John 6 7

John 6:7 kjv

Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

John 6:7 nkjv

Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."

John 6:7 niv

Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

John 6:7 esv

Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little."

John 6:7 nlt

Philip replied, "Even if we worked for months, we wouldn't have enough money to feed them!"

John 6 verses

John 6 7 Meaning

Philip's reply in John 6:7 reveals a human perspective focused on financial and logistical impossibilities. When Jesus asks how to feed a vast crowd, Philip calculates that two hundred denarii—an enormous sum, equivalent to about eight months' wages for a laborer—would be entirely insufficient even to provide a mere pittance for each person present. This statement underscores the disciples' inability to comprehend how Jesus would meet the immense physical need, setting the stage for the demonstration of divine provision and Jesus's identity as the giver of true sustenance.

John 6 7 Context

John 6:7 occurs in the broader context of Jesus's ministry in Galilee, shortly before the Passover. A massive crowd has followed Jesus, attracted by His miraculous healings (John 6:2). Seeing their great numbers, Jesus deliberately initiates a test for His disciple Philip in John 6:5-6 by asking, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" This question, posed despite Jesus already knowing what He would do, immediately prompts Philip to calculate the humanly impossible scale of the task. Historically, this region of Galilee was economically diverse but certainly not equipped to provide spontaneously for 5,000 men plus women and children, reinforcing the human practical and financial constraints highlighted by Philip.

John 6 7 Word analysis

• Philip (Φίλιππος - Philippos): One of the Twelve Apostles, from Bethsaida (John 1:44), known for his practicality. Jesus specifically addresses him, perhaps to highlight the futility of human calculations in divine matters, thereby intensifying the lesson of relying on divine power over human resources.
• answered (ἀπεκρίθη - apekrithē): A simple statement of response, but here it marks Philip's immediate resort to rational, earthly calculations when faced with an immense challenge. It indicates a human-limited perspective rather than anticipation of divine intervention.
• him (αὐτῷ - autō): Refers to Jesus. The answer is directed to the One who knows all things, yet the answer reveals a limited, human understanding of the situation.
• Two hundred denarii (Δύοκοσίων δηνάριων - Duokosiōn dēnariōn): A significant sum, approximately eight months' wages for an ordinary laborer (Matt 20:2). It represents a substantial but ultimately finite human resource. Its mention quantifies the utter impossibility of meeting the need by conventional financial means.
• worth of bread (ἄρτων - artōn, lit. "of loaves"): The staple food item for sustenance, representing a basic physical need. The scale of the need underscores the practical challenge Philip immediately recognized.
• would not be enough (οὐκ ἀρκοῦσιν - ouk arkousin): Translates as "not sufficient" or "not adequate." This phrase categorically declares the insufficiency of human resources. It highlights the boundary of what man can achieve without divine aid, thus preparing for divine intervention.
• for them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Refers to the great multitude mentioned in John 6:5. It stresses the widespread, collective need of the hungry crowd, emphasizing the daunting scope of the problem.
• that each (ἵνα ἕκαστος - hina hekastos): Emphasizes the individual need within the vast crowd. It's not merely providing for the group, but ensuring every single person receives a portion, magnifying the supply challenge.
• a little (βραχύ τι - brachy ti): "A small amount," "a meager portion." This word further emphasizes the profound deficit of human provision, as even an immense sum like 200 denarii would yield only a minuscule share for each person, making the situation seem truly hopeless from a human perspective.
• "Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough": This phrase directly confronts human financial capacity with an overwhelming human need. It encapsulates the problem of limited human means attempting to address requirements that transcend human capabilities, setting a dramatic stage for divine action.
• "for each of them to have a little": This clarifies the full extent of the deficit. It demonstrates that the problem is not merely an overall lack of funds, but that even distributing a token amount to every individual in such a massive crowd would be beyond their material means, emphasizing the miraculous nature of the impending provision.

John 6 7 Bonus section

The incident described in John 6:7, immediately followed by the miraculous feeding, intentionally sets up the profound theological discourse on Jesus as the "Bread of Life" (John 6:26-59). The physical insufficiency highlighted by Philip makes Jesus's subsequent provision not merely a wonder, but a profound declaration of His unique identity and salvific role as the true source of sustenance. Philip's response is characteristic of the disciples' early, incomplete comprehension of Jesus's divine nature and omnipotent power, a theme consistently explored throughout the Gospels, especially when contrasted with Jesus's deliberate actions designed to reveal deeper truths. The historical proximity to Passover (John 6:4) also subtly connects this physical sustenance with the ancient covenant festival, anticipating the fulfillment of true spiritual sustenance offered through Christ in the New Covenant.

John 6 7 Commentary

John 6:7 serves as a poignant expression of human inadequacy and short-sightedness when confronted with a divinely intended problem. Philip, true to his pragmatic nature, immediately resorts to financial calculations, viewing the overwhelming need through the lens of earthly resources. His estimate of 200 denarii underscores not only a significant sum of money but also its complete insufficiency to even provide a meager morsel for the massive crowd. This response from Philip is precisely what Jesus, who already knew what He would do, aimed to elicit through His test. The verse powerfully contrasts human limitations and rational skepticism with the limitless power and unexpected methods of God. It sets the stage for one of Jesus's most famous miracles, moving beyond human capability to divine abundance, thereby challenging the disciples, and later readers, to look beyond material constraints and trust in God's capacity to provide. It is a lesson that true provision, whether physical or spiritual, originates not from man's coffers but from the divine hand.

• Practical Usage Example: When faced with what appear to be insurmountable challenges (e.g., severe illness, financial destitution, complex relational conflicts), our initial, natural reactions often involve calculating available resources or imagining human solutions, only to conclude they are woefully inadequate. This verse reminds us that these "two hundred denarii" responses, while logical from a worldly perspective, mark the limit of human capacity; beyond them lies the realm where divine intervention operates, inviting us to bring our insufficiency to Christ.