Mark 6 · Verse 40

Mark 6:40

And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
Mark 6:40, King James Version

Mark 6:40 in other translations

BSBSo they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
WEBThey sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.
ASVAnd they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
YLTand they sat down in squares, by hundreds, and by fifties.
DARBYAnd they sat down in ranks by hundreds and by fifties.
BBEAnd they were placed in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.
WebsterAnd they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

What does Mark 6:40 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
40. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties--Doubtless this was to show at a glance the number fed, and to enable all to witness in an orderly manner this glorious miracle.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 40. In ranks. Literally, in the form of square beds in a garden. By square, regularly formed companies.

By hundreds, and by fifties. Some companies had a hundred in, and some fifty. We need not suppose that these were exactly formed, or arranged; but that this was about the number. The expression indicates a multitude. There were so many, that they sat down, by hundreds and by fifties, in separate companies, on the green grass.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 40 By hundreds, and by fifties - "That is," says Mr. Wesley, "fifty in a rank, and a hundred in file. So, a hundred multiplied by fifty, made just five thousand." But if they sat fifty deep, how could the disciples conveniently serve them with the bread and fish?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 6:30-44

Let not ministers do any thing or teach any thing, but what they are willing should be told to their Lord. Christ notices the frights of some, and the toils of others of his disciples, and provides rest for those that are tired, and refuge for those that are terrified. The people sought the spiritual food of Christ's word, and then he took care that they should not want bodily food. If Christ and his disciples put…

Read the full comment on Mark 6:30-44 →

Mark 6:40 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἀνέπεσανanepesanthey sat downG377
πρασιαὶprasiaigroupsG4237
πρασιαὶprasiai[by] groupsG4237
κατὰkatabyG2596
ἑκατὸνhekatonhundredsG1540
καὶkaiandG2532
κατὰkatabyG2596
πεντήκοντα.pentēkontafifties.G4004

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

Cross references for Mark 6:40

  • Luke 9:14-15

    For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made them all sit down.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
by hundreds.It is generally supposed that they were so arranged as to be a hundred in rank, or depth, and fifty in front, or file; which would make the number just five thousand, and will reconcile this account with Luke's, who only speaks of their sitting down by fifties.
Lu 9:14,15

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

Context

  • Mark 6:39

    And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

  • Mark 6:40

    And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

  • Mark 6:41

    And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

Read all of Mark 6

Mark 6:40 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y se recostaron por partidas, de ciento en ciento, y de cincuenta en cincuenta.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ils s’assirent en rangs, les uns de 100, et les autres de 50.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie lagerten sich in Abteilungen zu je hundert und je fünfzig.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et discubuerunt in partes per centenos et quinquagenos.