Devine Scripture

John 6:13

What does John 6:13 mean?

A plain-English look at John 6:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 6:13 means

The disciples fill twelve baskets with leftover pieces from the five barley loaves—more at the end than at the start. The number twelve likely echoes Israel’s twelve tribes and the twelve apostles, suggesting fullness for God’s people through Jesus. The detail drives home the miracle’s scale: the fragments alone exceed the original supply. God’s provision in Christ is superabundant and targeted—there is enough for each basket, as though each apostle carries a tangible reminder. The sign leaves no room for chance; it is public, countable, and memorable. Abundance is not vague prosperity but provision from the hands of Jesus overflowing to His people.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So they took them up: twelve baskets full of broken bits of the five cakes which were over after the people had had enough.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

they gathered together, therefore, and filled twelve hand-baskets with broken pieces, from the five barley loaves that were over to those having eaten.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

They gathered up therefore and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which remained over and above to them that had eaten.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

They gathered [them] therefore together, and filled twelve hand-baskets full of fragments of the five barley loaves, which were over and above to those that had eaten.

Context

This tally follows Jesus’s order to gather and sets the stage for the crowd’s interpretation. The leftovers become evidence that compels a response. As the people reckon with the magnitude, they conclude that Jesus is “the prophet.” Their conclusion will mix truth and error, prompting an attempt to make Him king. This in turn triggers Jesus’s withdrawal, moving the narrative from public acclaim to private revelation on the sea.

v.12And when they were filled, he saith unto his disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost.

v.13This passage

v.14When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Kings 7:15

    For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits compassed either of them about.

  • Philippians 4:19

    And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

  • Proverbs 11:24

    There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.

  • 2 Corinthians 9:8

    And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:

  • 2 Kings 4:2

    And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me; what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thy handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.

  • 2 Chronicles 25:9

    And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, Jehovah is able to give thee much more than this.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore John 6

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on John 6.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to John 6:13.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary