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The word ἀνήρ becomes important in the bread miracles in the Gospels of Matthew- and Mark. This thesis will problematize the usage of the word ἀνήρ, in the Gospels of Matthew- and Mark, and look at other usages, as material of comparison. In order to analyse these differences, Riley’s hermeneutical method and Matsuda’s intersectionality are applied – Ask the other question. Matsudas perspective of gender means that the same questions are asked in the Gospels of Matthew- and Mark, where the word is found and intersects with different social markers. Social markers that will influence are: hierarchy, sex, ethnicity, religious belongings, generation, paternity and social status. Matsuda’s method will challenge the readers to focus beyond traditional interpretations and their own interests. Marital status can be identified by Riley’s method, as he points out that gender originates, when the word ἀνήρ in the Gospels of Matthew- and Mark is put in a surrounding context, pointing at historical facts referring to family and/or marriage.

Differences occur in the Gospels of Matthew- and Mark, as to the importance and use of the word ἀνήρ. The word ἀνήρ often gets a general wider understanding in the New Testament and LXX, where it signifies a free male or a free male human being. In the bread miracles the word ἀνήρ gets a wider understanding where it signifies hungry free males or one hungry free male human being. There are few cases where the word ἀνήρ shows meaning connected to marriage in the New Testament and LXX. Gender emerges in relation to marriage primarily in Matt 1:16 and Matt 1:19, but also connected to divorce in Mark 10:2 and 10:12