John 6:9

Five barley loaves and two small fishes.

The loaves here were of barley-meal made into small, thin cakes, baked hard on the side of the oven, so as to be broken. Probably this was the whole stock of provisions then at the command of the disciples--no more than enough for one meal to them. The fishes were salt and dried, and used for. relish, according to. common custom of the country. Plain common food. Barley was the food only of the lower classes. It was. very small amount, as is shown by the fact that. "lad,". "little boy" in the Greek, carried them. What were they among so many?