Mark 6:38 - Exposition

Five (loaves), and two fishes . St. John tells us ( John 6:9 ) that the loaves were of barley, and that the fishes were small ( ὀψάρια ); St. Mark says δύο ἰχθύας . Barley bread was considered an inferior and homely kind of food, very inferior to bread made of wheat flour. The comparative value of the two kinds of bread is given in Revelation 6:6 . "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny." The psalmist alludes to the greater excellence of wheat flour: "He would have fed them also with the finest wheat flour" ( Psalms 81:16 ).