Matthew 14:17
What does Matthew 14:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 14:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 14:17 means
The disciples replied to Jesus with their assessment of their meager resources: only five loaves of bread and two fish. This highlights the stark contrast between the vast need of the multitude and their extremely limited supply. Their answer underscores their human limitations and the apparent impossibility of the task Jesus had given them. It sets the stage for a divine intervention that far exceeds human capability, demonstrating faith in a small provision.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they say to him, We have here but five cakes of bread and two fishes.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And they say to him, `We have not here except five loaves, and two fishes.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They answered him: We have not here, but five loaves, and two fishes.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But they say to him, We have not here save five loaves and two fishes.
Context
This verse is the disciples' direct reply to Jesus' command to feed the multitudes, clearly stating their insufficient resources. It emphasizes the humanly impossible nature of the task, creating a dramatic tension that will be resolved by Jesus' miracle. This declaration of scarcity directly precedes Jesus' instruction to bring the meager provisions to Him, setting up the moment of divine multiplication.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 16:9
Do ye not yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
- 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?
- Matthew 15:33
And the disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude?
- Psalms 78:19
Yea, they spake against God; They said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
- 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?
- Luke 9:13
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.
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