Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 8:5

"And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven." — Mark 8:5 (ASV)

Only seven loaves (cf. 6:38) were available to feed the crowd of four thousand (v.9). The people were not ordered into groups, but simply were on the ground. Jesus gave thanks separately for the bread and the fish, and after each prayer the disciples distributed the food to the people.