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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Mark 6:38 - 6:38
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38. Πόσους ἔχετε ἄρτους; ὑπάγετε, ἴδετε. The question and abrupt commands are a rebuke. “Never mind what is impossible; see what is possible. How much food have we got?” In Jn the suggestion of buying comes from Christ. Mk alone records the question and commands. Mt. again omits what seems to imply a limitation of Christ’s knowledge and power. See on Mar 6:5. The rendering “loaves” must not be disturbed; but the ἄρτοι resembled biscuits or oatcake rather than our own loaves.
ὑπάγετε, ἴδετε. The asyndeton is characteristic; Mar 1:41, Mar 4:40, Mar 5:36, Mar 8:17-18, Mar 9:19, Mar 10:14.
γνόντες. Having ascertained. Jn is far more definite. Andrew had found a lad who had five barley loaves and two fishes, which seems to imply that the disciples had no food with them. Philip and Andrew, as coming from Bethsaida, would know people in the crowd and would have some idea of the resources of the neighbourhood. The Fathers often find mystical meanings in numbers and do so here with “five” and “two”; e.g. the five Books of the Law with the Psalms and the Prophets, or with the Gospel and the Apostle.
δύο ἰχθύας. Dried or salted fish were often eaten as a relish (ὀψώνιον, προσφάγιον) with bread, so much so that these words may mean “fish”; see on Joh 6:9; Joh 21:5. Cf. πᾶν τὸ ὄψος (? ὄψον) τῆς θαλάσσης (Num 11:22).