Devine Scripture

Luke 9:13

What does Luke 9:13 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 9:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 9:13 means

Jesus challenges them: “Give them to eat.” The disciples protest that they have only five loaves and two fishes. This exchange exposes the disciples’ limited resources and faith. Jesus calls them to action and trust: rather than dispersing the crowd, he wants his followers to feed them, even when the means seem insufficient. Their immediate thought is to buy food, showing practical concern but also a lack of expectation for miraculous provision. Jesus uses their small offering as the occasion for a teaching miracle about God’s abundant care.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy food for all this people.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy food for all this people.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But he said, Give them food yourselves. And they said, We have only five cakes of bread and two fishes, if we do not go and get food for all these people.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he said unto them, `Give ye them to eat;' and they said, `We have no more than five loaves, and two fishes: except, having gone, we may buy for all this people victuals;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But he said to them: Give you them to eat. And they said: We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; unless perhaps, we should go and buy food for all this multitude.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said to them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have not more than five loaves and two fishes, unless we should go and buy food for all this people;

Context

This verse initiates the miracle of feeding the five thousand. It contrasts the disciples’ sensible proposal (v.12) with Jesus’ directive to supply the crowd. The dialogue sets up the insufficiency of human resources (five loaves and two fishes) and prepares the reader for a divine multiplication (vv.14–17). Luke frames the miracle as both a test of faith and a revelation of compassion.

v.12And the day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages and country round about, and lodge, and get provisions: for we are here in a desert place.

v.13This passage

v.14For they were about five thousand men. And he said unto his disciples, Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each.

Cross references

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

  • 2 Kings 4:42

    And there came a man from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

  • Mark 6:37

    But he answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred shillings’ worth of bread, and give them to eat?

  • 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.

  • Numbers 11:21

    And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.

  • Matthew 14:16

    But Jesus said unto them, They have no need to go away; give ye them to eat.

  • John 6:5

    Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat?

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