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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_6:1-14
1After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 4Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?" 6This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little." 8One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 9"There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?" 10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. 12When they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost." 13So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
Joh_6:1 "the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias)" This body of water was known by several other names. In the OT it was called Chinnereth, (cf. Num_34:11). It was also known as Lake Gennessaret in Luk_5:1 and by the Roman name, the Sea of Tiberias in Joh_21:1. The parenthesis is another editorial comment by the author. It does show that John's Gospel was for people outside Palestine (cf. Joh_6:4; Joh_6:6; Joh_6:64; Joh_6:71).
Joh_6:2 Notice the reason why the crowd followed Him.
Joh_6:3 Jesus used the natural amplification of the water and hill side to project His voice. The fact that He "sat down" shows that this was an official teaching session with His disciples. One wonders if the mountain was meant to remind one of a Mosaic setting like Matthew 5-7.
In these large teaching sessions, Jesus often addressed different groups in the crowd. Encircling Him at His feet would have been His close disciples; beyond them, the curious, the rich and the common "people of the land"; and, in small groups, the religious leaders (Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees, possibly even Essenes).
Joh_6:4 "the Passover, the feast of the Jews" The only way of determining the length of the public ministry of Jesus is the Passovers mentioned in the Gospel of John (first, Joh_2:13; second, Joh_6:4; and third, Joh_11:55 & Joh_13:1). If Joh_5:1 is also speaking of a Passover then we have at least three and one-half or four years public ministry. There is so much we do not know about the life of Jesus (cf. Joh_20:30; Joh_21:25).
Joh_6:6 "This he was saying to test him" This Greek term here for "test" (peirazô) usually carries an evil connotation (see Special Topic at 1Jn_4:1, cf. Mat_4:1). This is a good example showing that modern interpreters try to force NT words to fit into one definition. Koine Greek was losing many of the grammatical and linguistic distinctions of Classical Greek (cf. note at Joh_5:20).
Jesus was testing Philip, but how?
1. on his faith in Jesus as provider?
2. on his knowledge of the OT (cf. Num_11:13, on Moses' question to God about providing food)?
3. on his care and concern for the crowd?
Joh_6:7
NASB, NKJV, JB"Two hundred denarii worth"
NRSV "six months' wages"
TEV "two hundred silver coins"
A denarii was a day's wage for a laborer (cf. Mat_20:2) and a soldier. This would have been almost two-thirds of a year's wage.
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Joh_6:8-9 "Andrew, Simon Peter's brother" This context is such a beautiful picture of Andrew's simple faith and trust in the ability and person of Jesus.
Joh_6:9 "barley loaves" This was considered the most inexpensive and least desirable bread. It was the food of the poor. Jesus did not use His powers to provide expensive food!
Joh_6:10 "Have the people sit down" People of this culture normally ate while either sitting on the floor or reclining at a low "U" shaped table.
▣ "there was much grass in the place" This is an eyewitness apostolic (editorial) comment.
▣ "So the men sat down, about five thousand" It is really a misnomer to call this "the feeding of the five thousand" because apparently there were more people there that day. The five thousand is a round number and refers to adult men (i.e., 13 and above) and does not include women and children (cf. Mat_14:21). However, it is uncertain how many women and children would or could have attended (cf. Mat_14:21).
Joh_6:11 "and having given thanks, He distributed" The miracle of multiplication must have occurred in Jesus' hands. In context of the Jews' Messianic hope this event would be the expected sign that Jesus was providing food as Moses provided manna.
The Greek term for "giving thanks" (eucharisteô) later became the name for the Last Supper (cf. 1Co_11:23-24). Did John use it here with this future, technical definition in mind? The other Gospels which do not have the allusions to the Eucharist use a different term (eulogeô, cf. Mat_14:19; Mar_6:41). They do use the term eucharisteô (cf. Mat_15:36; Mar_8:6; Luk_17:16; Luk_18:11) but not consistently in a Last Supper setting. They do use the same term to describe Jesus' thanksgiving prayer in the upper room (cf. Mat_26:27; Mar_14:23; and Luk_22:17-19). Therefore, since the usage is not uniform, John would have needed to make his allusion more specific if later readers were meant to interpret this in an Eucharistic setting!
Joh_6:12 "lost" See Special Topic: Apollumi at10:10.
Joh_6:13 "So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets" The term "basket" here refers to a large hamper-type basket. It is significant that Jesus did not waste any of the multiplied food. Nor did He change the nature (or type) of the bread.
Does the term "twelve" have symbolic significance? It is difficult to be certain. It has been interpreted as a reference to the tribes of Israel (Jesus satisfies the OT) or one basket for each disciple (Jesus satisfies and provides for His disciples), but it may just have been an eyewitness detail (like Joh_6:19).
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Joh_6:14 "the Prophet" This is an allusion to the Messianic reference of Deu_18:15-22 (cf. Act_3:22; Act_7:37). The crowd recognized the power of Jesus but misunderstood the nature of His mission and signs.