Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
By companies (sumposia sumposia). Distribution expressed by repetition as in Mark 6:7 (duo duo) instead of using ana or kata. Literally our word symposium and originally a drinking party, Latin convivium, then the party of guests of any kind without the notion of drinking. So in Plutarch and the LXX (especially I Macca.).
Upon the green grass (epi tw xlwrw xortw). Another Markan touch. It was passover time (John 6:4) and the afternoon sun shone upon the orderly groups upon the green spring grass. See on Matthew 14:15. They may have been seated like companies at tables, open at one end.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Mark 6:39:
Matthew 5:6
Mark 6:40
Luke 9:12
John 6:1
John 6:10
1 Corinthians 3:12
James 1:10
Revelation 6:8
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.