Matthew 14 15

Matthew 14:15 kjv

And 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.

Matthew 14:15 nkjv

When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."

Matthew 14:15 niv

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

Matthew 14:15 esv

Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves."

Matthew 14:15 nlt

That evening the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves."

Matthew 14 verses

Matthew 14 15 Meaning

This verse details the disciples' practical assessment of the situation as evening approached: a large multitude in a desolate area, without immediate provisions. Their proposed solution reflects human reasoning and logistical limitations, advising Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they could go to nearby villages to purchase food. It sets the stage for Jesus' divine provision, contrasting human inadequacy with His boundless capacity.

Matthew 14 15 Context

Matthew 14:15 takes place immediately after the execution of John the Baptist (Matt 14:1-12), a traumatic event that led Jesus to seek solitude and mourn (Matt 14:13). However, news of His arrival spread, and large crowds followed Him on foot from nearby towns, seeking healing and teaching. Jesus, moved by compassion, healed many in the desolate place where He had retired. As the day progressed, the practical challenge of feeding this massive, impromptu gathering arose. The setting is described as "deserted" (ἔρημος - erēmos), highlighting the lack of natural resources and emphasizing the human dependency on surrounding populated areas for basic provisions. This scene sets the stage for one of Jesus' most significant public miracles: the feeding of the five thousand.

Matthew 14 15 Word analysis

• When it was evening (ὀψίας γενομένης - opsias genomenēs):
  • ὀψίας (opsias): Refers to the time of day between late afternoon and dusk, signaling the approaching night. It marks a shift from a day of healing and teaching to a practical problem that requires resolution before nightfall. In ancient times, this period would be when people prepared for meals and lodging.
• His disciples (οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ - hoi mathētai autou):
  • μαθηταὶ (mathētai): The learners, the followers of Jesus. They are active participants, observing the situation and taking initiative to approach Jesus with their concern and a proposed solution. This highlights their role as His closest companions who interact directly with Him, yet still operate primarily within a human framework of understanding.
• came to Him (προσῆλθον αὐτῷ - prosēlthon autō):
  • προσῆλθον (prosēlthon): Implies approaching with purpose, often to make a request, seek instruction, or present a problem. It shows their concern and initiative to address the unfolding logistical challenge.
• saying (λέγοντες - legontes):
  • λέγοντες (legontes): Indicates their verbal communication of their observations and recommendation to Jesus.
• This is a deserted place (Ἔρημός ἐστιν ὁ τόπος - Erēmos estin ho topos):
  • Ἔρημος (erēmos): "Deserted," "solitary," "wilderness." This word is significant, invoking Old Testament imagery of Israel's wilderness wanderings and God's miraculous provision of manna. It emphasizes the complete lack of local resources and food sources. The Greek word can refer to uninhabited land, not necessarily arid desert.
  • τόπος (topos): Place, location. Reinforces the setting's specific nature.
• and the hour is already late (καὶ ἡ ὥρα ἤδη παρῆλθεν - kai hē hōra ēdē parēlthen):
  • ὥρα (hōra): Hour, time.
  • παρῆλθεν (parēlthen): Has passed, or is past due. Emphasizes urgency and the time for easy solutions is diminishing. Nightfall means difficulty for travel and finding provisions.
• send the multitudes away (ἀπόλυσον τοὺς ὄχλους - apolyson tous ochlous):
  • ἀπόλυσον (apolyson): Command to dismiss, send away, release. This is the disciples' practical and humanly reasonable solution. It is an instruction based on logical assessment of scarcity.
  • ὄχλους (ochlous): Multitudes, crowds. This signifies the vast number of people present, compounding the logistical problem from a human perspective. These crowds were not pre-planned but spontaneously gathered.
• that they may go into the villages (ἵνα ἀπελθόντες εἰς τὰς κώμας - hina apelthontes eis tas kōmas):
  • ἀπελθόντες (apelthontes): Go away, depart.
  • κώμας (kōmas): Villages, rural towns. The expectation is that smaller settlements would have basic marketplaces or inhabitants willing to sell food.
• and buy themselves food (ἀγοράσωσιν ἑαυτοῖς βρώματα - agorasōsin heautois brōmata):
  • ἀγοράσωσιν (agorasōsin): Buy. Emphasizes reliance on existing economic structures and personal resources.
  • βρώματα (brōmata): Food, provisions. The essential necessity for the large crowd.

• Word-Group Analysis:
  • "When it was evening, His disciples came to Him": This establishes the time-sensitive nature of the problem and identifies the actors initiating the dialogue, showing their concern for the practical welfare of the crowd.
  • "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late": These two phrases succinctly outline the core logistical challenge – geographical remoteness (lack of resources) and temporal urgency (impending darkness). It paints a clear picture of an escalating problem from a human viewpoint.
  • "send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food": This complete phrase represents the disciples' comprehensive and pragmatic solution. It highlights their reliance on conventional methods (dismissal, travel, purchase) as opposed to contemplating a supernatural intervention, reflecting their current limited understanding of Jesus' full divine capacity.

Matthew 14 15 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces a test for the disciples. Their proposed solution is an entirely human one, rooted in common sense and a scarcity mindset. They see a problem of numbers, resources, and time. This forms a sharp contrast with Jesus' subsequent response (in the next verse), where He proposes an entirely different approach, shifting the burden (and the opportunity for revelation) onto the disciples. The location being a "deserted place" (ἔρημος - erēmos) not only describes the lack of amenities but also evokes the biblical wilderness, a place of testing, hunger, and ultimately, divine provision, as seen with Israel and the manna. The disciples, by seeking to "send away" (ἀπόλυσον - apolyson), inadvertently suggest turning away from the immediate need, while Jesus' compassion will move Him to direct and astounding action, feeding rather than dismissing. This entire setup emphasizes the practical, immediate, and spiritual lesson: God’s capacity for provision often far exceeds human expectations or solutions.

Matthew 14 15 Commentary

Matthew 14:15 encapsulates a pivotal moment revealing the inherent difference between human logic and divine possibility. The disciples' plea is understandable: facing a vast, hungry crowd in a desolate area with night approaching, their practical solution is to disperse the people to fend for themselves in nearby villages. Their assessment is purely rational, focusing on logistical limitations – no food here, time is running out, send them where food is available, and they can buy it. This demonstrates a limited faith in the face of an immediate physical need, not yet comprehending Jesus' power to meet such needs miraculously. This verse, therefore, sets the dramatic tension between human inability and Christ's forthcoming display of omnipotence, where He will transcend all earthly limitations. It challenges a mindset that always defaults to human means and external resources rather than seeking God's unique provision in seemingly impossible situations.