And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

MARK 6:44KJV
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Mark 6:44 (KJV)

What does Mark 6:44 mean?

Mark 6:44 states that about five thousand men ate the bread that Jesus provided. This verse highlights the large number of people who were fed during the miracle of the loaves.

Mark, the author, is describing the aftermath of Jesus’ miracle where he fed a huge crowd with just a few loaves of bread. The detail that “about five thousand men” ate shows the scale of the event, especially since only the men are counted here, suggesting the total crowd was even larger when including women and children.

The Greek behind Mark 6:44

  • “Men” (ἄνδρες, andres): This Greek word specifically refers to adult males, not people in general. The verse is emphasizing the number of men, so the total number of people present was likely much higher.
  • “Loaves” (ἄρτοι, artoi): This word means simple loaves of bread, the basic food Jesus multiplied. It underscores the ordinariness of what was used for such a large miracle.
  • “About” (ὡς, hōs): This word shows the number is an estimate, not an exact count, which was common in ancient records of large crowds.

Why Mark 6:44 matters

  • Mark 6:44 clarifies that the miracle was witnessed by a very large group, making it a public and memorable event rather than a private or minor occurrence.
  • By specifying “men,” Mark hints that the total number fed could have been much greater, since women and children were not included in this count.
  • This verse ties the miracle to the earlier narrative, showing the impact and scale of Jesus’ actions and setting up the significance of what happened with just a small amount of food.

Where else these words appear

“thousand” Greek G4000 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 14:21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
  • Matthew 16:9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
  • Luke 9:14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

“about” Greek G5616 · used in 34 verses

  • Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
  • Luke 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
  • Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

“eat” Greek G5315 · used in 90 verses

  • Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
  • Luke 7:36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
  • John 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

“loaves” Greek G740 · used in 91 verses

  • Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
  • Mark 7:27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
  • John 6:23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)