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Easy-to-Read Version

Matthew 14:16

Jesus said, "The people don't need to go away. You give them some food to eat."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Loaves;   Scofield Reference Index - Miracles;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Miracles of Christ, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Bethsaida;   Miracle;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Body;   John, gospel of;   Miracles;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Bread, Bread of Presence;   Jesus Christ;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Bethsaida;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Miracles;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Matthew, the Gospel of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Mss;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Fish, Fisher, Fishing;   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Questions and Answers;   Wilderness (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Bethsaida ;   Miracles;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   Lord's Supper (Eucharist);  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“They don’t need to go away,”
King James Version (1611)
But Iesus said vnto them, They neede not depart; giue yee them to eate.
King James Version
But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
English Standard Version
But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
New American Standard Bible
But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go; you give them something to eat!"
New Century Version
But Jesus answered, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."
Amplified Bible
But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
But Iesus saide to them, They haue no neede to goe away: giue yee them to eate.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!"
Legacy Standard Bible
But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!"
Berean Standard Bible
"They do not need to go away," Jesus replied. "You give them something to eat."
Contemporary English Version
Jesus replied, "They don't have to leave. Why don't you give them something to eat?"
Complete Jewish Bible
But Yeshua replied, "They don't need to go away. Give them something to eat, yourselves!"
Darby Translation
But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give *ye* them to eat.
George Lamsa Translation
But he said to them, It is not necessary for them to go; you give them something to eat.
Good News Translation
"They don't have to leave," answered Jesus. "You yourselves give them something to eat!"
Lexham English Bible
But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
Literal Translation
But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go away. You give them food to eat.
American Standard Version
But Jesus said unto them, They have no need to go away; give ye them to eat.
Bible in Basic English
But Jesus said to them, There is no need for them to go away; give them food yourselves.
Hebrew Names Version
But Yeshua said to them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."
International Standard Version
But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."
Etheridge Translation
But he said to them, It is not needful that they should go; give you them to eat.
Murdock Translation
But he said to them: It is not necessary for them to go; give ye them to eat.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But Iesus sayde vnto them: They haue no nede to go away, geue ye them to eate.
English Revised Version
But Jesus said unto them, They have no need to go away; give ye them to eat.
World English Bible
But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But Jesus said to them, They need not go: give ye them to eat.
Weymouth's New Testament
"They need not go away," replied Jesus; "you yourselves must give them something to eat."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Jhesus seide to hem, Thei han not nede to go; yyue ye hem sumwhat to ete.
Update Bible Version
But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go away; you give them to eat.
Webster's Bible Translation
But Jesus said to them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
New English Translation
But he replied, "They don't need to go. You give them something to eat."
New King James Version
But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
New Living Translation
But Jesus said, "That isn't necessary—you feed them."
New Life Bible
Jesus said to them, "They do not have to go away. Give them something to eat."
New Revised Standard
Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, Jesus, said unto them, No need, have they to go away, - give, ye, them to eat.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give you them to eat.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But Iesus sayde vnto them. They have no neade to go awaye. Geve ye the to eate.
Young's Literal Translation
And Jesus said to them, `They have no need to go away -- give ye them to eat.'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But Iesus sayde vnto them: They nede not go awaye, geue ye the to eate.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but Jesus said to them, that's needless, let them eat what you have.
THE MESSAGE
But Jesus said, "There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper."
Simplified Cowboy Version
But Jesus said it weren't necessary. "Y'all feed 'em."

Contextual Overview

13 When Jesus heard what happened to John, he left in a boat. He went alone to a place where no one lived. But the people heard that Jesus had left. So they left their towns and followed him. They went by land to the same place he went. 14 When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd of people. He felt sorry for them, and he healed the ones who were sick. 15 Late that afternoon, the followers came to Jesus and said, "No one lives in this place. And it is already late. Send the people away so they can go to the towns and buy food for themselves." 16 Jesus said, "The people don't need to go away. You give them some food to eat." 17 The followers answered, "But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish." 18 Jesus said, "Bring the bread and the fish to me." 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. He looked into the sky and thanked God for the food. Then he broke the bread into pieces, which he gave to the followers, and they gave the food to the people. 20 Everyone ate until they were full. When they finished eating, the followers filled twelve baskets with the pieces of food that were not eaten. 21 There were about 5000 men there who ate. There were also women and children who ate.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they: 2 Kings 4:42-44, Job 31:16, Job 31:17, Proverbs 11:24, Ecclesiastes 11:2, Luke 3:11, John 13:29, 2 Corinthians 8:2, 2 Corinthians 8:3, 2 Corinthians 9:7, 2 Corinthians 9:8

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 4:43 - What Matthew 4:4 - but Mark 6:37 - give Luke 9:13 - Give James 2:16 - one

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
I will build a great nation from you. I will bless you and make your name famous. People will use your name to bless other people.
Genesis 14:11
So Kedorlaomer and his armies took everything that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah owned. They took all their food and clothing and left.
Genesis 14:12
Lot, the son of Abram's brother, was living in Sodom, and they captured him. They also took everything he owned and left.
Genesis 14:18
Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, also went to meet Abram. He brought bread and wine.
Genesis 14:19
He blessed Abram and said, "Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth.
1 Samuel 30:8
Then David prayed to the Lord . "Should I chase the people who took our families? Will I catch them?" The Lord answered, "Chase them. You will catch them, and you will save your families."
Isaiah 41:2
Who woke up the man who is coming from the east? He called Justice to march with him. He uses his sword to crush nations. He uses his bow and conquers kings— they run away like straw blown by the wind.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A full narrative of the feeding the five thousand is given in each of the other evangelists: in Mark 6:32-44; in Luke 9:10-17; in John 6:1-14.

Matthew 14:13

And when Jesus heard of it, he departed - He went to a place of safety.

He never threw himself unnecessarily into danger. It was proper that he should secure his life until the appointed time had come for him to die.

By a ship into a desert place - That is, he crossed the Sea of Galilee. He went to the country east of the sea, into a place little inhabited. Luke says Luke 9:10 he went to a place called Bethsaida. See the notes at Matthew 11:21. “A desert place” means a place little cultivated, where there were few or no inhabitants. On the east of the Sea of Galilee there was a large tract of country of this description rough, uncultivated, and chiefly used to pasture flocks.

Matthew 14:14

Was moved with compassion - That is, pitied them.

Mark 6:34 says he was moved with compassion because they were as sheep having no shepherd. A shepherd is one who takes care of a flock. It was his duty to feed it; to defend it from wolves and other wild beasts; to take care of the young and feeble; to lead it by green pastures and still waters, Psalms 23:1-6. In Eastern countries this was a principal employment of the inhabitants. When Christ says the people were as sheep without a shepherd, he means that they had no teachers and guides who cared for them and took pains to instruct them. The scribes and Pharisees were haughty and proud, and cared little for the common people; and when they did attempt to teach them, they led them astray. They therefore came in great multitudes to him who preached the gospel to the poor Matthew 11:5, and who was thus the good shepherd, John 10:14.

Matthew 14:15

The time is now past - That is, the day is passing away; it is near night, and it is proper to make some provision for the temporal wants of so many.

Perhaps it may mean it was past the usual time for refreshment.

Matthew 14:16

Jesus said They need not depart; give ye them to eat - John adds John 6:5-6 that previous to this Jesus had addressed Philip, and asked, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? and that he “said this to prove him; for he himself knew what he would do;” that is, he said this to try his faith; to test the confidence of Philip in himself.

Philip, it seems, had not the kind of confidence which he ought to have had. He immediately began to think of their ability to purchase food for them. Two hundred pennyworth of bread, said he, would not be enough, John 6:7. In the original it is two hundred denarii. These were Roman coins amounting to about fourteen cents (7d.) each. The whole two hundred, therefore, would have been equal to about twenty-eight dollars. In the view of Philip this was a great sum, a sum which twelve poor fishermen were by no means able to provide. It was this fact, and not any unwillingness to provide for them, which led the disciples to request that they should be sent into the villages around in order to obtain food. Jesus knew how much they had, and he required of them, as he does of all, implicit faith, and told them to give them to eat. He requires us to do what he commands, and we need not doubt that he will give us strength to accomplish it.

Matthew 14:17

We have here but five loaves ... - These loaves were in the possession of a lad, or young man, who was with them, and were made of barley, John 6:9

It is possible that this lad was one in attendance on the apostles to carry their food, but it is most probable he was one who had provision to sell among the multitude. Barley was a cheap kind of food, scarcely one-third the value of wheat, and was much used by poor people. A considerable part of the food of the people in that region was probably fish, as they lived on the borders of a lake that abounded in fish.

Matthew 14:19

And he commanded the multitude to sit down - In the original it is “to recline” on the grass, or to lie as they did at their meals.

The Jews never sat, as we do, at meals, but reclined or lay at length. See the notes at Matthew 23:6. Mark and Luke add that they reclined in companies, by hundreds and by fifties.

And looking up to heaven, he blessed - Luke adds, he blessed “them;” that is, the loaves. The word “to bless” means, often, to give thanks; sometimes to pray for a blessing; that is, to pray for the divine favor and friendship; to pray that what we do may meet his approbation. In seeking a blessing on our food, it means that we pray that it may be made nourishing to our bodies; that we may have proper gratitude to God, the giver, for providing for our wants; and that we may remember the Creator while we partake the bounties of his providence. Our Saviour always sought a blessing on his food. In this he was an example for us. What he did we should do. It is right thus to seek the blessing of God. He provides for us; he daily opens his hand and satisfies our wants, and it is proper that we should render suitable acknowledgments for his goodness.

The custom among the Jews was universal. The form of prayer which they used in the time of Christ has been preserved by their writers, the Talmudists. It is this: “Blessed be thou, O Lord our God, the King of the world, who hast produced this food and this drink from the earth and the vine.”

And brake - The loaves of bread, among the Jews, were made thin and brittle, and were therefore broken and not cut.

Matthew 14:20

And they did all eat, and were filled - This was an undoubted miracle.

The quantity must have been greatly increased to have supplied so many. He that could increase that small quantity so much had the power of creation; and he that could do that could create the world out of nothing, and had no less than divine power.

Twelve baskets full - The size of these baskets is unknown. They were probably such as travelers carried their provisions in. They were used commonly by the Jews in their journeys. In traveling among the Gentiles or Samaritans, a Jew could expect little hospitality. There were not, as now, public houses for the entertainment of strangers. At great distances there were caravansaries, but they were intended chiefly as lodging-places for the night, and not to provide food for travelers. Hence, in journeying among strangers or in deserts, they carried baskets of provisions, and this is the reason why they were furnished with them here. It is probable that each of the apostles had one, and they were all filled. John John 6:12 says that Jesus directed them to gather up these fragments, that nothing might be lost - an example of economy. God creates all food; it has, therefore, a kind of sacredness; it is all needed by some person or other, and none should be lost.

Matthew 14:21

Five thousand men, besides ... - Probably the whole number might have been ten thousand, To feed so many was an act of great benevolence and a stupendous miracle.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 14:16. They need not depart — He that seeks first the kingdom of heaven is sure to have every temporal requisite. When a man ensures the first, God always takes care to throw the other into the bargain. He who has an interest in Jesus has in him an inexhaustible treasure of spiritual and temporal good. Though the means by which man may help his fellows have failed, we are not to suppose that the bounty of God is exhausted. When we are about to give up all hope of farther supply, the gracious word of Christ still holds good - They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

Give ye them to eat. — Should we say, Lord, how shall thy poor, feeble ministering servants feed so many hungry souls as attend thy word! Begin at the command of Jesus - make the attempt - divide what you have-and the bread of God shall be multiplied in your hands, and all shall eat and be satisfied.


 
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