Matthew 14:16

16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not {need} to go away. You give them [something] to eat."

Matthew 14:16 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 14:16

But Jesus said unto them
the disciples,

they need not depart;
meaning so long as he was with them, who had power enough to provide a sufficient meal for them, as well as by a word speaking, to heal their diseases; however, to try their faith, and make way for the working of the following miracle, he says to them,

give ye them to eat;
such provisions as you have along with you.

Matthew 14:16 In-Context

14 And [as he] got out, he saw the large crowd and had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 Now [when it] was evening, the disciples came to him saying, "The place is desolate and the hour {is late}. Release the crowds so that they can go away into the villages [and] purchase food for themselves."

16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not {need} to go away. You give them [something] to eat."

17 And they said to him, "We do not have [anything] here except five loaves and two fish."

18 So he said, "Bring them here to me."

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "have need"
• [b] *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation