Mark 6:40

So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus directs the disciples to organize the crowd on the green grass before the feeding miracle. The narrative records the people’s immediate compliance as they arrange themselves in the field.

The words — The Greek πρασιαί (prasiai) denotes organized rows or plots of ground, while ἑκατὸν (hekaton) specifies the numerical division of hundreds. Together with κατὰ (kata), they describe a structured seating arrangement rather than a casual gathering.

The thread — This organizational detail parallels Luke 9:14, which records Jesus commanding the crowd to sit in groups of about fifty. Both accounts emphasize deliberate crowd management prior to a communal meal.

Why it lands — The verse requires recognition that divine provision operates within human order. Readers must observe that the miracle follows a prepared space rather than replacing it.

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

καὶkaiAnd ἀνέπεσανanepesanthey sat down πρασιαὶprasiaigroups πρασιαὶprasiai[by] groups κατὰkataby ἑκατὸνhekatonhundreds καὶkaiand κατὰkataby πεντήκοντα.pentēkontafifties.

King James Version

And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

Cross-references

Luke 9:14 (There were about five thousand men.) He told His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”