John 6:10 kjv
And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
John 6:10 nkjv
Then 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 niv
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).
John 6:10 esv
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.
John 6:10 nlt
"Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.)
John 6 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew 14:13 | Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. | Fulfillment of prophetic anticipation |
| Mark 6:31 | And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisurely time even to eat. | Need for rest and personal time |
| Luke 9:12 | Now the day began to decline, and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the crowd away, that they may go into the villages and country round about and lodge and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place." | Practical concerns of the disciples |
| John 6:1 | After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is Tiberias. | Continuation of Jesus' ministry |
| John 6:4 | Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. | Seasonal religious context |
| John 6:5-9 | Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little." | Foreshadowing the miracle, testing faith |
| 1 Corinthians 14:40 | Let all things be done decently and in order. | Principle of order in worship |
| 1 Corinthians 11:29 | For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. | Importance of discernment |
| Exodus 12:14 | You shall observe this rule as a statute for you and for your sons forever. | Passover feast, community |
| Leviticus 23:3 | Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. | Sabbath principles, rest |
| Numbers 11:22 | Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to suffice for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered for them, to suffice for them?" | Questioning God's provision |
| Psalm 23:1-2 | The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. | Shepherd imagery, divine provision |
| Isaiah 25:6 | On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of cakes full of marrow, of choice wine strained. | Prophecy of a great feast |
| Matthew 13:14-15 | This people's heart has become dull, and with their ears they can hardly hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them. | Jesus quoting Isaiah, spiritual blindness |
| John 6:2 | And a large crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he did on the sick. | Reason for the crowd's presence |
| John 6:11 | Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated, and likewise the fish, as much as they wanted. | The distribution of the miracle food |
| John 6:12 | And when they had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather up the leftover pieces, that nothing may be lost." | Emphasizing no waste |
| John 6:13 | So they gathered them up, and filled twelve wicker baskets with the broken pieces from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. | Abundance from scarcity |
| John 6:14 | Then the people, seeing the sign that Jesus had done, said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" | Recognition of Jesus' identity |
| Mark 6:39-40 | Then he commanded them all to sit down by companies upon the green grass. So they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. | Orderly arrangement, grouping |
| Revelation 7:16 | They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. | Final feast, eternal satisfaction |
| Revelation 19:9 | And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb." | Future heavenly banquet |
John 6 verses
John 6 10 Meaning
Jesus instructed his disciples to have the people sit down. This verse focuses on the seating arrangement for the large crowd before the miracle of the loaves and fishes. It highlights the orderly nature of the event and the disciples' obedience.
John 6 10 Context
This verse occurs within the narrative of Jesus feeding the multitude in John chapter 6. Following a demonstration of Jesus' power over illness, a large crowd gathers. Jesus, recognizing their need and testing his disciples, asks Philip where they might buy bread. Andrew points out a boy with five barley loaves and two fish, highlighting the inadequacy of their resources. This is the setting for Jesus' instruction to the disciples to have the people sit down in an orderly fashion before the miraculous multiplication of the food. Historically, this event occurred near the Sea of Galilee during the Passover season, drawing many pilgrims to the region.
John 6 10 Word Analysis
- And (καὶ - kai): A conjunction, connecting phrases or clauses, often indicating continuation or addition.
- Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): The Greek form of Joshua, meaning "Yahweh is salvation." The central figure of Christianity.
- Said (εἶπεν - eipen): Aorist indicative active, third person singular of λέγω (lego), meaning "to say," "to speak," or "to tell." This is the active voice, past tense, indicating Jesus' command.
- to (πρὸς - pros): A preposition indicating direction toward, in relation to. Here it signifies to whom the command was given (the disciples).
- his (αὐτοῦ - autou): Possessive pronoun, third person singular masculine, meaning "his own."
- disciples (μαθητὰς - mathētas): Accusative plural of μαθητής (mathētēs), meaning "learner" or "disciple." Those who followed and learned from Jesus.
- The (τοὺς - tous): Definite article, masculine accusative plural.
- people (ἀνθρώπους - anthrōpous): Accusative plural of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), meaning "human being," "man," or "person." Refers to the multitude present.
- to sit (κατακλιθῆναι - kataklithēnai): Aorist infinitive passive of κατακλίνω (kataklinō). Derived from κατά (kata - down) and κλίνω (klinō - to lean, recline). It means "to recline at table," "to sit down," or "to arrange for sitting." The passive voice indicates the people are being arranged by the disciples. The infinitive expresses the purpose or result of the disciples' action.
- down (κατακλιθῆναι - kataklithēnai): Implied in the verb's meaning, "to sit down" or "to recline."
Words-group analysis:
- "Jesus said to his disciples": This establishes Jesus as the authority giving the instruction, and the disciples as the agents through whom the instruction is to be carried out.
- "the people to sit down": This describes the action Jesus commanded for the multitude, implying an organized and deliberate settling.
John 6 10 Bonus Section
The verb "kataklinō" (κατακλίνω) can imply reclining, which was a common posture for meals in ancient Jewish culture, signifying a level of relaxation and fellowship rather than standing or sitting rigidly. This detail, found in Mark's account, reinforces the hospitable nature of the provision Jesus was about to make. The organized seating also anticipates the disciples' later role in distributing the food, showing that their preparation and obedience were integral to the miracle's unfolding. This specific instruction highlights the seamless flow from the disciples' obedience and Jesus' divine power, culminating in abundant provision.
John 6 10 Commentary
Jesus’ command to his disciples to have the people sit down is more than just a request for seating arrangements. It reflects Jesus’ awareness of the practical needs of the multitude and his method of ministering to them holistically. The act of seating them in an orderly fashion, described in more detail by other Gospel writers as by hundreds and by fifties on the green grass (Mark 6:39-40), showcases Jesus' desire for decency and order, even in a spontaneous outdoor event. This prepares the crowd for what is to come and demonstrates a gentle authority that respects human dignity. It's a preview of divine provision, where the mundane becomes extraordinary through God's power. This event underscores Jesus’ compassion for the lost and hungry, fulfilling His role as the Good Shepherd who provides for His flock.
Practical usage:
- In congregational settings, leaders are encouraged to facilitate orderly gatherings.
- When organizing events, attention to seating and comfort can foster a more receptive environment.