The Feeding of the Four Thousand

(2 Kings 4:42–44, Matthew 15:29–39)

8 In those days [the] crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. [Jesus] called the disciples {to Him} [and] said 2 “I have compassion for [this] crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.”

4 His disciples replied “Where in this desolate place could anyone [find enough] bread to feed all these [people]?”

5 “How many loaves do you have?” [Jesus] asked “Seven,” they replied.

6 And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks [and] broke [them], and gave [them] to His disciples to set before [the people]. And they distributed [them] to the crowd. 7 They also had a few small fish, and [Jesus] blessed them [and] ordered that these be set before [them] as well.

8 [The people] ate and were satisfied, and [the disciples] picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

9 And about four thousand [men][fn] were [ present ]. And when [Jesus] had dismissed [the crowd], 10 He immediately got into the boat with His disciples [and] went to the district of Dalmanutha.