Devine Scripture

Luke 9:16

What does Luke 9:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 9:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 9:16 means

Jesus took the five loaves and two fishes, looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to serve the crowd. This sequence shows Jesus as priestly intercessor and provider: he offers thanks to God, acknowledges dependence on the Father, and performs the distributive act. The blessing and breaking echo the Passover and meal practices, suggesting covenantal significance. By involving the disciples in distribution, Jesus trains them to serve and witness God’s provision, turning a small offering into abundant sustenance through divine power.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake; and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake; and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he took the five cakes of bread and the two fishes and, looking up to heaven, he said words of blessing over them, and when they had been broken, he gave them to the disciples to give to the people.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having taken the five loaves, and the two fishes, having looked up to the heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and was giving to the disciples to set before the multitude;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven and blessed them: and he broke and distributed to his disciples, to set before the multitude.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And taking the five loaves and the two fishes, looking up to heaven he blessed them, and broke and gave to the disciples to set before the crowd.

Context

This verse is the central action of the feeding miracle, following the crowd’s seating (v.15). Luke highlights Jesus’ ritual gestures—looking up, blessing, breaking—that link the miracle to worship and covenantal meal traditions. The handing of the food to the disciples ties together the themes of delegated authority and shared ministry that began the chapter (vv.1–2). The result comes in the next verse (v.17), where all are satisfied and leftovers gathered.

v.15And they did so, and made them all sit down.

v.16This passage

v.17And they ate, and were all filled: and there was taken up that which remained over to them of broken pieces, twelve baskets.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 22:19

    And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

  • Matthew 14:19

    And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.

  • John 6:11

    Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the fishes as much as they would.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:30

    If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

  • Romans 14:6

    He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:24

    and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.

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