Matthew 14:13-21 · Bible study
Matthew 14:13-21 Commentary: Compassion and Provision in the Desert
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus withdraws after hearing of John's death; a crowd follows. He shows compassion, heals, and feeds 5,000. Key Greek terms and theological themes explored.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus' compassion leads to supernatural provision, demonstrating his divine authority over material needs and his pattern of involving disciples in his work.
- Key words: σπλαγχνίζομαι (compassion from the bowels), δότε (give, aorist imperative), χορτάζω (to satisfy fully), κοφίνους (small hand-baskets carried by Jews).
- Main debate: The significance of the twelve baskets, symbolic of Israel's twelve tribes, or simply the practical proof that a miracle occurred?
- Theological theme: Jesus as the bread of life provider; the kingdom's abundance flowing from surrendered resources.
- Best use: Comfort for those feeling inadequate; a call to bring our small offerings to Jesus in prayer and action.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
13When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.
14When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16“They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”
17“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18“Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.
19And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
21About five thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.
WEB World English Bible 2000
13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.
14Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.”
16But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”
18He said, “Bring them here to me.”
19He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
20They all ate and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.
21Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.
KJV King James Version 1769
13When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18He said, Bring them hither to me.
19And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
13Now when Jesus heardit, he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard thereof, they followed him on foot from the cities.
14And he came forth, and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
15And when even was come, the disciples came to him, saying, The place is desert, and the time is already past; send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.
16But Jesus said unto them, They have no need to go away; give ye them to eat.
17And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18And he said, Bring them hither to me.
19And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
20And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.
21And they that did eat were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
13and Jesus having heard, withdrew thence in a boat to a desolate place by himself, and the multitudes having heard did follow him on land from the cities.
14And Jesus having come forth, saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion upon them, and did heal their infirm;
15and evening having come, his disciples came to him, saying, `The place is desolate, and the hour hath now past, let away the multitudes that, having gone to the villages, they may buy to themselves food.'
16And Jesus said to them, `They have no need to go away--give ye them to eat.'
17And they say to him, `We have not here except five loaves, and two fishes.'
18And he said, `Bring ye them to me hither.'
19And having commanded the multitudes to recline upon the grass, and having taken the five loaves and the two fishes, having looked up to the heaven, he did bless, and having broken, he gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes,
20and they did all eat, and were filled, and they took up what was over of the broken pieces twelve hand-baskets full;
21and those eating were about five thousand men, apart from women and children.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
13And Jesus, having heard it, went away thence by ship to a desert place apart. And the crowds having heard [of it] followed him on foot from the cities.
14And going out he saw a great crowd, and was moved with compassion about them, and healed their infirm.
15But when even was come, his disciples came to him saying, The place is desert, and [much of] the [day] time already gone by; dismiss the crowds, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.
16But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give ye them to eat.
17But they say to him, We have not here save five loaves and two fishes.
18And he said, Bring them here to me.
19And having commanded the crowds to recline upon the grass, having taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed: and having broken the loaves, he gave [them] to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds.
20And all ate and were filled, and they took up what was over and above of fragments twelve hand-baskets full.
21But those that had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
13Which when Jesus had heard, he retired from thence by a boat, into a desert place apart, and the multitudes having heard of it, followed him on foot out of the cities.
14And he coming forth saw a great multitude, and had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying: This is a desert place, and the hour is now passed: send away the multitudes, that going into the towns, they may buy themselves victuals.
16But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give you them to eat.
17They answered him: We have not here, but five loaves, and two fishes.
18Who said to them: Bring them hither to me.
19And when he had commanded the multitude to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
20And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up what remained, twelve full baskets of fragments.
21And the number of them that did eat, was five thousand men, besides women and children.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 14:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this passage presents Jesus as the compassionate provider who intervenes in a situation of human scarcity. The withdrawal after John's death is seen as prudent self-preservation (Barnes, Clarke) rather than fear, Jesus' hour had not yet come. The crowd's pursuit, noted by Calvin as driven by spiritual hunger like sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34), moves Jesus to a deep, visceral compassion. The Greek verb σπλαγχνίζομαι (splagchnizomai) indicates a gut-level pity, not mere sentiment. The disciples' practical suggestion to send the people away is met with Jesus' command δότε (dote, 'give', aorist imperative, Vincent notes the contrast with the disciples' 'send away'). This tests their faith, as John 6:5-6 records. The miracle itself, taken, blessed, broken, given, illustrates Jesus' divine power to create abundance from near-nothing. The twelve baskets of leftovers (κοφίνους, hand-baskets) demonstrate that God's provision exceeds every need. This is the only miracle recorded by all four evangelists (Cambridge Bible), underlining its central place in Jesus' ministry.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus feeds a huge crowd using minimal resources, demonstrating his divine compassion and power, and involving his disciples in the work.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Why Jesus withdrew | Jesus leaves after John's death to avoid immediate danger from Herod Antipas, preserving his life until the appointed time. | Some emphasize prudence and safety (Barnes, Calvin); others see it as a time for rest for the disciples and solitude for prayer (Mark 6:31, Wesley). Both are present in the accounts. |
| Meaning of the twelve baskets | The leftover amount shows the abundance of Jesus' provision and confirms a genuine miracle occurred. | Some see a symbolic link to the twelve tribes of Israel, suggesting Jesus brings restoration to the whole people of God. Others read it more practically as a clear sign that the supply exceeded the need. |
| Role of the disciples | Jesus involves the disciples in the distribution, making them active participants rather than spectators. | Some focus on the test of their faith (John 6:6, Calvin); others highlight their ongoing training for future ministry, learning that Christ works through their hands. |
| Eucharistic overtones | The actions of taking, blessing, breaking, and giving mirror the institution of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26). | Some see a direct eucharistic typology, while others view it as a general pattern of grace at meals, not necessarily a specific ritual foreshadowing. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This episode unfolds shortly after Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee, executed John the Baptist. The report of John's death reaches Jesus, and he crosses the Sea of Galilee by boat to a deserted area near Bethsaida Julias, east of the Jordan (Luke 9:10). The location was a grassy hill country, suitable for large gatherings. The Passover Feast was approaching (John 6:4), drawing pilgrims to Jerusalem but also creating a charged atmosphere of anticipation.
The crowd, numbering about five thousand men besides women and children, followed on foot, outrunning the boat (Mark 6:33). This shows their desperation for teaching and healing, as the religious leaders of the day offered little guidance. Jesus' response, healing the sick and then providing food, reflects the dual role of the good shepherd who cares for both soul and body.
The meal follows standard Jewish customs for the head of a household: taking the bread, offering a blessing (εὐλόγησεν, eulogēsen) by looking up to heaven, breaking the thin cakes, and distributing them. The baskets used (κοφίνους, kophinous) were small wicker containers Jews carried while traveling to keep provisions ceremonially clean. Such details ground the miracle in everyday life while pointing to a divine intervention that transcends normal limitations.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant variants in the Greek text of Matthew 14:13-21. The passage is textually stable across the major manuscripts. The Cambridge Bible mentions a variant in the parallel Luke 9:10 regarding the location (Sinaitic MS omits “belonging to a city called Bethsaida”), but this does not affect Matthew's account. The vocabulary and narrative sequence are firmly attested.
Reception History
This miracle has been celebrated across Christian traditions as a sign of Jesus' divine identity and a model of generous provision. Early church fathers like Chrysostom and Augustine saw it as a type of the Eucharist, where Christ feeds his people with abundance. In medieval iconography, the scene often highlights Jesus blessing the loaves while the disciples distribute them. The Reformers (Calvin, Geneva Notes) emphasized the testing of the disciples' faith and the sovereignty of Christ in providing. Modern readings frequently draw comfort from the idea that God can multiply small offerings. The miracle also appears in hymns focusing on the shepherd's care, such as “The King of Love My Shepherd Is.”
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Jesus Withdraws, the Crowd Pursues. Jesus seeks solitude after John's death, but the crowd chases him with urgent need. This reveals both human desperation and divine availability.
- The Disciples' Dilemma, Jesus' Command. The disciples see only scarcity and offer a solution that simply moves the problem away. Jesus calls them to face the need with what they have.
- From Little to Enough. Jesus takes five loaves and two fish, blesses, breaks, gives. The result is abundance with leftovers. The kingdom works differently from our calculations.
Five-point outline
- Compassion moves Jesus to act before we ask.
- Jesus involves his disciples in the solution rather than working alone.
- Our small offerings become enough when surrendered to Christ.
- The pattern of take, bless, break, give anticipates the Eucharist and the self-giving of Jesus.
- The leftovers remind us that God's provision is generous and reliable.
Illustration hooks
- A family discovers groceries are running low, with several days until payday. They pray and find unexpected meals shared by neighbors.
- A small church pantry stocked with a few cans somehow feeds a dozen hungry families after a community needs request.
- A student feels overwhelmed by a project deadline. A group of friends contributes small skills, and the work is finished with time to spare.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this miracle mean I can expect God to solve all my material problems?
- Why didn't Jesus just make bread appear in the sky? Why the small offering and the disciples' involvement?
- What do the twelve baskets represent? Is there a hidden meaning about the tribes of Israel?
Leading a Discussion
Matthew 14:13-21 captures a moment when human resources meet divine power. Jesus has just received the news of John's death. He tries to be alone, but the crowd tracks him down. Instead of turning them away, he heals their sick and then feeds them. The disciples are caught between a practical problem and a command that seems impossible. This passage invites us to examine how we respond when our supplies run short and to trust that Jesus can multiply what we bring.
Discussion questions
- What emotions might have surrounded Jesus after hearing of John's death? How does his withdrawal shape the scene that follows?
- The crowd followed on foot out of the cities. What does their persistence reveal about their expectations of Jesus?
- Why does Jesus say to the disciples, “You give them something to eat”? What do you think he was testing in them?
- The disciples point out what they have: five loaves and two fish. When have you felt your own resources were inadequate for a need you faced?
- Jesus looked up to heaven and blessed before breaking the bread. Why is this posture important in the story?
- The text says they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of leftovers were collected. What does this overabundance tell you about God’s character?
- How might this miracle prepare the disciples for the later feeding of the four thousand (Matthew 15:32-39)? What pattern do you see?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 10:23 | But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come. |
| Matthew 12:15 | Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all, |
| Matthew 14:1 | At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, |
| Matthew 14:2 | and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.” |
| Matthew 15:32 | Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way.” |
| Matthew 15:38 | Those who ate were four thousand men, in addition to women and children. |
| Mark 6:30 | The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught. |
| Mark 6:44 | Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke insists the feeding was a literal
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes the practical impossibility the disciples saw in feeding so many: Philip calculated that two hundred denarii would not be enough. The miracle proves that Jesus, who multiplied five barley loaves, possesses divine creative power, and his command to gather leftovers teaches that nothing God provides should be wasted.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that Jesus withdrew not merely for safety but because Herod, believing Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead, now saw him as a threat. He also notes that this feeding miracle is recorded by all four evangelists, a distinction few miracles share, marking it as especially significant.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains that Jesus withdrew to a deserted place for three connected reasons: to escape Herod's threat, to get relief from the pressing crowds, and to have private conversation with his disciples who had just returned from preaching. The timing, past the usual meal hour, underlines the urgency.