Devine Scripture

Matthew 15:33

What does Matthew 15:33 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 15:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 15:33 means

The disciples respond to Jesus's concern by highlighting the practical impossibility of feeding such a massive crowd in a remote, desert location. Their question underscores their limited resources and human perspective, seemingly forgetting Jesus's previous miracle of feeding the five thousand. This response sets up Jesus’s opportunity to once again demonstrate His divine power to provide abundantly, even when human means are clearly insufficient.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the disciples say to him, How may we get enough bread in a waste place, to give food to such a number of people?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And his disciples say to him, `Whence to us, in a wilderness, so many loaves, as to fill so great a multitude?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the disciples say unto him: Whence then should we have so many loaves in the desert, as to fill so great a multitude?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And his disciples say to him, Whence should we have so many loaves in [the] wilderness as to satisfy so great a crowd?

Context

This verse is the disciples' practical, human response to Jesus's compassionate concern in verse 32. It immediately establishes the logistical challenge, emphasizing the vast need and limited resources, which will set the stage for Jesus's miraculous intervention. Their question here mirrors a similar prior event, preparing the reader for another demonstration of divine provision.

v.32And 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.

v.33This passage

v.34And Jesus said unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few small fishes.

Cross references

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

  • 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.

  • Mark 8:4

    And his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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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