John 6 · Verse 5

John 6:5

When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
John 6:5, King James Version

John 6:5 in other translations

BSBWhen Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”
WEBJesus therefore, lifting up his eyes and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?”
ASVJesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat?
YLTJesus then having lifted up his eyes and having seen that a great multitude doth come to him, saith unto Philip, ‘Whence shall we buy loaves, that these may eat?' --
DARBYJesus then, lifting up his eyes and seeing that a great crowd is coming to him, says to Philip, Whence shall we buy loaves that these may eat?
BBELifting up his eyes, Jesus saw a great number of people coming to where he was, and he said to Philip, Where may we get bread for all these people?
WebsterWhen Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come to him, he saith to Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?

What does John 6:5 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Saw a great company - See this miracle explained at large on Mat 14:13 (note), etc.; Mar 6:31 (note), etc.; Luk 9:10 (note), etc. In speaking of the passovers, and various other matters, it does not appear that John follows any strict chronological order. From Joh 6:15, it appears that our Lord had come down from the mountain, and fed the multitudes in a plain at the foot of it. Saith unto Philip - This, with what follows, to the end of the seventh verse, is not mentioned by any of the other evangelists. Philip was probably the provider for the disciples, as Judas was the treasurer. Whence shall we buy bread - Instead of αγορασομεν, shall we buy, I should read αγορασωμεν, may we buy, which is the reading of ABDEHLS, Mt. VB, and many others. As Philip was of Bethsaida, Joh 1:44; Joh 12:21, he must have been much better acquainted with the country in which they then were than any other of the disciples.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 6:1-14

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…

Read the full comment on John 6:1-14 →

John 6:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἘπάραςEparasHaving lifted upG1869
οὖνounthenG3767
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ὀφθαλμοὺςophthalmouseyesG3788
ὁho<the>G3588
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
καὶkaiandG2532
θεασάμενοςtheasamenoshaving seenG2300
ὅτιhotithatG3754
πολὺςpolusa greatG4183
ὄχλοςochloscrowdG3793
ἔρχεταιerchetaiis comingG2064
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
λέγειlegeiHe saysG3004
πρὸςprostoG4314
Φίλιππον·PhilipponPhilip;G5376
πόθενpothenFrom whereG4159
ἀγοράσωμενagorasōmenwe may buyG59
ἄρτους,artousbreadG740
ἵναinathatG2443
φάγωσινphagōsinmay eatG5315
οὗτοι;houtoithese?G3778

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 6:5

  • Luke 9:12-13

    And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

  • Matthew 15:33

    And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

  • John 4:35

    Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

  • John 1:43

    The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

  • Matthew 14:14-15

    And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

  • Mark 6:34-35

    And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
saw.
4:35; Mt 14:14,15; Mr 6:34,35; Lu 9:12
Whence.
Mt 15:33; Mr 8:2-4; Lu 9:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 6:4

    And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

  • John 6:5

    When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

  • John 6:6

    And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Read all of John 6

John 6:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y como alzó Jesús los ojos, y vió que había venido á él grande multitud, dice á Felipe: ¿De dónde compraremos pan para que coman éstos?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Jésus donc, ayant levé les yeux, et voyant qu’une grande foule venait à lui, dit à Philippe: D’où achèterons-nous des pains, afin que ceux-ci mangent?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als nun Jesus die Augen aufhob und sah, daß eine große Volksmenge zu ihm kommt, spricht er zu Philippus: Woher sollen wir Brote kaufen, auf daß diese essen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cum sublevasset ergo oculos Jesus, et vidisset quia multitudo maxima venit ad eum, dixit ad Philippum: Unde ememus panes, ut manducent hi?