Matthew 14:13-21

Feeding 5,000

13 When Jesus heard about it, He withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed Him on foot from the towns.

14 As He stepped ashore,^[a] He saw a huge crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.

15 When evening came, the disciples approached Him and said, "This place is a wilderness, and it is already late.^[b] Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves."

16 "They don't need to go away," Jesus told them. "You give them something to eat."

17 "But we only have five loaves and two fish here," they said to Him.

18 "Bring them here to Me," He said.

19 Then He commanded the crowds to sit down^[c] on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds.

20 Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets full of leftover pieces!

21 Now those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.

Footnotes

• [a] Lit Coming out (of the boat)
• [b] Lit and the time (for the evening meal) has already passed
• [c] Lit to recline