Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 6:38

"And he saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go [and] see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes." — Mark 6:38 (ASV)

Jesus was not thinking of bread bought in the neighboring villages. Before proceeding with his approach to the problem, he asked his disciples what the present status of the supply was. They found it to be meager: five small rolls and two fish—a mere pittance in view of the number of people to be fed.