Matthew 15:33

33 And the disciples say to him, Whereof then so many loaves among us in desert, to fulfill so great a people [that we fill so great a company]?

Matthew 15:33 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 15:33

And his disciples said unto him
The former miracle of feeding five thousand men, besides women and children, with five loaves and two fishes, being quite out of their thoughts, they reply,

whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so
great a multitude?
The question is big with objections, and is put with some vehemency and astonishment: the people to be led were a multitude, a great multitude, a very great multitude, and these too had had but little, or no food, for a great while; and therefore would require the more to fill and satisfy them; and besides, it was a wilderness where they were, and where no provisions were to be had; and if they could have been got for money, they had not stock enough to purchase such a large number of loaves, as were necessary to feed so great a company with.

Matthew 15:33 In-Context

31 so that the people wondered [so that the companies wondered], seeing dumb men speaking, and crooked [men] going, blind men seeing; and they magnified God of Israel.
32 And Jesus, when his disciples were called together, said to them, I have ruth of the people, for they have abided now three days with me, and have nothing to eat; and I will not let them go fasting, lest they fail in the way. [+Forsooth Jesus said to his disciples called together, I have ruth of the company, for now three days they dwell still with me, and they have nothing that they shall eat; and I will not leave them fasting, lest they fail in the way.]
33 And the disciples say to him, Whereof then so many loaves among us in desert, to fulfill so great a people [that we fill so great a company]?
34 And Jesus said to them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few small fishes. [+And Jesus saith to them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.]
35 And he commanded the people, to sit to meat on the earth. [And he commanded the company, that they should sit to the meat on the earth.]
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.