Luke 9:14

14 (For there were about five thousand men.) He said to his talmidim, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty 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 The day began to draw to a close. The Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away, so that they can go and get lodging and food in the towns and farms around here, because where we are is a remote place."

13 But he said to them, "Give them something to eat, yourselves!" They said, "We have no more than five loaves of bread and two fish -- unless we ourselves are supposed to go and buy food for all these people!"

14 (For there were about five thousand men.) He said to his talmidim, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

15 They did what he told them and had them all sit down.

16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking up toward heaven, made a b'rakhah, broke the loaves and began giving them to the talmidim to distribute to the crowd.