The word translated boy in Good News Translation and New English Bible appears only here in the New Testament. It is a double diminutive, but this form does not necessarily mean “a small boy” (Jerusalem Bible). In the Septuagint of Genesis 37.30 the same word is used of Joseph, who was 17 years old at the time. The word may also mean “servant” (Moffatt), a meaning well attested elsewhere. In the Greek translation of 2 Kgs. 4.12, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, is referred to by this word. Since this chapter contains the account of Elisha’s miraculous feeding of one hundred men, in which he is assisted by his servant, some believe that John’s choice of this word was influenced by the Old Testament account. However, it is not a necessary assumption, and most translators prefer the meaning boy rather than “servant.”

Barley bread was the ordinary food of the poor, since it was cheaper than wheat bread. In the parts of the world where barley is not known, it may be possible to use such a phrase as “a wheat-like grain called barley.” Or a classifying expression may be used, for example, “a grain called barley” or “barley grain,” in which a term for “grain” would be applicable to any type of grain (rice, kafir corn, maize, etc.).

Originally the word translated fish (Greek opsarion) meant cooked food eaten with bread. However, it acquired the specific meaning, fish, especially dried or preserved fish, which seems to be the meaning here and in verse 11. In John 21.9,10,13 the word is used of freshly caught fish.

But they will certainly not be enough for all these people translates a rhetorical question in Greek, which in earlier editions of Good News Translation appeared as a question (“But what good are they for all these people?”) It was a valid question, especially since Luke 11.5 implies that three loaves were looked upon as the amount required for one meal for one person. This question may be rendered “But how will they help all these people?” or “How will they satisfy…?” or even “How will these be enough for all these people?”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .