Matthew 14:1-21

John the Baptist Beheaded

1 ¹At that time ²Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus,

2 and said to his servants, "³This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

3 For when ⁴Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him ⁵in prison because of ⁶Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.

4 For John had been saying to him, "⁷It is not lawful for you to have her."

5 Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as ⁸a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of ⁹Herodias danced before * them and pleased ¹⁰Herod,

7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever * she asked.

8 Having been prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."

9 Although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests.

10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

12 His disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus.

Five Thousand Fed

13 ¹¹Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

14 When He went ashore, He ¹²saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and ¹³healed their sick.

15 When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, "This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves."

16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!"

17 They said to Him, "We have here only * * ¹⁴five loaves and two fish."

18 And He said, "Bring them here to Me."

19 Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He ¹⁵blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds,

20 and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full ¹⁶baskets.

21 There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 14:1-12: {Mark 6:14-29;} Matthew 14:1, 2: {Luke 9:7-9}
• 2. Mark 8:15; Luke 3:1, 19; Luke 8:3; Luke 13:31; Luke 23:7f, 11f, 15; Acts 4:27; Acts 12:1
• 3. Matthew 16:14; Mark 6:14; Luke 9:7
• 4. Matthew 14:1-12: {Mark 6:14-29;} Mark 8:15; Luke 3:1, 19; Luke 8:3; Luke 13:31; Luke 23:7f, 11f, 15; Acts 4:27; Acts 12:1
• 5. Matthew 4:12; Matthew 11:2
• 6. Matthew 14:6; Mark 6:17, 19, 22; Luke 3:19
• 7. Leviticus 18:16; Leviticus 20:21
• 8. Matthew 11:9
• 9. Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17, 19, 22; Luke 3:19
• 10. Matthew 14:1-12: {Mark 6:14-29;} Mark 8:15; Luke 3:1, 19; Luke 8:3; Luke 13:31; Luke 23:7f, 11f, 15; Acts 4:27; Acts 12:1
• 11. Matthew 14:13-21: {Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13;} Matthew 15:32-38
• 12. Matthew 9:36
• 13. Matthew 4:23
• 14. Matthew 16:9
• 15. 1 Samuel 9:13; Matthew 15:36; Matthew 26:26; Mark 6:41; Mark 8:7; Mark 14:22; Luke 24:30; Acts 27:35; Romans 14:6
• 16. Matthew 16:9; Mark 6:43; Mark 8:19; Luke 9:17; John 6:13

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "occasion"
• [b]. Or "he, himself"
• [c]. Lit "him"
• [d]. Lit "in the midst"
• [e]. Lit "those who reclined" at the table "with him"
• [f]. Lit "him"
• [g]. Lit "the crowds"
• [h]. Lit "out"
• [i]. Lit "past"
• [j]. Lit "crowds"
• [k]. Lit "recline"