seeking a quiet place for rest and teaching, finds Himself confronted by an immense crowd. The immediate verses, [Mark 6:34-36](/mark/6-34-36 "Mark 6:34-36 - Jesus' Compassion and Disciples' Suggestion"), describe Jesus' deep compassion for the people, whom He saw as "sheep without a shepherd," and the disciples' practical, but limited, suggestion to send the crowds away to buy food. Jesus' command in [Mark 6:37](/mark/6-37 "Mark 6:37 - Jesus Commands the Disciples to Feed the Crowd") directly challenges their human-centric solution, initiating the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, a narrative also found in the other Gospels ([Matthew 14:13-21](/matthew/14-13-21 "Matthew 14:13-21 - Feeding the Five Thousand"), [Luke 9:10-17](/luke/9-10-17 "Luke 9:10-17 - Feeding the Five Thousand"), [John 6:1-14](/john/6-1-14 "John 6:1-14 - Feeding the Five Thousand")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is a desolate place, likely on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, far from towns or markets where such a large multitude could easily purchase food. The Jewish cultural expectation was that hospitality included providing food for guests, especially in such a remote area. The "two hundred pennyworth" (200 denarii) mentioned by the disciples was a significant sum. A denarius was a common day's wage for a laborer, meaning 200 denarii represented approximately eight months' wages. This figure underscores the sheer impossibility of the disciples meeting the need from their own resources or even from readily available communal funds, highlighting the economic reality of their situation and the vast scale of the crowd, estimated later to be five thousand men, besides women and children.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 6:37 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Mark's Gospel. It highlights the theme of **Divine Authority and Provision**, contrasting Jesus' omnipotence with human inadequacy. Jesus' command, "Give ye them to eat," asserts His authority and intent to provide, challenging the disciples' reliance on their limited resources. This exchange also develops the theme of **Discipleship and Faith**, as the disciples are confronted with a task seemingly beyond their capabilities, forcing them to look beyond their own means. Their question reveals their **Limited Understanding** of Jesus' power, a recurring motif in Mark, where the disciples often struggle to grasp the full implications of Jesus' identity and mission, despite witnessing His miracles (e.g., [Mark 4:41](/mark/4-41 "Mark 4:41 - Disciples' Fear After Calming the Storm")). Ultimately, this event serves as a foundational example of Jesus' compassion and His ability to meet both physical and spiritual needs, foreshadowing His identity as the true "Bread of Life" as later expounded in [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - Jesus, the Bread of Life").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **answered (Greek, _apokrínomai'_):** This verb (G611) means "to conclude for oneself, i.e., to respond." In a Hebraic sense, it can also mean "to begin to speak where an address is expected." Here, it signifies Jesus' direct and decisive response to the disciples' suggestion to send the crowds away. It's not merely a casual reply but a deliberate counter-command, setting a new course of action.
* **Give (Greek, _dídōmi'_):** This verb (G1325) is a primary verb meaning "to give," used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively. In this context, it is a direct imperative from Jesus: "You give them to eat." This command is a test, pushing the disciples beyond their natural capacities and forcing them to confront their limitations and Jesus' extraordinary expectations. It implies a transfer of responsibility and an invitation to participate in divine provision.
* **pennyworth (Greek, _dēnárion'_):** Derived from Latin, this noun (G1220) refers to a denarius, a Roman silver coin that was the typical daily wage for a common laborer. The mention of "two hundred pennyworth" (200 denarii) immediately conveys a substantial financial sum, equivalent to approximately eight months' wages. This detail highlights the disciples' practical, economic assessment of the situation, underscoring the human impossibility of the task from their perspective.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He answered and said unto them, 'Give ye them to eat.'"**: Jesus, responding to the disciples' suggestion to dismiss the crowds, issues a direct and challenging command. His words are not a question but an imperative, shifting the responsibility from the crowds to the disciples. This command forces them to consider how they, with their limited resources, could possibly feed such a vast multitude, setting up the dramatic demonstration of divine provision that follows.
* **"And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?"**: The disciples' immediate reaction is one of incredulity and practical calculation. Their question is rhetorical, expressing the perceived impossibility of the task. They instantly calculate the immense financial outlay required ("two hundred pennyworth," or 200 denarii), highlighting the overwhelming scale of the need and their own utter inadequacy to meet it through conventional means. Their response reveals their human perspective, focused on visible resources and logistical constraints, rather than on Jesus' divine power.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as Jesus, the Son of God with infinite resources, commands His financially limited disciples to perform an impossible task. This creates a tension that is resolved by the subsequent miracle, highlighting the stark contrast between human limitation and divine capability. **Contrast** is also a key element, seen in the juxtaposition of Jesus' divine command ("Give ye them to eat") and the disciples' human, pragmatic response ("Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread?"). This contrast emphasizes the disciples' lack of understanding and faith at this moment. Finally, the disciples' question itself functions as a **Rhetorical Question**, not seeking an actual answer from Jesus about buying bread, but rather expressing their astonishment, disbelief, and the perceived absurdity of the command from a purely human standpoint.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 6:37 serves as a profound theological statement on God's nature as provider and humanity's call to faith despite perceived impossibilities. Jesus' command to "Give ye them to eat" is not merely a logistical instruction but a test of the disciples' faith, pushing them beyond their reliance on human resources and toward dependence on divine power. It underscores the principle that God often calls His people to tasks that exceed their natural abilities, precisely so that His power, not theirs, may be glorified. The disciples' focus on the "two hundred pennyworth" reveals a common human tendency to measure divine challenges by earthly metrics, limiting God's capacity to our own understanding. This episode teaches that true provision comes not from our abundance, but from God's limitless supply, often channeled through our meager offerings when surrendered to Him.

* [Matthew 14:15-21](/matthew/14-15-21 "Matthew 14:15-21 - The Miraculous Feeding of the Five Thousand")
* [John 6:5-7](/john/6-5-7 "John 6:5-7 - Philip's Question Regarding Provision")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 6:37 offers a timeless lesson for believers navigating the challenges of life and ministry. We, much like the disciples, often face situations that seem overwhelming, whether it's a daunting personal calling, a pressing community need, or an impossible financial burden. Our natural inclination is to calculate, to assess our own resources, and to conclude that the task is simply too big, too expensive, or too complex. Jesus' command to "Give ye them to eat" challenges us to move beyond this human-centric perspective. It calls us to recognize that our limitations are merely opportunities for God's limitless power to be displayed. The application for us today is to surrender our meager resources, our limited understanding, and our initial sense of impossibility to Christ. When God calls us to a task, He also provides the means, often in ways we cannot foresee or imagine. Our obedience, even when it seems illogical, opens the door for His miraculous provision and transforms our faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "impossible" tasks or needs has God placed before you recently, and how have you reacted to them?**
* **In what areas of your life do you tend to rely more on your own resources and calculations than on God's limitless provision?**
* **How might you cultivate a greater posture of faith and obedience, even when God's commands seem to defy human logic or capability?**
* **What small "loaves and fish" do you possess that God might be asking you to offer, trusting Him to multiply them for a greater purpose?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus ask the disciples to feed the crowd when He knew He would perform a miracle?**

Answer: Jesus' command was a pedagogical tool, designed to reveal the disciples' limitations and to deepen their faith. He knew He would feed the multitude, but He wanted the disciples to confront the overwhelming need and their own inadequacy first. This experience was crucial for their spiritual development, teaching them to depend on His divine power rather than their human resources. It was a test, as [John 6:6](/john/6-6 "John 6:6 - Jesus Tests Philip") explicitly states in the parallel account, to show them that true provision comes from Him alone.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 6:37, while seemingly a simple logistical exchange, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment of God's provision. Jesus' command to "Give ye them to eat" and the disciples' incredulous response highlight the fundamental human inability to meet the world's deepest hunger. This physical feeding miracle points to Jesus' identity as the true [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), who alone can satisfy the spiritual hunger of humanity. Just as He miraculously multiplied a few loaves and fish to feed thousands, so too did He offer His own body and blood as the ultimate sustenance for eternal life ([John 6:48-51](/john/6-48-51 "John 6:48-51 - Jesus' Flesh as True Food")). The disciples' calculation of "two hundred pennyworth" underscores the infinite cost of sin, a debt that no human resource could ever pay. Christ, however, paid that immeasurable cost with His own life, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice. This episode also serves as a model for the Church's mission: to participate in Christ's ongoing work of compassion and provision, not by our own strength or wealth, but by faithfully offering what little we have to Him, trusting that He will multiply it to meet the vast needs of a lost and hungry world ([Matthew 25:35](/matthew/25-35 "Matthew 25:35 - Feeding the Hungry")). Jesus' sympathetic understanding of human weakness ([Hebrews 4:15-16](/hebrews/4-15-16 "Hebrews 4:15-16 - Jesus Sympathizes with Our Weaknesses")) is evident in His patient teaching of the disciples, preparing them to be instruments of His abundant grace.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 4:42

And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

2 Kings 4:44

So he set [it] before them, and they did eat, and left [thereof], according to the word of the LORD.

Numbers 11:13

Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

Matthew 15:32

Then Jesus called his disciples [unto him], and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

Matthew 15:33

And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

Luke 9:13

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

Mark 8:2

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: