Mark 6:38

KJV

He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

KJV (with Strong's)

{G1161} He saith {G3004} unto them {G846}, How many {G4214} loaves {G740} have ye {G2192}? go {G5217} and {G2532} see {G1492}. And {G2532} when they knew {G1097}, they say {G3004}, Five {G4002}, and {G2532} two {G1417} fishes {G2486}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He asked them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and check." When they had found out, they said, "Five. And two fish."

Berean Standard Bible

“Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

American Standard Version

And he saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 6:38 captures a pivotal moment preceding one of Jesus' most remarkable miracles: the feeding of the five thousand. Faced with a vast, hungry multitude in a desolate region, Jesus challenges His disciples to assess their meager resources. His probing question, "How many loaves have ye? go and see," serves not out of ignorance, but as a pedagogical test, compelling them to confront their human limitations and the apparent inadequacy of their provisions, which they ultimately report as "Five, and two fishes." This exchange sets the stage for a profound demonstration of divine power and provision that transcends human capacity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus and His disciples seeking a quiet retreat after their intense missionary journey and the tragic news of John the Baptist's execution. Their desire for rest is interrupted by an immense crowd, whom Jesus perceives as "sheep not having a shepherd" ([Mark 6:34](/mark/6-34 "Mark 6:34 - Jesus' Compassion for the Crowd")). As evening approaches, the disciples, recognizing the logistical impossibility of feeding such a multitude, suggest sending them away to find food in the surrounding villages ([Mark 6:36](/mark/6-36 "Mark 6:36 - Disciples' Practical Suggestion")). Jesus' direct counter-question in [Mark 6:37](/mark/6-37 "Mark 6:37 - Jesus' Command to Feed Them")—"Give ye them to eat"—and then the specific inquiry in [Mark 6:38](/mark/6-38 "Mark 6:38 - The Disciples' Inventory") shifts the responsibility back to them, forcing them to confront their own capabilities and the resources at hand before the miraculous intervention.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is likely a remote, uncultivated area near Bethsaida on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, as indicated in [Luke 9:10](/luke/9-10 "Luke 9:10 - Location of the Feeding"). Such a location would have limited access to food markets, making the disciples' suggestion to send the crowd away practical from a human perspective. Loaves (likely barley bread) and fish were the staple diet of the common people in Galilee, a simple and inexpensive meal. The mention of "five loaves and two fishes" thus highlights the extreme scarcity of provisions for such a large crowd, emphasizing the humble nature of the resources available to Jesus before His divine multiplication. The disciples' immediate assessment reflects the common practice of carrying personal provisions for journeys.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 6:38 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the Gospel of Mark. It underscores the theme of **Divine Provision from Scarcity**, illustrating how God can work powerfully through seemingly insignificant resources when presented in faith. The interaction also serves as a **Testing of Faith** for the disciples, challenging their human-centric problem-solving and preparing them to witness God's supernatural power. Furthermore, it highlights Jesus' profound **Compassion and Responsibility** for the physical needs of the multitude, contrasting with the disciples' initial inclination to dismiss the crowd. This episode also prefigures Jesus' role as the ultimate **Bread of Life**, a theme more fully developed in [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - The Bread of Life Discourse"), where He later explains the spiritual significance of this miracle.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **saith (Greek, _légō'_):** From G3004, meaning "to lay forth" or "relate in words," often implying systematic or set discourse. Here, Jesus' "saith" (λέγει) is not a casual remark but a deliberate, authoritative utterance, a direct command and inquiry intended to elicit a specific response and guide the disciples' understanding. It conveys His intentionality in engaging them in the problem-solving process.
* **have ye (Greek, _échō'_):** From G2192, meaning "to hold," "possess," or "have." Jesus' question, "How many loaves *have ye*?" (πόσους ἄρτους ἔχετε;) directly challenges the disciples to take inventory of their own current possessions. It shifts the focus from an external, impossible solution to an internal assessment of what meager resources are already within their reach, however insufficient they might seem.
* **knew (Greek, _ginṓskō'_):** From G1097, meaning "to know" (absolutely), often implying a process of coming to know or perceiving. The phrase "when they knew" (γνόντες) indicates that the disciples had to actively "go and see" (ὑπάγετε ἴδετε) to ascertain the exact amount. Their "knowing" was a result of diligent investigation, confirming the scarcity of food and setting the stage for the magnitude of the miracle to follow.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He saith unto them,"**: This opening phrase establishes Jesus as the initiator of the dialogue, emphasizing His leadership and intentionality in engaging His disciples. It highlights that the subsequent inquiry is a deliberate teaching moment, not a casual question.
* **"How many loaves have ye?"**: This is Jesus' direct challenge to His disciples. It forces them to look inward and assess their current resources rather than immediately dismissing the problem as too large or someone else's responsibility. The question is designed to expose their human limitations and the inadequacy of their provisions.
* **"go and see."**: This imperative command instructs the disciples to physically investigate and verify what provisions are actually available among them or the crowd. It demands a practical, tangible assessment, preventing mere speculation and grounding the upcoming miracle in a clear demonstration of human insufficiency.
* **"And when they knew,"**: This clause signifies the disciples' compliance with Jesus' command and the result of their investigation. It implies a process of discovery and confirmation, where they actively sought out and verified the available food, acknowledging the stark reality of their limited resources.
* **"they say, Five, and two fishes."**: This is the disciples' report, a concise and stark declaration of the meager provisions found. The specific numbers—five loaves and two fishes—underscore the extreme inadequacy of the food for such a vast crowd, setting a dramatic contrast between human capacity and divine power.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several effective literary devices. **Interrogative** is central, as Jesus' question "How many loaves have ye?" serves not merely to gain information (for [John 6:6](/john/6-6 "John 6:6 - Jesus Knew What He Would Do") reveals He already knew what He would do), but to provoke thought, expose the disciples' limitations, and prepare them for a divine revelation. This subtle **Irony** highlights Jesus' omniscience and His pedagogical method. Furthermore, the stark **Contrast** between the immense need of the crowd and the paltry "Five, and two fishes" dramatically emphasizes the human inability to solve the problem, thereby magnifying the power of the subsequent miracle. The passage also functions as a **Didactic** moment, teaching the disciples (and readers) about faith, stewardship, and God's boundless capacity for provision.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 6:38 serves as a profound theological statement on divine sufficiency and human insufficiency. It underscores the principle that God often begins His greatest works with our humble offerings, not our abundance. The disciples' assessment of "five loaves and two fishes" represents the totality of human capacity when confronted with overwhelming need, highlighting the chasm between what humanity can provide and what God can accomplish. This moment teaches that true provision comes not from human ingenuity or resources, but from Christ's divine power, which transforms scarcity into superabundance. It is a powerful prefigurement of God's ability to meet all needs, both physical and spiritual, through seemingly inadequate means.

* [Matthew 14:17](/matthew/14-17 "Matthew 14:17 - The Disciples' Report")
* [Luke 9:13](/luke/9-13 "Luke 9:13 - Jesus' Command to Feed Them")
* [John 6:9](/john/6-9 "John 6:9 - Andrew's Discovery of the Boy's Lunch")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 6:38 holds timeless relevance for believers today, challenging our perspectives on resourcefulness, faith, and divine provision. In moments of overwhelming need, whether personal or communal, our natural inclination is often to focus on our limitations and the vastness of the problem, leading to despair or the desire to send people away. This verse calls us to a different posture: first, to honestly assess what we *do* possess, however small or insignificant it may seem. It encourages us to bring our "five loaves and two fishes"—our limited talents, time, finances, or energy—to Jesus, trusting that He is not constrained by our scarcity. The command "go and see" is an invitation to active, faithful stewardship of the present, believing that God can take our humble offerings and multiply them for His glorious purposes, far beyond what we could ever imagine or achieve on our own.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "five loaves and two fishes" do you currently possess that you might be overlooking or deeming insufficient for the challenges you face?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to "send the crowd away" (dismiss a problem) rather than bringing your limited resources to Jesus?**
* **How does this passage encourage you to trust God's ability to work powerfully through your perceived weaknesses or inadequacies?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jesus ask the disciples how many loaves they had if He already knew what He was going to do?**

Answer: Jesus' question was not born out of ignorance but served a profound pedagogical purpose. As [John 6:6](/john/6-6 "John 6:6 - Jesus Knew What He Would Do") explicitly states, "He himself knew what he would do." By asking, Jesus was testing His disciples' faith and understanding. He wanted them to confront the magnitude of the problem (thousands of hungry people) and the stark inadequacy of their own resources ("Five, and two fishes"). This process forced them to acknowledge their human limitations, preparing them to witness a divine miracle that would transcend all human capacity. It was a lesson in dependence on God, demonstrating that God often uses our perceived insufficiencies as the starting point for His abundant provision.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 6:38, with its stark contrast between overwhelming need and meager resources, powerfully foreshadows Christ's ultimate role as the divine Provider and the true "Bread of Life." The temporary physical sustenance offered through the multiplication of loaves and fish points to the eternal spiritual nourishment found in Jesus Christ. Just as He took the humble offerings of five loaves and two fish and miraculously fed thousands, so too does He offer Himself—His body broken and blood shed—as the ultimate provision for humanity's deepest spiritual hunger. This miracle prefigures the [Eucharist](/1_corinthians/11-23-26 "1 Corinthians 11:23-26 - The Lord's Supper"), where believers partake of symbols representing Christ's body and blood, remembering His sacrifice and receiving spiritual sustenance. Furthermore, this act of compassion and boundless provision aligns perfectly with Jesus' declaration in [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." The miracle in Mark 6:38 is not merely a historical event but a tangible demonstration of God's character and Christ's identity as the one who satisfies every need, both temporal and eternal.

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

Mark 8:5

And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

Matthew 15:34

And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

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.

Matthew 14:17

And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

Matthew 14:18

He said, Bring them hither to me.

John 6:9

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?