And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

And this he said to try him; for he himself knew what he would do.

But this he said trying him, for he knew what he was going to do.

and this he said, trying him, for he himself had known what he was about to do.

He said this to put Philip to the test, for He Himself knew what He was going to do.

This he said, testing him: for he had no doubt what he himself would do.

He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he meant to do.

To prove him - To try him; to see if he had faith, or if he would show that he believed that Jesus had power to supply them.

This he said to prove him - To try his faith, and to see whether he and the other apostles had paid proper attention to the miracles which they had already seen him work; and to draw their attention more particularly to that which he was now about to perform. This is an observation of the evangelist himself, who often interweaves his own judgment with the facts he relates, which St. Matthew rarely ever does. The other evangelists say that, previously to this miracle, he continued to instruct and heal the multitudes till it was near the close of the day. Matthew 14:14, Matthew 14:15; Mark 6:34, Mark 6:35; Luke 9:11, Luke 9:12.

And this he said to prove him,.... Or "tempting him", trying his faith, and not only his, but the rest of the disciples; not as ignorant of it himself, but in order to discover it to him and them, and to prepare them for the following miracle; and that it might appear the more illustrious and marvellous:
for he himself knew what he would do; Christ had determined to work a miracle, and feed the large number of people that were with him, with that small provision they had among them; and being God omniscient, he knew that he was able to do it, and that he was determined to do it, and it would be done; but he was willing first to try the faith of his apostles.