Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 6:10-11

"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. Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the fishes as much as they would." — John 6:10-11 (ASV)

So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves: – Common, coarse loaves of barley, not much esteemed even then as food.

In number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks,

Among the Jews, it is always the master of the house who gives thanks. They do not call upon a child to say grace, but the father of the family, like a priest in his own house, stands up, and pronounces a blessing upon the food. It is a beautiful thought that Christ thus made himself, as it were, the Father of that large family, the Head and Provider for those thousands of people.