1936 painting by Wang Suda 王肅達 (1910-1963),
Housed in the Société des Auxiliaires des Missions Collection – Whitworth University
(click image to enlarge)
Image taken from Chinese Christian Posters . For more information on the “Ars Sacra Pekinensis” school of art, see this article , for other artworks of that school in TIPs, see here.
Following is a 1973 painting of the JESUS MAFA project, a response to New Testament readings from the Lectionary by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa. Each of the readings was selected and adapted to dramatic interpretation by the community members. Photographs of their interpretations were made, and these were then transcribed to paintings:
Jesus stands in the center inspecting the baskets of leftover food the disciples are bringing to him. All around him are content crowds of people who have just been fed. The miracle of this story rests in Jesus’ taking the resources people shared and breaking (read dividing) them among all in attendance that day. Christians are called to live and follow Christ in his example—this means sharing what we have with those around us, especially those in need. In this world, there is plenty to go around. Rather than projecting a gospel of prosperity, we should radiate a gospel of giving.
From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. Image retrieved March 23, 2026. Original source: librairie-emmanuel.fr.
Following are a number of back-translations of John 6:7:
Uma: “Filipus said: ‘Even if we had two hundred silver coins to buy food and we just gave each person a little bit, it would not be enough.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Pilip answered him, he said, ‘The wages of a person working for eight months wouldn’t be enough to buy food to feed these people, in order that each one would eat just a little.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Philip answered, ‘Even if we spend a whole lot of money, even two hundred denarii, and we give them each one just a small pinch of food, that would still not go around.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Felipe said then, ‘Even-if how many thousands are what we use-to-buy bread, it won’t suffice for them all to get-some, even though they eat only-a-little-each.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Felipe answered, saying, ‘Expl., even if each of them was only given a small amount, bread which could be bought for the wages of eight months’ work really wouldn’t be-enough-for-everyone with a crowd of people like that.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Philip said, ‘If bread was bought worth two hundred day’s wages, it wouldn’t be enough to feed each a little bit.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
Good News Translation reverses the order of the clauses in this verse; for everyone to have even a little is the final clause in the Greek sentence.
Two hundred silver coins is literally “two hundred denarii” (Revised Standard Version). The problem is that the term “denarius” (plural “denarii”) means nothing to the average English reader, to whom this monetary unit is unknown. The denarius was the average day’s earnings for a laborer, and so New American Bible and Anchor Bible render it “two hundred days’ wages.” Some translations attempt a cultural equivalent by using a rather sizable sum of money. Moffatt has “seven pounds,” Phillips “ten pounds,” and New English Bible “twenty pounds.” Though earlier editions of the Good News Translation New Testament employed “two hundred dollars’ worth of bread,” the fourth edition reads, as noted above, two hundred silver coins to buy enough bread. The new rendering seems to be advisable in view of the frequent fluctuations in the purchasing power of currencies all over the world. Any amount stated in terms of the prices current at the time of translation may soon lose its significance for the average reader. Good News Translation‘s marginal note indicates that the silver coin represented approximately a day’s wage, and the total amount of money would be equivalent to “two hundred days’ wages worth.” Such a figure will remain significant for the reader regardless of any change in prices.
The purpose expressed, for everyone to have even a little may in some languages be rendered more effectively as a condition, for example, “if everyone is to have even a little.” The second part of this condition may then be expressed as: “it would be necessary to buy more than two hundred silver coins’ worth of bread.”
Philip was first mentioned in 1.43. Both in this passage and in 12.21-22 he is closely associated with Andrew.
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 .
Philip answered: Philip replied to Jesus. Translate this speech introducer in a natural way in your language.
Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread: The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek phrase literally as Two hundred denarii. A denarius was a silver coin. It was the average day’s wage for a common worker. So the Greek expression refers to the amount of money that it took a worker more than six months to earn.
Here are other ways to translate this clause:
Two hundred silver coins worth of bread would not be enough (NET Bible) -or-
It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread (New International Version)
6:7b
for each of them to have a small piece: This phrase means “for each person to be able to eat a small amount.” It implies that nobody would be satisfied. It may be natural to say:
for everyone to receive ⌊even⌋ a small amount -or-
for each person to have only a little piece (New Century Version) -or-
for each one to have a bite! (New International Version)
General Comment on 6:7a–b
In some languages it may be natural to change the order of this verse. For example:
7a Philip answered, 7b “For everyone to have even a little, 7a it would take more than two hundred silver coins to buy enough bread.” (Good News Translation)
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