John 6:11

when he had given thanks 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 meansof 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).

to the disciples, and the disciples These words are wanting in authority; the best texts run, He distributed to them that were lying down. It is futile to ask whether the multiplication took place in Christ's hands only: the mannerof 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.