Bible Strands
Mark 6:41
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus acts while the crowd remains seated in organized groups after His prior command. He breaks the bread, hands it to the disciples, and directs them to serve the people while He distributes the fish.
The words — λαβὼν (labōn) translates literally as "having taken," marking Jesus' completed action of seizing the provisions. πέντε (pente) means "five," fixing the exact numerical quantity of the loaves before any blessing occurs.
The thread — The identical sequence of taking, looking up, blessing, and breaking appears in Matthew 14:19 and Luke 9:16. The upward gaze toward heaven echoes the posture recorded in Mark 7:34.
Why it lands — The text explicitly records Jesus blessing, breaking, and delegating distribution before the crowd eats or feels satisfaction. Readers must observe this precise mechanical sequence first, before drawing conclusions about how the multiplication occurred.
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
And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
Cross-references
- Matthew 14:19 And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
- Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).
- Luke 9:16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
- Luke 24:30 While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.
- Mark 14:22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
- John 11:41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- 1 Timothy 4:4 For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,
- Deuteronomy 8:10 When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you.
- 1 Samuel 9:13 As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”