Matthew 14 21

Matthew 14:21 kjv

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

Matthew 14:21 nkjv

Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 14:21 niv

The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 14:21 esv

And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 14:21 nlt

About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!

Matthew 14 verses

Matthew 14 21 Meaning

This verse states the numerical outcome of the miraculous feeding event, indicating that approximately five thousand adult males ate the provided food, in addition to an uncounted, but significant, number of women and children. It emphasizes the extraordinary scale of Jesus' divine provision and compassion.

Matthew 14 21 Context

Matthew chapter 14 begins with the tragic death of John the Baptist, prompting Jesus to withdraw to a solitary place. However, large crowds follow Him, showing His immense popularity and the desperate need for healing and teaching. Out of compassion (Matt 14:14), Jesus heals their sick. As evening approaches, the disciples urge Jesus to dismiss the crowd to buy food. Instead, Jesus instructs them to feed the people, leading to the miracle of multiplying five loaves and two fish. Verse 21 concludes this event by giving the final count of those who ate, immediately before Jesus walks on water and joins His disciples in the storm. Historically, large crowds often accompanied spiritual teachers, and providing for such a multitude in a deserted area was an immense challenge, highlighting the miraculous nature of Jesus' actions, which surpassed common human capabilities and societal expectations of providing for such numbers. The focus on "men" aligns with typical ancient census-taking practices.

Matthew 14 21 Word analysis

• And (καὶ, kai): This conjunction smoothly connects the concluding statement about those who ate to the previous description of the miraculous feeding. It denotes continuation and a final summary.
• those who ate (οἱ ἐσθίοντες, hoi esthiontes): A present active participle phrase. It emphasizes the direct recipients and beneficiaries of the miracle – the ones who actually consumed the multiplied food, confirming its physical reality and the satisfaction derived (implied by "were filled" in verse 20).
• were (ἦσαν, ēsan): Simple past tense of "to be." It presents a factual, quantitative statement about the event.
• about (ὡσεὶ, hōsei): This adverb indicates an approximate number, suggesting a general estimate rather than an exact census figure. It acknowledges that the large crowd made a precise count difficult, yet affirms the general magnitude.
• five thousand (πεντακισχίλιοι, pentakischilioi): A very significant and impressive number, especially given the remote location and initial scarcity of food. It underscores the profound scale of Jesus' creative power. This figure itself denotes an exceptional miracle.
• men (ἄνδρες, andres): This noun specifically refers to adult males. In Jewish cultural and ancient census practices, official counts frequently focused on the heads of households or men eligible for military service, which implies the omission of women and children from this primary count. This term emphasizes a specific demographic within the larger group.
• besides (χωρὶς, choris): This strong preposition means "apart from," "separate from," or "exclusive of." It explicitly indicates that the women and children were present, ate, and were part of the multitude, but were not included in the preceding five thousand count. It highlights that the 5,000 figure is a minimum number of individuals fed.
• women and children (γυναικῶν καὶ τέκνων, gynaikōn kai teknōn): This explicit mention shows that the miracle's reach extended to the entire crowd, including the most vulnerable. Their presence implies that the total number of people fed was significantly greater than 5,000, likely multiplying the figure by two or three times (potentially 15,000-20,000 or more people). Their inclusion underscores Jesus' comprehensive compassion and provision for all, irrespective of status or age.

Matthew 14 21 Bonus section

The inclusion of "women and children" highlights Jesus' comprehensive compassion. Unlike typical military or civic censuses of the time which often focused solely on men, this detail reveals that Jesus' concern and provision extended to every person in the crowd, including those who were often marginalized or uncounted in societal registers. The sheer size of the crowd, estimated to be up to 15,000 or 20,000 when accounting for all present, makes this one of the largest public miracles recorded in the Gospels. It showcases not only Jesus' power to create from nothing but also His orderly nature, as implied by the disciples seating the people in groups (though not explicitly in this verse, it is part of the larger feeding account). The miracle anticipates the bountiful blessings of the Messianic age and the spiritual provision found in Christ.

Matthew 14 21 Commentary

Matthew 14:21 concludes the narrative of Jesus feeding the five thousand, emphasizing the miraculous scale of His provision. The explicit distinction between "five thousand men" and "besides women and children" is crucial. It reveals that the true number of people fed was substantially larger than the stated 5,000, likely encompassing 15,000 to 20,000 individuals or more. This detail amplifies the already astounding miracle, demonstrating Jesus' unparalleled divine power over creation and His boundless compassion. It's a vivid display of God's ability to provide abundantly for every need, springing from very little, satisfying the multitude in a barren place. This event also serves as a foreshadowing of Jesus as the spiritual bread of life who fully satisfies humanity's deeper hunger for salvation and eternal life.