Matthew 14 20

Matthew 14:20 kjv

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

Matthew 14:20 nkjv

So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.

Matthew 14:20 niv

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

Matthew 14:20 esv

And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.

Matthew 14:20 nlt

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

Matthew 14 verses

Matthew 14 20 Meaning

Matthew 14:20 describes the outcome of Jesus' miraculous feeding of the five thousand. After distributing five loaves and two fish, a vast multitude of people, numbering thousands, ate to complete satisfaction. Furthermore, a substantial surplus remained, amounting to twelve baskets filled with broken pieces of food, gathered from what the crowd had consumed. This verse highlights the profound abundance and divine power of Jesus as the provider, exceeding human expectations and demonstrating His mastery over creation.

Matthew 14 20 Context

Matthew 14:20 is part of the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand, following His retreat to a desolate place after hearing of John the Baptist's execution (Matt 14:13). Despite seeking solitude, great crowds followed Him. Filled with compassion, Jesus healed their sick (Matt 14:14). As evening approached, His disciples urged Him to send the crowds away to buy food, but Jesus commanded them to provide. With only five loaves and two fish (Matt 14:17), Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, and distributed it through His disciples to the thousands present. Verse 20 details the miraculous outcome, emphasizing the complete satisfaction of the vast crowd and the substantial leftovers. This event serves as a powerful demonstration of Jesus' divine power, foreshadowing His role as the spiritual "Bread of Life," and implicitly connecting Him to Israel's wilderness experience of manna and the Messiah's abundance.

Matthew 14 20 Word analysis

• And they all ate: The Greek phrase is kai ephagon pantes.
  • kai: "And," connects the actions of Jesus blessing and distributing to the result of the multitude eating.
  • ephagon: "they ate," an aorist verb, signifying a completed action. It emphasizes that the eating was not just commenced but fully realized by every individual present.
  • pantes: "all," highlights the universal scope of the miracle; every person in the immense crowd, men, women, and children (as noted in Matt 14:21), participated and benefited.
• and were satisfied: The Greek is kai echortasthēsan.
  • echortasthēsan: "were satisfied," derived from chortazō, which literally means to "feed with fodder" or "graze" (referring to animals). Used here for humans, it conveys complete contentment, being completely filled, going beyond merely having enough food to reaching a state of abundant satiety. This emphasizes the divine lavishness of the provision. It counters any expectation of mere subsistence, presenting God's overflowing generosity.
• and they took up: The Greek is kai ēran.
  • ēran: "they took up/gathered," indicating the active collection of the remaining food by the disciples. This act of gathering underscores the reality of the miracle and also suggests principles of stewardship, ensuring nothing provided by God goes to waste.
• twelve baskets full: The Greek is dōdeka kophinous plēreis.
  • dōdeka: "twelve," a profoundly symbolic number throughout Scripture, representing the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen 49:28, Rev 7:4-8) and the twelve apostles of Jesus (Matt 10:1-4). This number hints at Jesus' work of restoration for Israel and the apostles' future role in distributing the spiritual bread (the gospel) to the world. It suggests that even the surplus points to the new people of God being fed by the Messiah.
  • kophinous: "baskets," specifically referring to a type of large wicker basket often carried by Jews for their provisions, sometimes used by poor itinerants or pilgrims. This basket type implies a significant capacity for holding food. The specific type (kophinos vs. spyris in Matt 15:37) might indicate different contexts or regional distinctions, but in this instance, it means twelve large containers of leftovers.
  • plēreis: "full," signifies that these twelve large baskets were not partially filled but brimming to capacity, emphasizing the immense abundance and miraculous overflow beyond what was eaten.
• of the broken pieces: The Greek is klasmatōn.
  • klasmatōn: "broken pieces/fragments," from klasma meaning "broken piece." These were not mere crumbs but substantial remnants of the bread Jesus had broken, affirming the reality and magnitude of the food generated. This also connects to the breaking of bread in communion (1 Cor 10:16).
• left over by those who had eaten: The Greek is tōn perisseuontōn tois bebēkosin.
  • perisseuontōn: "remaining over/abundant/overflowing," a participle of perisseuō, reinforcing the concept of surplus and God's bountiful supply. It highlights that the abundance came after everyone was fully satisfied, indicating an overwhelming and superabundant miracle.
  • tois bebēkosin: "by those who had eaten," clarifying that these abundant leftovers came specifically from the food provided for and consumed by the large multitude, unequivocally proving the extent of the multiplication.

Matthew 14 20 Bonus section

• The detail of collecting "broken pieces" (fragments) contrasts with the initial state of five whole loaves, further highlighting the extent of the multiplication process and the miracle involved.
• This miracle not only demonstrates Jesus' power but also serves as a pedagogical tool for His disciples, preparing them for their future ministry of distributing the spiritual bread of the Gospel to the nations. They saw firsthand God's unlimited capacity to provide through seemingly meager resources.
• The entire event implicitly answers the deep longing for a Messiah who would reenact the miracle of manna in the wilderness (Exod 16), positioning Jesus as far greater than Moses, the true divine provider.
• The fact that the remnants were "taken up" emphasizes order and a lack of waste, which is a biblical principle often overlooked in contexts of divine abundance (Jn 6:12). Even in supernatural overflow, resources are valued and managed responsibly.

Matthew 14 20 Commentary

Matthew 14:20 stands as a profound testament to Jesus' divine power and identity. It completes the narrative of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, moving from an initial scarcity and human limitation to divine, overflowing abundance. The complete satisfaction (echortasthēsan) of everyone in the massive crowd, a detail highlighted across all four Gospels, underscores the efficacy of Christ's provision. More strikingly, the collection of "twelve baskets full of broken pieces" transcends mere adequacy, demonstrating the lavish generosity of God's kingdom. The "twelve" baskets carry deep symbolism, linking Jesus' miraculous provision to the twelve tribes of Israel and the future mission of His twelve apostles. This surplus indicates that God not only meets needs but far exceeds them, offering life and sustenance in rich abundance. This event teaches both reliance on Christ as the ultimate provider and stewardship of His blessings. It anticipates the spiritual truth that Jesus Himself is the "Bread of Life" (Jn 6:35), the inexhaustible source of true and lasting spiritual satisfaction, who can feed the multitudes both physically and spiritually with eternal sustenance.