Mark 6:44

And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(44) Five thousand men.—St. Mark uses the word which excludes women and children.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:30-44 Let not ministers do any thing or teach any thing, but what they are willing should be told to their Lord. Christ notices the frights of some, and the toils of others of his disciples, and provides rest for those that are tired, and refuge for those that are terrified. The people sought the spiritual food of Christ's word, and then he took care that they should not want bodily food. If Christ and his disciples put up with mean things, surely we may. And this miracle shows that Christ came into the world, not only to restore, but to preserve and nourish spiritual life; in him there is enough for all that come. None are sent empty away from Christ but those who come to him full of themselves. Though Christ had bread enough at command, he teaches us not to waste any of God's bounties, remembering how many are in want. We may, some time, need the fragments that we now throw away.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

twelve baskets - Baskets belonging to the disciples, in which they carried their provisions, or, perhaps, belonging to some of the multitude.

Fragments - Broken pieces of the bread that remained.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

44. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men—"besides women and children" (Mt 14:21). Of these, however, there would probably not be many; as only the males were obliged to go to the approaching festival.

Jesus Recrosses to the Western side of the Lake Walking on the Sea (Mr 6:45-56).

One very important particular given by John alone (Joh 6:15) introduces this portion: "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone."

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 6:34"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they that did eat of the loaves,.... And also of the fishes; for they all ate of both;

were about five thousand men; the word "about", is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic and Ethiopic versions, reading five thousand men certain. The Evangelist Matthew adds, "beside children and women", Matthew 14:21.

Geneva Study Bible

And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 6:44. πεντακισχίλιοι ἄνδρες, 5000 men: one loaf for 1000! Mt. adds: χωρὶς γυναικῶν καὶ παιδίων, women and children not counted. Of these, in the circumstances, there would be few, therefore probably not referred to by Mk.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

44. five thousand men] besides women and children (Matthew 14:21), who would not sit down with the men, but sit or stand apart.

Mark 6:44

Vincent's Word Studies

Men (ἄνδρες)

Not generic, including men and women; but literally men. Compare Matthew 14:21, beside women and children; a detail which we should have expected from Mark.