Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 14:17

"And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes." — Matthew 14:17 (ASV)

We have here but five loaves, etc. These loaves were in the possession of a lad, or young man, who was with them, and were made of barley, John 6:9. It is possible that this lad was one in attendance on the apostles to carry their food; but it is most probable he was one who had provision to sell among the multitude. Barley was a cheap kind of food, scarcely one-third the value of wheat, and was much used by poor people. A considerable part of the food of the people in that region was probably fish, as they lived on the borders of a lake that abounded in fish.

See Barnes on Matthew 14:13.