Send them away,.... Leave off preaching, dismiss the assembly; see Matthew 14:15;
that they may go into the country round about; or "into the fields"; that is, to the odd houses; which were here and there in the fields; See Gill on Mark 5:14;
and into the villages; the little country towns that were near at hand:
and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat; they brought no provisions with them, and there were none to be had in that desert place; and it was high time they had some refreshment; for the usual time of dining was past, the first evening was come, the day was on the decline, and was far spent.

Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat--John tells us (John 6:5-6) that "Jesus said to Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? (And this He said to prove him: for He Himself knew what He would do)." The subject may have been introduced by some remark of the disciples; but the precise order and form of what was said by each can hardly be gathered with precision, nor is it of any importance.