“Dixit ergo Jesus : Facite homines discumbere. Erat autem fœnum multum in loco. Discubuerunt ergo viri, numero quasi quinque millia.”
“And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.”
““Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them.”
“Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.”
“Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.”
The text in St. Matthew adds: without counting the women and the children, who might possibly amount to an equal number.
Joh 6:8"
6. The directions Christ gave the disciples to seat the guests (v. 10): "Make the men sit down, though you have nothing to set before them, and trust me for that." This was like sending providence to market, and going to buy without money: Christ would thus try their obedience. Observe, (1.) The furniture of the dining-room: there was much grass in that place, though a desert place; see how bountiful nature is, it makes grass to grow upon the mountains, Ps 147 8. This grass was uneaten; God gives not only enough, but more then enough. Here was this plenty of grass where Christ was preaching; the gospel brings other blessings along with it: Then shall the earth yield her increase, Ps 67 6. This plenty of grass made the place the more commodious for those that must sit on the ground, and served them for cushions, or beds (as they called what they sat on at meat, Esth 1 6), and, considering what Christ says of the grass of the field (Matt 6 29, 30), these beds excelled those of Ahasuerus: nature's pomp is the most glorious. (2.) The number of the guests: About five thousand: a great entertainment, representing that of the gospel, which is a feast for all nations (Isa 25 6), a feast for all comers.
Verses 1-14 John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.