Matthew 15:32
What does Matthew 15:32 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 15:32 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 15:32 means
Jesus, showing profound compassion, calls His disciples to Him and expresses deep concern for the vast multitude. He notes that they have been with Him for three days and have no food, recognizing the potential danger of sending them away fasting, lest they faint on their journey home. This verse highlights Jesus's divine empathy and foresight, revealing His concern for the physical well-being of the crowds, prompting the miraculous provision that will follow.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Jesus called unto him his disciples, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat: and I would not send them away fasting, lest haply they faint on the way.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Jesus called unto him his disciples, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat: and I would not send them away fasting, lest haply they faint on the way.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Jesus got his disciples together and said, I have pity for the people, because they have now been with me three days and have no food: and I will not send them away without food, or they will have no strength for the journey.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Jesus having called near his disciples, said, `I have compassion upon the multitude, because now three days they continue with me, and they have not what they may eat; and to let them away fasting I will not, lest they faint in the way.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Jesus called together his disciples, and said: I have compassion on the multitudes, because they continue with me now three days, and have not what to eat, and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But Jesus, having called his disciples to [him], said, I have compassion on the crowd, because they have stayed with me already three days and they have not anything they can eat, and I would not send them away fasting lest they should faint on the way.
Context
Following the widespread healings and the crowd's praise (verses 30-31), this verse marks Jesus's compassionate initiative to address the multitude's hunger. It establishes the problem — the crowd's prolonged stay and lack of food — which directly sets up the disciples' question and the subsequent miracle of the feeding of the four thousand, paralleling an earlier feeding miracle but with important distinctions.
v.31insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing: and they glorified the God of Israel.
v.32This passage
v.33And the disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 27:33
And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.
- 1 Samuel 14:28
Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food this day. And the people were faint.
- Matthew 12:40
for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
- 1 Samuel 30:11
And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they gave him water to drink;
- Hebrews 4:15
For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- Luke 7:13
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
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