KJV King James Version
And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Matthew 15:33
And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
The disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?”
WEB World English Bible
The disciples said to him, “Where should we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?”
ASV American Standard Version
And the disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude?
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
And his disciples say to him, ‘Whence to us, in a wilderness, so many loaves, as to fill so great a multitude?’
Surrounding context — Matthew 15
30 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:
31 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.
32 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.
33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36 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.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
καὶG2532 · kaiandλέγουσινG3004 · legōto sayαὐτῷG846 · autosit/s/heοἱG3588 · hothe/this/whoμαθηταίG3101 · mathētēsdiscipleπόθενG4159 · pothenwhenceἡμῖνG3165 · memeἐνG1722 · enin/on/amongἐρημίᾳG2047 · erēmiadesertἄρτοιG740 · artosbreadτοσοῦτοιG5118 · tosoutosso greatὥστεG5620 · hōstesoχορτάσαιG5526 · chortazōto feedὄχλονG3793 · ochloscrowdτοσοῦτον;¶G5118 · tosoutosso great
Cross-references
John 6:5-9When Jesus then lifted up [his] eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?Luke 9:13But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.Matthew 14:15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.Mark 8:4-5And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these [men] with bread here in the wilderness?Mark 6:37He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?2 Kings 4:42-44And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.Numbers 11:21-22And 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.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Matthew 15:33
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →