Devine Scripture

Matthew 14:21

What does Matthew 14:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 14:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 14:21 means

The number of those who ate was approximately five thousand men, in addition to women and children. This numerical detail emphasizes the immense scale of the miracle. To feed such a vast crowd with so little food underscores Jesus' divine power and compassion, demonstrating His ability to provide for the physical needs of many. This immense number highlights the truly extraordinary nature of the event.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And they that did eat were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they that did eat were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And those who had food were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and those eating were about five thousand men, apart from women and children.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the number of them that did eat, was five thousand men, besides women and children.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But those that had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Context

This verse provides the numerical summary of those who were fed, directly reinforcing the magnitude of the miracle just described. It gives a clear picture of the vast crowd Jesus miraculously provided for, solidifying the impact of the event. This conclusion to the feeding narrative then directly precedes Jesus' instruction for His disciples to enter the boat, shifting the scene to the next miraculous event.

v.20And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.

v.21This passage

v.22And straightway he constrained the disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side, till he should send the multitudes away.

Cross references

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

  • Acts 4:4

    But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

  • 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:

  • Acts 4:34

    For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

  • John 6:10

    Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

  • Philippians 4:19

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

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