Bible Strands
Mark 6:38
“Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the disciples at the moment they must address the crowd's hunger, directing them to inventory their supplies.
The words — The verb ὑπάγετε (hupagete) literally means "go" or "do go," and πόσους (posous) means "how many," framing the command as a practical assessment.
The thread — Jesus initiates this count in Matthew 15:34 and Mark 8:5, but in Matthew 14:17 the disciples volunteer the five loaves and two fish without a prior question.
Why it lands — The text states that the disciples checked their supplies and reported the exact amount before any miracle occurs, requiring readers to recognize that provision demands active accounting rather than passive waiting.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
Cross-references
- Matthew 15:34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
- Mark 8:5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.
- Matthew 14:17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
- Luke 9:13 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.”
- John 6:9 “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?”