John 6:3

And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) A mountain.—Better, the mountain, or, perhaps, the hill-country on the east shore of the sea. See the parallel passages.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:1-14 John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Because they saw his miracles ... - They saw that he had the power to supply their wants, and they therefore followed him. See John 6:26. Compare also Matthew 14:14.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3. a mountain—somewhere in that hilly range which skirts the east side of the lake.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Ver. 3,4. That is, the third passover after our Saviour had entered upon his public ministry; by which we may observe, that John omitted many things spoken and done by our Saviour in the year immediately following the second passover, for he giveth us no further account than what we have in the former chapter, and in this. The other evangelists give us a more full account of them. The place whither our Saviour went seemeth to have been toward the end of the lake, so as the people could go on foot, and turn at the point of the lake, and be there before the ship could cross the water.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Jesus went up into a mountain,.... In a desert place near Bethsaida, Luke 9:10;

and there he sat with his disciples; partly for security from the cruelty of Herod, having just heard of the beheading of John; and partly for privacy, that he might have some conversation alone with his disciples, upon their return from off their journey; as also for the sake of rest and refreshment; and according to the custom of the Jewish doctors, which now prevailed; see Gill on Matthew 5:1, he sat with his disciples, in order to teach and instruct them.

Geneva Study Bible

And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3. into a mountain] Rather, into the mountain, or, perhaps the mountainous part of the district. The definite article indicates familiarity with the locality. Comp. John 6:15. We have no means of determining the precise eminence.

Bengel's Gnomen

John 6:3. Ἀνῆλθε, went up) Not after the arrival of the people, but in the meantime, whilst the people were approaching.—ἐκάθητο, He was sitting) He did not desire the people to come to Him; but He graciously received them [when they came].

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - And Jesus went up into the mountain; i.e. the high ground which everywhere surrounded the lake. The same expression, εἰς τὸ ὄρος, occurs very frequently in the synoptist Gospels (Mark 3:13; Matthew 5:1; Matthew 14:23). This last passage is an interesting confirmation of our text. The usage implies on the part of the four evangelists familiar acquaintance with the scenery. And there he sat down with his disciples. From this elevation they would see the gathering multitudes streaming from different points and meeting on the pebbly beach, asking each other where was the Master? and whither had the Prophet, the Healer, fled? Women and little children are in the crowd (Matthew 14:21). Weiss, who argues that the main features of the narrative are deeply imbedded in all the traditions, summarily disposes of the later accounts of the similar event recited by Mark (Mark 8:1-11) and Matthew (Matthew 15:32-38). John 6:3

Vincent's Word Studies

A mountain (τὸ ὄρος)

Strictly, the mountain. The writer speaks as one familiar with the district.

He sat (ἐκάθητο)

Imperfect: was sitting, when he saw the multitude approaching (John 6:5).