Matthew 14:13-21

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13 Now when Jesus heard this, ¹he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

14 When he went ashore he ²saw a great crowd, and ³he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; ⁴send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves. ”

16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; ⁵you give them something to eat. ”

17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish. ”

18 And he said, “Bring them here to me. ”

19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, ⁶he looked up to heaven and ⁷said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.

21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Cross References

• 1. 14:13 For ver. 13-21, see Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13; [ch. 15:32-38; 16:9; Mark 8:2-9]
• 2. 14:14 [ch. 9:36]
• 3. 14:14 [ch. 9:36]
• 4. 14:15 ver. 22; [ch. 15:23]
• 5. 14:16 [2 Kgs. 4:42-44]
• 6. 14:19 Mark 7:34; John 11:41; 17:1
• 7. 14:19 ch. 26:26; 1 Sam. 9:13; Mark 8:7; 14:22; Luke 24:30; [1 Cor. 14:16]