The Feeding of the Five Thousand

Numbers Mentioned

Number Meaning
Two Union, Division, Witnessing
Five Grace or God’s Goodness
Twelve Governmental Perfection
Fifties Holy Spirit
Hundreds God’s Election of Grace; Children of Promise
Five Thousand Grace or God’s Goodness + Divine
Completeness and the Glory of God

Thoughts on Symbolism

Symbol Symbolic Of . . .
Bread Christ’s body
Fishes Multitudes
Desert Place Place of spiritual starvation
Mountain Nation
Evening Close to the end of one day and to the
beginning of a new day

Miscellaneous Thoughts

< This miracle took place in Bethsaida, which means house of fish.

< The Matthew, Mark, and Luke accounts all emphasize that Jesus performed the miracle
in “a desert place.”

< Philip, Andrew, and Peter, the only disciples mentioned by name in the John account,
were all from Bethsaida (John 1:44).

< All four accounts declare that five thousand men were fed from five loaves and two
fishes.
< Christ performed the miracle of multiplying the food, but the disciples served the food.

< The multitude was fed after being organized into companies of hundreds and fifties.

The Four Accounts in the Gospels

Matthew 14:13–22 Mark 6:30–46 Luke 9:10–17 John 6:3–15

13 When Jesus heard 30 And the apostles 10 And the apostles, 3 And Jesus went up
of it, He departed gathered themselves when they were into a mountain, and
thence by ship into a together unto Jesus, returned, told Him there He sat with His
desert place apart: and told Him all all that they had disciples. 4 And the
and when the people things, both what done. And He took passover, a feast of
had heard thereof, they had done, and them, and went aside the Jews, was nigh. 5
they followed Him what they had privately into a When Jesus then
on foot out of the taught. 31 And He desert place lifted up His eyes,
cities.14 And Jesus said unto them, belonging to the city and saw a great
went forth, and saw “Come ye yourselves called Bethsaida. 11 company come unto
a great multitude, apart into a desert And the people, Him, He saith unto
and was moved with place, and rest a when they knew it, Philip, “Whence shall
compassion toward while:” for there followed Him: and we buy bread, that
them, and He healed were many coming He received them, these may eat?” 6
their sick. 15 And and going, and they and spake unto them And this He said to
when it was evening, had no leisure so of the kingdom of prove him: for He
His disciples came to much as to eat. 32 God, and healed Himself knew what
Him, saying, “This is And they departed them that had need he would do. 7 Philip
a desert place, and into a desert place by of healing. 12 And answered him, “Two
the time is now past; ship privately. 33 when the day began hundred pennyworth
send the multitude And the people saw to wear away, then of bread is not
away, that they may them departing, and came the twelve, and sufficient for them,
go into the villages, many knew Him, and said unto Him, “Send that every one of
and buy themselves ran afoot thither out the multitude away, them may take a
victuals.” 16 But of all cities, and out that they may go into little.” 8 One of His
Jesus said unto them, went them, and the towns and disciples, Andrew,
“They need not came together unto country round about, Simon Peter’s
depart; give ye them Him. 34 And Jesus, and lodge, and get brother, saith unto
to eat.” 17 And they when He came out, victuals: for we are Him, 9 “There is a
say unto Him, “We saw much people, here in a desert lad here, which hath
have here but five and was moved with place.” 13 But He five barley loaves,
loaves, and two compassion toward said unto them, and two small fishes:
fishes.” 18 He said, them, because they “Give ye them to but what are they
“Bring them hither to were as sheep not eat.” And they said, among so many?” 10
Me.” 19 And He having a shepherd: “We have no more And Jesus said,
commanded the
multitude to sit down and He began to but five loaves and “Make the men sit
on the grass, and teach them many two fishes; except down.” Now there
took the five loaves, things. 35 And when we should go and was much grass in
and the two fishes, the day was now far buy meat for all this the place. So the
and looking up to spent, His disciples people.” 14 For they men sat down, in
heaven, He blessed, came unto Him, and were about five number about five
and brake, and gave said, “This is a desert thousand men. And thousand. 11 And
the loaves to His place, and now the He said to His Jesus took the loaves;
disciples, and the time is far passed: 36 disciples, “Make and when He had
disciples to the Send them away, that them sit down by given thanks, He
multitude. 20 And they may go into the fifties in a company.” distributed to the
they did all eat, and country round about, 15 And they did so, disciples, and the
were filled: and they and into the villages, and made them all sit disciples to them that
took up of the and buy themselves down. 16 Then He were set down; and
fragments that bread: for they have took the five loaves likewise of the fishes
remained twelve nothing to eat.” 37 and the two fishes, as much as they
baskets full. 21 And He answered and and looking up to would. 12 When they
they that had eaten said unto them, heaven, He blessed were filled, He said
were about five “Give ye them to them, and brake, and unto His disciples,
thousand men, eat.” And they say gave to the disciples “Gather up the
beside women and unto Him, “Shall we to set before the fragments that
children. 22 And go and buy two multitude. 17 And remain, that nothing
straightway Jesus hundred pennyworth they did eat, and be lost.” 13
constrained His of bread, and give were all filled: and Therefore they
disciples to get into a them to eat?” 38 He there was taken up gathered them
ship, and to go saith unto them, of fragments that together, and filled
before Him unto the “How many loaves remained to them twelve baskets with
other side, while He have ye? go and see.” twelve baskets. the fragments of the
sent the multitudes And when they five barley loaves,
away. knew, they say, which remained over
“Five, and two and above unto them
fishes.” 39 And He that had eaten. 14
commanded them to Then those men,
make all sit down by when they had seen
companies upon the the miracle that Jesus
green grass. 40 And did, said, “This is of a
they sat down in truth that prophet
ranks, by hundreds, That should come
and by fifties. 41 And into the world.” 15
when He had taken When Jesus
the five loaves and therefore perceived
the two fishes, He that they would
looked up to heaven, come and take Him
and blessed, and by force, to make
brake the loaves, and Him a king, He
gave them to His departed again into a
disciples to set mountain Himself
before them; and the alone.
two fishes divided He
among them all. 42
And they did all eat,
and were filled. 43
And they took up
twelve baskets full of
the fragments, and of
the fishes. 44 And
they that did eat of
the loaves were
about five thousand
men. 45 And
straightway He
constrained His
disciples to get into
the ship, and to go to
the other side before
unto Bethsaida, while
He sent away the
people. 46 And when
He had sent them
away, He departed
into a mountain to
pray.