Luke 9:14

14 About 5,000 men were there. But Jesus said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50 each."

Luke 9:14 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 9:14

For they were about five thousand men
Beside women and children, ( Matthew 14:21 ) ,

and he said to his disciples, make them to sit down by fifties
in a company;
and by hundreds also; some companies had a hundred apiece in them, and others fifty; and which was done partly, for the more easy numbering of them, and partly and chiefly for the more convenient distribution of food to them; (See Gill on Mark 6:39). (See Gill on Mark 6:40).

Luke 9:14 In-Context

12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him. They said, "Send the crowd away. They can go to the nearby villages and countryside. There they can find food and a place to stay. There is nothing here."

13 Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." The disciples answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish. We would have to go and buy food for all this crowd."

14 About 5,000 men were there. But Jesus said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50 each."

15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down.

16 Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke them into pieces. Then he gave them to the disciples to set in front of the people.