John 6:11

ἔλαβεν οὖν (S. John’s favourite particle) for ἔλαβε δέ. Omit (א1ABL) τοῖς μαθηταῖς, οἱ δὲ μαθηταί after διέδωκεν. The insertion (D) comes from the Synoptic narrative.

11. εὐχαριστ. The usual grace before meat said by the head of the house or the host. ‘He that enjoys aught without thanksgiving, is as though he robbed God.’ Talmud. But it seems clear that this giving of thanks or blessing of the food (Luke 9:16) was the means of the miracle, because (1) all four narratives notice it; (2) it is pointedly mentioned again John 6:23; (3) it is also mentioned in both accounts of the feeding of the 4000 (Matthew 15:36; Mark 8:6). It should be remembered that this act is again prominent at the institution of the Eucharist (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:17; Luke 22:19; 2 Corinthians 11:24). It is futile to ask whether the multiplication took place in Christ’s hands only: the manner of the miracle eludes us, as in the turning of the water into wine. That was a change of quality, this of quantity. This is a literal fulfilment of Matthew 6:33.