Charles Ellicott Commentary Mark 6:39

"And he commanded them that all should sit down by companies upon the green grass." — Mark 6:39 (ASV)

By companies.—The Greek expresses the distributive force of the English by simple repetition, “companies and companies.” The “green grass” may be noted as an example of St. Mark’s vividness, and serves as an indirect note of time pointing to the same season as that specified by St. John, namely, a little before the Passover. .