John 6:5

THE MESSAGE

When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?”

King James Version (1611)
When Iesus then lift vp his eyes, and saw a great company come vnto him, he saith vnto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eate?

King James Version
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?

English Standard Version
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?"

New American Standard Bible
So Jesus, after raising His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?"

New Century Version
When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough bread for all these people to eat?"

Amplified Bible
Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward Him, and He said to Philip, "Where will we buy bread for these people to eat?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?"

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to Philip, "Where should we buy bread, so that these people may eat?"

Berean Standard Bible
When 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?"

Contemporary English Version
When Jesus saw the large crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, "Where will we get enough food to feed all these people?"

Complete Jewish Bible
so when Yeshua looked up and saw that a large crowd was approaching, he said to Philip, "Where will we be able to buy bread, so that these people can eat?"

Darby Translation
Jesus 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?

Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus looked up and saw a crowd of people coming toward him. He said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough bread for all these people to eat?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Iesus lift vp his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude came vnto him, hee sayde vnto Philippe, Whence shall we buy breade, that these might eate?

George Lamsa Translation
And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and saw a large crowd coming to him, and he said to Philip, Where can we buy bread that all these may eat?

Good News Translation
Jesus looked around and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, so he asked Philip, "Where can we buy enough food to feed all these people?"

Lexham English Bible
Then Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread so that these people can eat?"

Literal Translation
Then Jesus lifting up His eyes and seeing that a great crowd is coming to Him, He said to Philip, From where may we buy loaves that these may eat?

American Standard Version
Jesus 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?

Bible in Basic English
Lifting 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?

Hebrew Names Version
Yeshua therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Pilipos, "Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?"

International Standard Version
When Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?"Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:35; Luke 9:12;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And Jeshu lifted up his eyes, and saw the great assembly which had come to him; and he said to Philipos, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

Murdock Translation
And Jesus raised his eyes, and saw a great multitude coming towards him; and he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
When Iesus then lyft vp his eyes, and sawe a great company come vnto him, he saith vnto Philip: Whence shal we bye bread, that these may eate?

English Revised Version
Jesus 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?

World English Bible
Jesus 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?"

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Jesus then lifting up his eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming to him, saith to Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

Weymouth's New Testament
And when He looked round and saw an immense crowd coming towards Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for all these people to eat?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor whanne Jhesus hadde lift vp hise iyen, and hadde seyn, that a greet multitude cam to hym, he seith to Filip, Wherof schulen we bie looues, that these men ete?

Update Bible Version
Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude comes to him, says to Philip, From where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?

Webster's Bible Translation
When 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?

New English Translation
Then Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?"

New King James Version
Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"

New Living Translation
Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, "Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?"

New Life Bible
Jesus looked up and saw many people coming to Him. He said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?"

New Revised Standard
When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So then Jesus, lifting up his eyes, and beholding that a great multitude was coming unto him, saith unto Philip - Whence are we to buy loaves, that these may eat?

Douay-Rheims Bible
When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

Revised Standard Version
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?"

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then Iesus lifte vp his eyes and sawe a greate copany come vnto him and sayde vnto Philip: whence shall we bye breed yt these might eate.

Young's Literal Translation
Jesus 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?' --

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then Iesus lift vp his eyes, and sawe yt there came moch people vnto him, and he sayde vnto Philippe: Whence shal we bye bred, yt these maye eate?

Mace New Testament (1729)
Jesus then lifting up his eyes, and seeing a great company coming to him, said to Philip, where can we buy bread to feed this people?

Simplified Cowboy Version
The crowd finally made it up the hill so Jesus said to Phil, "Where can we get food for all these folks?"

Contextual Overview

¹After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews. ⁵When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do. ⁷ Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece." ⁸One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this." ¹⁰Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted. ¹²When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted." They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves. ¹⁴The people realized that God was at work among them in what Jesus had just done. They said, "This is the Prophet for sure, God's Prophet right here in Galilee!" Jesus saw that in their enthusiasm, they were about to grab him and make him king, so he slipped off and went back up the mountain to be by himself.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

saw: John 4:35, Matthew 14:14, Matthew 14:15, Mark 6:34, Mark 6:35, Luke 9:12

Whence: Matthew 15:33, Mark 8:2-4, Luke 9:13

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 4:2 - What shall I Ezekiel 37:3 - can Matthew 4:4 - but Matthew 10:3 - Philip Matthew 14:17 - General Mark 3:18 - Philip Mark 8:19 - the five Luke 6:14 - Philip John 4:8 - to buy John 12:21 - Philip John 14:8 - Philip Acts 1:13 - Philip

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
When the human race began to increase, with more and more daughters being born, the sons of God noticed that the daughters of men were beautiful. They looked them over and picked out wives for themselves.

Genesis 6:3
Then God said, "I'm not going to breathe life into men and women endlessly. Eventually they're going to die; from now on they can expect a life span of 120 years."

Genesis 6:4
This was back in the days (and also later) when there were giants in the land. The giants came from the union of the sons of God and the daughters of men. These were the mighty men of ancient lore, the famous ones.

Genesis 6:9
This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 13:13
The people of Sodom were evil—flagrant sinners against God .

Jeremiah 17:9
"The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God , search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be."

Ezekiel 8:9
He said, "Now walk through the door and take a look at the obscenities they're engaging in."

Ezekiel 8:12
He said, "Son of man, do you see what the elders are doing here in the dark, each one before his favorite god-picture? They tell themselves, ‘ God doesn't see us. God has forsaken the country.'"

Titus 3:3
It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this. I want you to put your foot down. Take a firm stand on these matters so that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the essentials that are good for everyone. Stay away from mindless, pointless quarreling over genealogies and fine print in the law code. That gets you nowhere. Warn a quarrelsome person once or twice, but then be done with him. It's obvious that such a person is out of line, rebellious against God. By persisting in divisiveness he cuts himself off. As soon as I send either Artemas or Tychicus to you, come immediately and meet me in Nicopolis. I've decided to spend the winter there. Give Zenas the lawyer and Apollos a hearty send-off. Take good care of them. Our people have to learn to be diligent in their work so that all necessities are met (especially among the needy) and they don't end up with nothing to show for their lives. All here want to be remembered to you. Say hello to our friends in the faith. Grace to all of you.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

When Jesus then lift up [his] eyes,.... Being before engaged in close conversation with his disciples, and looking wistly and intently on them, whilst he was discoursing with them:

and saw a great company come unto him; who came on foot, over the bridge at Chammath, from Capernaum, and other cities of Galilee:

he saith unto Philip; he directed his discourse to him particularly, because he was of Bethsaida, near to which place Christ now was, and therefore might be best able to answer the following question:

whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? This, according to the other evangelists, must be said after Christ came from the mountain, and the people were come to him, and he had received them kindly, and had instructed them about the kingdom of God, and had healed the diseased among them, and expressed great compassion for them; and after the disciples had desired him to dismiss them, that they might go to the adjacent towns, and provide food for themselves; which Christ would not admit of and declared it unnecessary, and then put this question, with the following view.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 6:5. Saw a great company — See this miracle explained at large on Matthew 14:13, c. Mark 6:31, c. Luke 9:10, c.

In speaking of the passovers, and various other matters, it does not appear that John follows any strict chronological order.

From John 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 John 6:7 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, John 1:44; John 12:21, he must have been much better acquainted with the country in which they then were than any other of the disciples.