What Does Mark 6:38 Mean in the King James?
He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The first movement toward provision is seeing clearly what is already in hand.
THE MEANING
This verse meets you with a question that turns your attention toward what is already present. The answer comes after you go and look, and the small count is spoken plainly. What is here is real before its full reach is known.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that a small supply is no supply at all dissolves when what is present is brought into view.
THE ROOT
γνόντες
gnóntes from ginōskō
GROWS FROM
γνω- / γινωσκ-
To come to know, recognize, or become aware.
In English, “knew” can sound like a conclusion that arrives on its own; here the knowing follows the command to go and see. The count is discovered through looking, then named, the answer does not yet reveal how far the food will go.
ALSO GROWS
gnōsis: Knowledge or recognition.
γνῶσις
This branch makes the disciples’ answer an act of recognizing what is actually there.
gnōstos: Known or recognizable.
γνωστός
What was not yet counted becomes recognizable through their search.
ἔχετε
échete from echō
GROWS FROM
ἐχ-
To hold, have, or possess.
“have” in this verse is échete from echō. The Greek word carries the sense of holding what is in one’s possession. The question brings that held supply into view before anyone knows its full reach.
ALSO GROWS
katéchō: Hold fast, retain, or keep.
κατέχω
This branch echoes the concrete sense of something being held or kept.
metéchō: Share in or partake of.
μετέχω
This branch opens possession toward participation: what is held can become part of what others share.
THE PATTERN
Provision comes into view when what is present is gathered and given according to need.
And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)THE THREAD
There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?John names a boy as the one who has the same small count the disciples are sent to find. “Hath” here and “have” in Mark come from the same Greek root, ἔχω (echō), hold or possess; John then sets that held supply beside the question of how it can reach so many.
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