Matthew 15:38

38 And they that ate were four thousand of men, without little children and women.

Matthew 15:38 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 15:38

And they that did eat, were four thousand men
This number of men, as well as of the baskets of fragments, clearly shows this to be a distinct miracle from the former of this kind, recorded in ( Matthew 14:15-21 ) . There the number of men were five thousand, here four thousand; there the quantity of food was five loaves and two fishes, here seven loaves and a few fishes; there the number of the baskets of fragments was twelve, here seven; though the quantity might be as large; since the word here used for a basket is not the same as there, and designs one of a larger size:

besides women and children;
who were not taken into the account, though they ate as well as the men, and whose number might be very large.

Matthew 15:38 In-Context

36 And he took the seven loaves and five fishes, and did thankings, and brake them, and gave to his disciples; and the disciples gave to the people.

37 And all ate, and were fulfilled, and they took that that was left of remnants, seven baskets full. [And all ate, and were filled, and they took that that was over of the reliefs, seven baskets full.]

38 And they that ate were four thousand of men, without little children and women.

39 And when he had let go the people [And, the company left], he went up into a boat, and came into the coasts of Magdala.