And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
And they were placed in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.
And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.
And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
By hundreds, and by fifties - "That is," says Mr. Wesley, "fifty in a rank, and a hundred in file. So, a hundred multiplied by fifty, made just five thousand." But if they sat fifty deep, how could the disciples conveniently serve them with the bread and fish?
In ranks - Literally, in the form of square beds in a garden. By regularly formed companies.
By hundreds and by fifties - Some companies had a hundred in them, and some groupings had fifty in them. We do not need to suppose that these were "exactly" formed or arranged, but that this was approximately the number. The expression indicates a "multitude." There were so many that they sat down, by "hundreds" and by "fifties," in separate companies, upon the green grass.
6:40 They sat down in ranks - The word properly signifies a parterre or bed in a garden; by a metaphor, a company of men ranged in order, by hundreds and by fifties - That is, fifty in rank, and a hundred in file. So a hundred multiplied by fifty, make just five thousand.