Mark 6:41

And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave [them] to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

And {G2532} when he had taken {G2983} the five {G4002} loaves {G740} and {G2532} the two {G1417} fishes {G2486}, he looked up {G308} to {G1519} heaven {G3772}, and blessed {G2127}, and {G2532} brake {G2622} the loaves {G740}, and {G2532} gave {G1325} them to his {G846} disciples {G3101} to {G2443} set before {G3908} them {G846}; and {G2532} the two {G1417} fishes {G2486} divided he {G3307} among them all {G3956}.

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up toward heaven, made a b'rakhah. Next he broke up the loaves and began giving them to the talmidim to distribute. He also divided up the two fish among them all.

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake the loaves; and he gave to the disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

Context of Mark 6:41

Mark 6:41 is a pivotal moment within the beloved narrative of Jesus feeding the five thousand, a miracle recorded in all four Gospels. Following the disciples' concern about how to feed the massive crowd in a desolate place, and their declaration of having only "five loaves and two fishes" (Mark 6:38), this verse highlights Jesus' specific actions immediately prior to the miraculous multiplication. It sets the stage for how the multitude was fed to satisfaction, demonstrating Jesus' compassion (Mark 6:34) and divine power.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Authority and Power: Jesus, with simple elements, demonstrates His absolute power over creation, preparing to multiply food for thousands. This act underscores His identity as the Son of God.
  • Dependence on God the Father: Jesus' action of "looked up to heaven, and blessed" signifies a profound act of prayer and thanksgiving. It teaches that even the Son of God operated in full dependence on the Father, acknowledging the source of all provision and power.
  • Involvement of the Disciples: Jesus gave the blessed and broken loaves to His disciples to set before the crowd. This highlights their crucial role as intermediaries, not just passive observers. They became instruments of Jesus' blessing, foreshadowing their future ministry in distributing the spiritual "bread of life."
  • Abundance from Scarcity: The miracle powerfully conveys that God can take seemingly insignificant resources (five loaves and two fishes) and, through His blessing, transform them into an abundant supply, far exceeding human expectation.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "and blessed" comes from the Greek word eulogeō (εὐλογέω). This term means "to speak well of," "to praise," or "to invoke divine favor upon." In this context, it signifies Jesus giving thanks to God for the food and consecrating it, invoking God's power to provide. It is more than a simple table grace; it is a profound act of acknowledging God's sovereignty and inviting His miraculous intervention.

The word "brake" (Greek: klaō, κλάω) refers to the common practice of breaking bread, which was typical for sharing meals in that culture. However, in Jesus' hands, this ordinary action became the catalyst for an extraordinary miracle. This act of breaking bread also carries significant theological weight, anticipating the symbolism of the breaking of bread at the Last Supper, pointing to His body given for many.

Practical Application

Mark 6:41 offers timeless lessons for believers today. Firstly, it encourages us to bring our meager resources, talents, and time to Jesus, trusting that He can take what little we have and, through His blessing, multiply it to meet great needs, both in our lives and in the lives of others. It reminds us that our limitations are not God's limitations.

Secondly, the verse underscores the importance of prayer and thanksgiving in all circumstances. Like Jesus, we are called to look to God, acknowledge His sovereignty, and give thanks before we act, trusting that true provision comes from Him. Finally, it challenges us to be willing participants in God's work. Just as the disciples distributed the food, we are called to be instruments through whom God's blessings flow to a hungry world, whether those needs are physical, emotional, or spiritual. This verse inspires faith in God's boundless ability to supply all our needs.

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.

  • 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 7:34

    And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

  • Luke 24:30

    And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed [it], and brake, and gave to them.

  • 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.

  • 1 Samuel 9:13

    As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

  • 1 Timothy 4:4

    For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

  • 1 Timothy 4:5

    For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

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