Mark 6:41

Blessed. Gr. euloged, “to praise,” or “to invoke blessings.” John uses the word eucharisted, “to be thankful,” “to give thanks” (ch. 6:11). There seems to have been something characteristic about the way Christ gave thanks (see Matt. 15:36; 26:26) — something the disciples no doubt witnessed daily during their association with Him. At Emmaus, Jesus “was known of them in breaking of bread” (Luke 24:35). Note also that in each instance Jesus took the bread in His hands before giving thanks for it. But the essential part of the “blessing” consisted in the recognition that food is a gift of God, and in thanking Him for it.

Brake. Literally, “to break thoroughly,” or “to break in pieces.”

Loaves. See on v. 38.

Gave. Literally, “kept on giving.” The context suggests that the miracle occurred while the bread was in the hands of Jesus, between the act of breaking it and that of giving it out to the disciples. Jesus never performed a miracle except to meet a genuine need (see p. 209). So long as there was need the food kept on multiplying in His hands (cf. 1 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 4:4-6).

To set before. A common expression for serving a meal. Each of the Twelve carried the miracle loaves in his own basket (see on v. 43), and served a certain number of the groups arranged “by companies,” “in ranks” upon the grass (see on v. 40). With empty baskets the disciples returned to Christ for more bread, and each time they returned He kept on giving out loaves and fishes. The orderly arrangement of the groups, the service of the disciples, and the unfailing supply of loaves and fishes provided the men, women, and children with all they could eat and more, within a short time.

Two fishes. See on v. 38.