But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The disciples' mention of "two hundred denarii" isn't just a practical calculation of cost; it's a way of saying, "We want to help, but the sheer scale of this is impossible for us." Their question highlights the vastness of the need in contrast to their limited resources, setting the stage for Jesus's miraculous power.
But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jesus and his disciples returned from a mission, Jesus invited them to rest in a secluded place, but a large crowd followed them there. When the day drew to a close and the people were hungry, the disciples suggested Jesus send them away to buy food. Jesus turned the situation back on his disciples, asking them to provide the food themselves and then asking how much they had.
The disciples thought they had a handle on the problem: lack of money. But Jesus’ response flips their perspective entirely.
When Jesus saw the massive crowd, His heart ached for them. He then turns to the disciples and says, 'You give them something to eat.' This wasn't a suggestion; it was a command. Imagine the disciples’ shock! They were thinking logistically – how to feed thousands with limited resources. Jesus, however, wasn't focused on their lack. He was focused on His own power and their role in it. He was testing their faith and pushing them to see beyond human limitations.
The disciples’ response to Jesus’ command reveals their understanding of the task – and their dawning realization of its impossibility.
When Jesus says, 'You give them something to eat,' the disciples immediately calculate. They reply, 'Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?' This 'two hundred denarii' represents a significant sum – roughly a laborer's wages for 200 days, or about $300-$400 in today's terms (though precise modern equivalents are tricky). Their question isn't just about the money; it's about the sheer scale of the problem. They’re saying, 'Even if we spent everything we have, it wouldn't be enough for everyone to get even a tiny bit!' This highlights their logical, human assessment of the situation, contrasting sharply with Jesus' divine perspective.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
dēnárion · Greek Noun
A unit of Roman currency, typically representing a standard day's wage for a laborer. It serves as a benchmark for value and labor in the New Testament.
artos · Greek Noun
The fundamental staple food of the ancient Near East, symbolizing God's provision for physical sustenance and, metaphorically, spiritual life and the person of Christ.
didōmi · Greek Verb
The act of providing or distributing resources; in a theological context, it often points to the responsibility of believers to care for others as an extension of God’s own compassionate care.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering a growing crowd of followers.
c. AD 28
Disciples Sent Out
Jesus sends out his twelve disciples in pairs to preach, heal, and cast out demons. They return with reports of their success.
c. AD 28
John the Baptist Imprisoned and Executed
John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod Antipas and later executed. Jesus withdraws to a solitary place partly in response to this.
c. AD 28
Jesus and Disciples Seek Solitude
Jesus, seeking a break after His disciples' return and saddened by John the Baptist's death, attempts to withdraw with His disciples to a remote area.
c. AD 28
Multitudes Follow Jesus
Large crowds, hearing of Jesus' location, travel on foot from surrounding towns to meet Him. Jesus sees them and is moved with compassion.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
Jesus asks His disciples how to feed the massive crowd. They respond with the calculation of needing 200 denarii for bread, highlighting their inability to meet the need.
This passage recounts the same feeding miracle, providing a fuller picture of the disciples' initial incredulity and Jesus's divine provision.
Exodus 16:1-36This Old Testament account of God providing manna in the wilderness mirrors the theme of God miraculously supplying the needs of His people when they are in difficult circumstances.
2 Kings 4:42-44This story shows Elisha performing a similar miracle of multiplying a small amount of food to feed a large crowd, highlighting God's consistent power to provide abundantly.
Matthew 14:15-21Matthew's Gospel also records this miracle, emphasizing Jesus's compassion for the hungry crowd and the disciples' practical, yet insufficient, assessment of the situation.
pooleMark 6:37: "He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?"
See Poole on "Mark 6:35"
bengelMark 6:37: "He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?"
Mark 6:37 . Ἀγοράσωμεν , are we to buy ) The disciples intimate, by this question, that there is on their part no want of the will, both to give their exertion in going away, and their money, as much as they had, in buying what was needed; but what is wanting is the ability to satisfy such a multitude. Therefore, in their question, t…
The disciples' mention of "two hundred denarii" isn't just a practical calculation of cost; it's a way of saying, "We want to help, but the sheer scale of this is impossible for us." Their question highlights the vastness of the need in contrast to their limited resources, setting the stage for Jesus's miraculous power.
After Jesus and his disciples returned from a mission, Jesus invited them to rest in a secluded place, but a large crowd followed them there. When the day drew to a close and the people were hungry, the disciples suggested Jesus send them away to buy food. Jesus turned the situation back on his disciples, asking them to provide the food themselves and then asking how much they had.
After Jesus and his disciples returned from a mission, Jesus invited them to rest in a secluded place, but a large crowd followed them there. When the day drew to a close and the people were hungry, the disciples suggested Jesus send them away to buy food. Jesus turned the situation back on his disciples, asking them to provide the food themselves and then asking how much they had.
"But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”" — The disciples' mention of "two hundred denarii" isn't just a practical calculation of cost; it's a way of saying, "We want to help, but the sheer scale of this is impossible for us." Their question…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026