Charles Ellicott Commentary John 6:10

"Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand." — John 6:10 (ASV)

Much grass.—This is an addition in this account. Saint Mark, who also represents the impression of an eyewitness, tells us that the grass was green (John 6:39). We know from John 6:4 that it was at the time of the Passover—that is, about our April, when the hill-country on the west of the lake would naturally be clothed with greenery.

So the men sat down.—The word (ἄνδρες) means men as such, as distinct from women. (Compare with the note on John 1:51.) Saint Matthew tells us there were five thousand men besides the women and children (John 14:21; see Note there).