John 6:12

12 After they had eaten their fill, he told his talmidim, "Gather the leftover pieces, so that nothing gets wasted."

John 6:12 Meaning and Commentary

John 6:12

When they were filled
Had not only eaten, but had made a full meal, and were thoroughly satisfied, having eaten as much as they could, or chose to eat:

he said unto his disciples, gather up the fragments that remain,
that nothing be lost;
this he said, partly that the truth, reality, and greatness of the miracle might be clearly discerned; and partly, to teach frugality, that, in the midst of abundance, care be taken that nothing be lost of the good things which God gives; and which may be useful to other persons, or at another time.

John 6:12 In-Context

10 Yeshua said, "Have the people sit down." There was a lot of grass there, so they sat down. The number of men was about five thousand.

11 Then Yeshua took the loaves of bread, and, after making a b'rakhah, gave to all who were sitting there, and likewise with the fish, as much as they wanted.

12 After they had eaten their fill, he told his talmidim, "Gather the leftover pieces, so that nothing gets wasted."

13 They gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.

14 When the people saw the miracle he had performed, they said, "This has to be `the prophet' who is supposed to come into the world."