29And moving on from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee, and going up the mountain he sat down there. [15:30] And large crowds came to him, bringing with them those who were lame, those who were crippled, those who were blind, those who were mute, and many others, and they placed them at his feet, and he healed them. [15:31] So that the crowd marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing — and they glorified the God of Israel. [15:32] And Jesus called his disciples to himself and said: I am moved in my deepest inward parts for the crowd, because they have stayed with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they give out on the way. [15:33] And the disciples said to him: Where in a desolate place will we get enough bread to feed so large a crowd? [15:34] And Jesus said to them: How many loaves do you have? They said: Seven, and a few small fish. [15:35] And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, [15:36] he took the seven loaves and the fish, and giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. [15:37] And all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces — seven large baskets full. [15:38] And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. [15:39] And dismissing the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
MAT 15:29-39
The Feeding of the Four Thousand
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Galilee, large crowds often followed itinerant teachers and healers, seeking relief from physical ailments and spiritual guidance. The mention of the Sea of Galilee and the mountain setting situates this event in a familiar, rural landscape where Jesus’ ministry frequently unfolded. The specific ailments listed— (deaf/mute), (crippled), blind, and lame—reflect common disabilities in a society without modern medicine, often seen as signs of divine disfavor or demonic oppression. Healing such individuals would have been understood as a restoration of God’s favor and a demonstration of Jesus’ authority. The use of (large baskets) for the leftover bread highlights the practical, communal nature of the miracle, contrasting with the smaller baskets used in the feeding of the five thousand. The crowd’s response, glorifying the God of Israel, underscores the event’s theological significance, framing Jesus’ actions within Jewish expectations of divine intervention and messianic fulfillment.
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How other translations render this
MAT 15:29
- KJV
- And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
- BSB
- Moving on from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then He went up on a mountain and sat down.
- Koinōnos
- And moving on from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee, and going up the mountain he sat down there.
MAT 15:30
- KJV
- And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
- BSB
- Large crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at His feet, and He healed them.
- Koinōnos
- And large crowds came to him, bringing with them those who were lame, those who were crippled, those who were blind, those who were mute, and many others, and they placed them at his feet, and he healed them.
MAT 15:31
- KJV
- Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
- BSB
- The crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.
- Koinōnos
- So that the crowd marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing — and they glorified the God of Israel.
MAT 15:32
- KJV
- Then 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.
- BSB
- Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus called his disciples to himself and said: I am moved in my deepest inward parts for the crowd, because they have stayed with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they give out on the way.
MAT 15:33
- KJV
- And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
- BSB
- The disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?”
- Koinōnos
- And the disciples said to him: Where in a desolate place will we get enough bread to feed so large a crowd?
MAT 15:34
- KJV
- And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
- BSB
- “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus said to them: How many loaves do you have? They said: Seven, and a few small fish.
MAT 15:35
- KJV
- And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
- BSB
- And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground.
- Koinōnos
- And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground,
MAT 15:36
- KJV
- And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
- BSB
- Taking the seven loaves and the fish, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
- Koinōnos
- he took the seven loaves and the fish, and giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
MAT 15:37
- KJV
- And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
- BSB
- They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
- Koinōnos
- And all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces — seven large baskets full.
MAT 15:38
- KJV
- And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
- BSB
- A total of four thousand men were fed, besides women and children.
- Koinōnos
- And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
MAT 15:39
- KJV
- And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.
- BSB
- After Jesus had dismissed the crowds, He got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
- Koinōnos
- And dismissing the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 15:30
- lame:The word translated 'lame' here often referred to someone who was deaf or mute, or had some other significant physical impairment that rendered them unable to speak or hear.
- mute:The term translated 'mute' in this context more broadly described someone who was crippled or deformed, particularly in their limbs, rather than specifically unable to speak.
MAT 15:32
- I am moved with compassion:The phrase 'I am moved with compassion' uses a word that literally refers to a strong emotional reaction felt in one's deepest inward parts, like the intestines or bowels, indicating a profound, visceral empathy.
MAT 15:37
- baskets:The word translated 'baskets' here refers to a large, flexible basket, often made of wicker or rope, that was big enough to hold a person or a substantial amount of food.