Matthew 14:17 kjv
And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
Matthew 14:17 nkjv
And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."
Matthew 14:17 niv
"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.
Matthew 14:17 esv
They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish."
Matthew 14:17 nlt
"But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!" they answered.
Matthew 14 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 6:38 | He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." | Parallel account of feeding 5000 |
| Lk 9:13 | But He said to them, "You give them something to eat." | Parallel account; disciples' inability |
| Jn 6:9 | "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish." | Parallel account; identifies the source |
| Ex 16:4 | Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you" | God's provision of manna in the wilderness |
| Deut 8:3 | that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone | God provides, beyond mere sustenance |
| Ps 23:1 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | God as the ultimate provider |
| Is 55:1 | Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters; And you who have no money | God's abundant provision offered freely |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches | God's promise to provide for His people |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | And God is able to make all grace abound to you | God's abounding ability to supply |
| 1 Kgs 17:12-16 | Elijah and the widow whose flour and oil were miraculously multiplied | God multiplies humble resources for His use |
| 2 Kgs 4:42-44 | Elisha feeding 100 men with 20 loaves, with some left over | God multiplying limited food for a crowd |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding | Contrasts human understanding with divine trust |
| Rom 8:31 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | God's powerful support |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please Him | Importance of faith in divine acts |
| 2 Cor 12:9 | "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness" | God's power made manifest in human limitation |
| 1 Cor 1:27-29 | God has chosen the foolish things... to shame the wise | God uses humble things to accomplish great feats |
| Rom 12:1 | present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God | Presenting what we have, however small |
| 2 Ki 7:2 | Elisha prophesies abundance amidst famine | Human doubt of God's abundant provision |
| Jn 11:21 | Martha states "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" | Human perspective of limitations, rather than God's omnipotence |
| Num 13:31 | But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people" | Example of assessing resources and concluding inability |
Matthew 14 verses
Matthew 14 17 Meaning
Matthew 14:17 records the disciples' pragmatic response to Jesus' command to feed the vast crowd. They assess their available resources as extremely limited, stating they possess "only five loaves and two fish." This highlights a stark contrast between human limitation and divine potential, setting the stage for Jesus' miraculous multiplication. It underscores their initial perspective of scarcity in the face of immense need, demonstrating a focus on visible resources rather than an understanding of God's limitless power to provide.
Matthew 14 17 Context
This verse is situated in Matthew's account immediately after John the Baptist's execution (Mt 14:1-12), which leads Jesus to withdraw to a desolate place. However, large crowds follow Him there. Instead of seeking solitude, Jesus is moved with compassion and heals their sick (Mt 14:13-14). As evening approaches, the disciples suggest dismissing the crowds so they can find food in nearby villages (Mt 14:15). Jesus challenges their practical, human solution by commanding them to feed the people themselves (Mt 14:16). Matthew 14:17 records their response, revealing their reliance on human reasoning and their assessment of meager physical resources available in contrast to the enormous need. Historically, in Galilee, large gatherings in remote areas often presented a challenge for provision, and simple barley loaves and small dried fish were common sustenance for the poorer classes. This setting sets the stage for a dramatic demonstration of God's supernatural power.
Matthew 14 17 Word analysis
- And they said to Him: This directly follows Jesus' command, indicating a response born out of immediate assessment of the situation. "They" refers to the disciples who had just urged Jesus to send the crowds away. The interaction is face-to-face, a direct communication of their human assessment to the divine authority.
- 'We have': Greek: ἔχομεν (echomen), a present active indicative verb meaning "we possess" or "we hold." This is a statement of what is tangibly at hand. It reflects the disciples' focus on their immediate, physical resources.
- 'here': Indicates a specific, limited location—their present vicinity—emphasizing the constraint of resources to what they could physically find among themselves.
- 'only': While not a distinct word in the original Greek for 'only' (the phrase literally means "we have five loaves and two fish here"), this adverb accurately captures the implied tone and intent of the disciples' statement. Their focus on the specific, small number ("five" and "two") implicitly conveys inadequacy relative to the massive need (over 5,000 people). It communicates their sense of extreme limitation and inability. This small count highlights the immense disparity.
- 'five loaves': Greek: πέντε (pente) ἄρτους (artous). "Loaves" refers to bread, likely barley loaves, which were common and inexpensive food, especially for the poor. Five such loaves were barely enough for a few individuals, much less a multitude. This detail emphasizes the humbleness and utter insufficiency of the provision from a human perspective.
- 'and two fish': Greek: καὶ δύο (kai duo) ὀψάρια (opsaria). "Fish" here refers to small, dried, or salted fish, often eaten with bread. The word opsarion is a diminutive, suggesting "little fish," further emphasizing their small size and modest value. Again, an insignificant amount compared to the hungry masses.
- Words-group Analysis: 'We have here only five loaves and two fish': This complete statement is a profound expression of human inadequacy and a practical, almost despairing, assessment of a monumental problem with meager resources. It highlights the disciples' natural, logical thinking, bound by physical limitations. It serves as a stark foil to Jesus' divine power. The disciples, looking through human eyes, see scarcity and impossibility. This very declaration sets the stage for Jesus to demonstrate His miraculous abundance and limitless capability. Their words lay bare their initial lack of understanding concerning the magnitude of God's provision.
Matthew 14 17 Bonus section
The seemingly small numbers – five loaves and two fish – total seven pieces of food. While seven often symbolizes perfection or completeness in the Bible, here it initially highlights the stark incompleteness of human provision for the vast need. It’s an inverse symbolism, demonstrating that human completeness falls far short without divine intervention. This moment teaches a fundamental principle: God often waits until human effort and resources are exhausted or demonstrably insufficient before He supernaturally intervenes, revealing His glory not through human ability but in spite of human limitation. The humility of the offering also parallels the common sustenance of Jesus Himself, a simple carpenter, and many of His followers, indicating that God often uses the humble things of the world.
Matthew 14 17 Commentary
Matthew 14:17 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating the disciples' human-centric assessment of a challenging situation. Their statement, "We have here only five loaves and two fish," reveals a natural yet limited perspective that fails to factor in divine power. They correctly identify the scarcity of resources, yet incorrectly assume this scarcity dictates the outcome. This verse underscores the common human tendency to rely on what is tangibly visible and quantifiable, often overlooking God's capacity to transcend all human limitations. It is not a rebuke of their observation, but a contrast to what Jesus is about to demonstrate. No resource is too meager for God to use; in His hands, five loaves and two fish become superabundant. This incident serves as an eternal lesson that when we bring our "only" — our humble and seemingly insufficient resources or abilities — to Jesus, He is able to multiply them beyond comprehension for His glorious purposes. It’s an invitation to bring our small offerings to the Lord, trusting in His power, rather than lamenting our lack.