Feeding of the Four Thousand

32 Jesus called his disciples and said,(A) “I have compassion on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with me three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, otherwise they might collapse on the way.”

33 The disciples said to him, “Where could we get enough bread in this desolate place(B) to feed such a crowd?”

34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked them.

“Seven,” they said, “and a few small fish.”

35 After commanding the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.(C) 37 They all ate and were satisfied. They collected the leftover pieces—seven large baskets full. 38 Now there were four thousand men who had eaten, besides women and children. 39 After dismissing the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.[a](D)

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Footnotes

  1. 15:39 Other mss read Magdala

Jesus Feeds More than Four Thousand People(A)

32 Then Jesus called his disciples and said, “I have compassion for the crowd because they have already been with me for three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away without food, or they may faint on the road.”

33 The disciples asked him, “Where in the wilderness are we to get enough bread to feed such a crowd?”

34 Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?”

They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”

35 Ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks. Then he broke them in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them[a] to the crowds. 37 All of them ate until they were filled, then the disciples[b] picked up what was left of the broken pieces—seven baskets full. 38 Now those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After he sent the crowds away, he got into a boat and went to the region of Magadan.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 15:36 The Gk. lacks gave them
  2. Matthew 15:37 Lit. they
  3. Matthew 15:39 Other mss. read Magdala