Luke 9:17 kjv

And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

Luke 9:17 nkjv

So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.

Luke 9:17 niv

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Luke 9:17 esv

And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

Luke 9:17 nlt

They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!

Luke 9 verses

Luke 9 17 Meaning

This verse concludes the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, emphasizing the completeness of Christ's provision. It highlights that everyone present ate fully and was satisfied, indicating divine sufficiency beyond human capability. Furthermore, the substantial leftovers, specifically "twelve baskets full," signify God's overflowing abundance, exceeding the immediate need and demonstrating His infinite power and generosity, with symbolic implications for both the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.

Luke 9 17 Context

Luke 9:17 concludes Jesus' miracle of feeding the five thousand, which is immediately preceded by the disciples' declaration that they only had five loaves and two fish (Luke 9:13). This event occurs shortly after Jesus sent out the twelve disciples with authority and power (Luke 9:1-2) and gathered them back after their mission (Luke 9:10). The setting is a desolate place near Bethsaida (Luke 9:10), emphasizing the human inability to provide and thus highlighting the divine intervention. Historically, large crowds often followed messianic figures expecting provision and signs, similar to how God provided for Israel in the wilderness. This miracle thus positions Jesus as greater than Moses, offering not just manna, but a profound demonstration of abundant provision for all who followed Him, a physical manifestation of His spiritual nourishment.

Luke 9 17 Word analysis

• So they all ate and were satisfied (Greek: kai ephagon pantes kai echortasthesan):
  • Ate (ephagon): From esthiō, meaning "to eat," signifying actual physical consumption by the multitude.
  • All (pantes): Emphasizes the universality of the provision; none were excluded or left hungry.
  • Satisfied (echortasthesan): From chortazō, meaning "to feed to the full," "to satisfy." While often used for animals being fully fed, when applied to humans, it signifies being amply, completely, and luxuriously satisfied, going beyond mere subsistence to true contentment and fullness. It indicates not just enough, but more than enough.
• and the fragments left over (Greek: kai to perisseuon tōn klasmatōn):
  • Fragments (klasmatōn): From klasma, meaning "a piece broken off," "a fragment." It refers to substantial pieces of bread broken from the original loaves, not just crumbs, implying that much remained from what was broken.
  • Left over (perisseuon): From perisseuō, meaning "to be superabundant," "to remain over and above," "to excel." This highlights the overflowing nature of Christ's provision, demonstrating His infinite abundance rather than just precise sufficiency.
• were picked up by them, twelve baskets full. (Greek: ēlēmphthē autois kophinous dodeka plēreis):
  • Picked up (ēlēmphthē): From lambanō, meaning "to take," "to receive," or "to collect." The passive voice (ēlēmphthē) implies that the action of collecting was done to the fragments, and the "by them" specifies the disciples were the agents of collection. This suggests careful stewardship of the divine abundance.
  • Baskets (kophinous): The Greek word kophinos (singular: kophinos) refers to a specific type of relatively small wicker basket, often carried by Jewish travelers for their own food, to avoid ritual defilement from gentile food. The fact that the disciples (or perhaps members of the crowd, as some commentators suggest this implies common Jewish practice) each had or used such a basket further emphasizes the individual experience of Christ's provision and the care in collecting. This differs from spyris, a much larger hamper used in the feeding of the four thousand.
  • Twelve (dodeka): This number is highly significant in biblical contexts. It universally refers to the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. In this context, it signifies the comprehensive provision for God's chosen people, spiritual Israel, and also alludes to the apostles who would be the future distributors of Christ's spiritual "bread" to the world, demonstrating that there was more than enough, one basket for each of them. It signifies completeness, authority, and covenant relationship.
  • Full (plēreis): Reinforces the notion of the substantial quantity of the leftovers, not just empty vessels, but overflowing evidence of God's abundant power.

Luke 9 17 Bonus section

The careful collection of the "fragments" underscores a principle of Christian stewardship: even in abundance, there should be no waste. Jesus, who created super-abundance from so little, ensured every piece was gathered, teaching His disciples the value of all resources and the avoidance of gluttony or wastefulness. The choice of the term kophinos (personal Jewish baskets) over spyris (a larger traveling hamper) is often noted in commentaries comparing the feeding of the five thousand (Jewish setting) with the feeding of the four thousand (often seen with more Gentile emphasis). The consistent appearance of "twelve" as the number of filled baskets across all Gospel accounts of this miracle points to an intentional emphasis on this symbolic number. This reinforces Jesus' messianic identity as the true provider and the fulfillment of Israel's hopes, preparing the way for the disciples to understand their own future role as dispensers of God's grace and truth, bringing the good news of Christ's fullness to every 'tribe.'

Luke 9 17 Commentary

Luke 9:17 profoundly illustrates the boundless nature of God's provision through Jesus Christ. The miracle demonstrates not just sufficient supply for the moment but an overflowing abundance that testifies to Jesus' divine power and identity. Everyone was not merely fed, but "satisfied," indicating complete fullness and contentment. The act of gathering "twelve baskets full" of leftovers emphasizes the importance of stewardship, the incredible extent of the miracle beyond the immediate need, and carries profound symbolism. The "twelve baskets" resonate with the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles, signifying God's covenant faithfulness and the apostles' role in dispensing Christ's abundant spiritual sustenance to the world. It foreshadows the spiritual nourishment and surplus of grace found in Christ. This event is a practical demonstration that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Eph 3:20). It reminds believers to trust in God's provision and to wisely manage the blessings received.