John 6:9
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“Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
FIVE THOUSAND MIRACULOUSLY FED. (Joh 6:1-13) a mountain--somewhere in that hilly range which skirts the east side of the lake.
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. The miracle of the loaves (Joh 6:1-14). II. Christ's walking upon the water (Joh 6:15-21). III. The people's flocking after him to Capernaum (Joh 6:22-25). IV. His conference with them, occasioned by the miracle of the loaves, in which he reproves them for seeking carnal food, and directs them to spiritual food (Joh 6:26, Joh 6:27), showing them how they must labour for spiritual food (Joh 6:28, Joh 6:29), and what that spiritual food is (v. 30-59). V. Their discontent at what he said, and the reproof he gave them for it (Joh 6:60-65). VI. The apostasy of many from him, and his discourse with his disciples that adhered to him upon that occasion (Joh 6:66-71).
Open source ↗6:9 Barley was the grain of the poor. The loaves were similar to pita bread. The two fish would have been salted, and with the five loaves of bread would make one meal.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”
They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?
Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered.
a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey;
But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
He makes peace at your borders; He fills you with the finest wheat.