John Chapter 6 verse 9 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(9) Again the account of the eye-witness is the more full and life-like. All tell of the five loaves and two fishes. John knows that they are barley loaves--the ordinary black bread of the Galilean peasant; and that the loaves and fishes are not the property of the disciples, but of a lad or slave who has followed the crowd, in the hope, it may be, of finding a purchaser for them.The word for "lad" is a diminutive occurring only here (not in the best text of Matthew 11:16), and in many MSS. is accompanied by "one." The word may mean a servant, but it more probably means a child. One lad! What could he bear for so many?Two small fishes.--Better, two fishes. This word, too, is rightly regarded as a diminutive, but it is not a diminutive of "fish." The original root means to boil; thus the substantive is used, as in Homer, of boiled meat, and then of anything eaten as a relish with bread, and specially of fish. This diminutive is used in the New Testament only here and in John 6:11, and in John 21:9-10; John 21:13. A comparison of the passages will make it clear that St. John means by the word the ordinary relish of fish, which formed, with bread, the staple food of the people.The whole force of Andrew's remark, with its diminutive words, rests upon the smallness of their power to help, while Philip had dwelt on the greatness of the need. . . . Parallel Commentaries ...Greek“Hereὧδε (hōde)AdverbStrong's 5602: From an adverb form of hode; in this same spot, i.e. Here or hither.isἜστιν (Estin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularStrong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.a boyπαιδάριον (paidarion)Noun - Nominative Neuter SingularStrong's 3808: A little boy, lad. Neuter of a presumed derivative of pais; a little boy.[with]ἔχει (echei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularStrong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.fiveπέντε (pente)Adjective - Accusative Masculine PluralStrong's 4002: Five. A primary number; 'five'.barleyκριθίνους (krithinous)Adjective - Accusative Masculine PluralStrong's 2916: Made of barley. From krithe; consisting of barley.loavesἄρτους (artous)Noun - Accusative Masculine PluralStrong's 740: Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.andκαὶ (kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. twoδύο (dyo)Adjective - Accusative Neuter PluralStrong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.small fish.ὀψάρια (opsaria)Noun - Accusative Neuter PluralStrong's 3795: A little fish. Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of optos; a relish to other food, i.e., fish.Butἀλλὰ (alla)ConjunctionStrong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.what [ difference ]τί (ti)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter SingularStrong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.will these makeταῦτα (tauta)Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter PluralStrong's 3778: This; he, she, it. amongεἰς (eis)PrepositionStrong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.so many?”τοσούτους (tosoutous)Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine PluralStrong's 5118: So great, so large, so long, so many. From tosos and houtos; so vast as this, i.e. Such.Jump to PreviousBarley Barley-Loaves Boy Cakes Couple Far Fish Fishes Five Loaves Small