Mark 6:38

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

{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}.

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

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

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

Commentary

Mark 6:38 captures a pivotal moment just before one of Jesus' most famous miracles: the feeding of the five thousand. Faced with a vast crowd in a desolate place, Jesus challenges His disciples to consider their resources.

Context

This verse is set after the disciples return from their mission trip and the tragic news of John the Baptist's death. Jesus and His disciples sought a quiet place for rest and teaching, but a great multitude followed them, described as "sheep not having a shepherd" (Mark 6:34). As evening approached, the disciples suggested sending the hungry crowds away to buy food (Mark 6:36). However, Jesus posed a direct question, shifting the responsibility to them: "How many loaves have ye? go and see." This inquiry was not because Jesus Himself was unaware of the solution, for John 6:6 reveals He already knew what He would do. It was a test, prompting the disciples to acknowledge their limited human capacity and the meager resources at hand: "Five, and two fishes."

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision from Scarcity: The verse highlights the stark contrast between immense need (thousands of hungry people) and incredibly limited human resources (five small loaves and two fish). This sets the stage for God's miraculous power to work through insufficiency.
  • Testing of Faith: Jesus' question served to test the disciples' faith and reveal their human perspective on the problem. It compelled them to look inward at what they possessed, rather than immediately looking outward for an impossible solution.
  • Stewardship of the Present: The command "go and see" emphasizes the importance of assessing and presenting what one already has, however small or inadequate it may seem. God often begins His great works with our humble offerings.
  • Compassion and Responsibility: Despite the disciples' initial inclination to dismiss the crowd, Jesus demonstrates profound compassion by taking responsibility for their physical needs, involving His followers in the process.

Linguistic Insight

The Greek words for "loaves" (artous - ἄρτους) and "fishes" (ichthyas - ἰχθύας) refer to common, simple fare, likely barley loaves and small dried fish. This detail underscores the humble nature of the provision that Jesus would miraculously multiply, emphasizing that the power came not from the quantity or quality of the food, but from His divine authority.

Practical Application

Mark 6:38 offers timeless lessons for believers today. Often, we feel overwhelmed by challenges, both personal and communal, and our resources seem utterly inadequate. This verse encourages us to:

  1. Assess What You Have: Instead of focusing on what you lack, take inventory of your current gifts, talents, time, or resources, however small they may appear.
  2. Present It to God: Like the disciples, we are called to bring our "five loaves and two fishes" to Jesus. He can take our seemingly insignificant offerings and multiply them beyond our wildest imagination for His purposes.
  3. Trust in Divine Multiplication: This passage is a powerful reminder that God is not limited by our limitations. He can use the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary, demonstrating His boundless power and care. This miracle, also recorded in Matthew 14:17 and Luke 9:13, stands as an enduring testament to God's ability to provide abundantly for every need.

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Cross-References

  • Mark 8:5 (5 votes)

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

  • Matthew 15:34 (5 votes)

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

  • Luke 9:13 (4 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

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

  • Matthew 14:18 (4 votes)

    He said, Bring them hither to me.

  • John 6:9 (4 votes)

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