Mark 6:44

Mark 6:44 @tou.j a;rtouj# {C}

External evidence is evenly divided between the witnesses that include the words tou.j a;rtouj and those that omit them. Moreover, several witnesses (such as D W syr^s) that frequently have the longer reading, here have the shorter reading. From the point of view of transcriptional probabilities, it is more likely that copyists were tempted to delete than to add tou.j a;rtouj, for the presence of these words raises awkward questions why “loaves” should be singled out with no mention of the fish (the Old Latin ms. c reads both). In view of these conflicting considerations the Committee thought it best to retain the words but to enclose them within square brackets.