Matthew 16 9

Matthew 16:9 kjv

Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

Matthew 16:9 nkjv

Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?

Matthew 16:9 niv

Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

Matthew 16:9 esv

Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?

Matthew 16:9 nlt

Don't you understand even yet? Don't you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up?

Matthew 16 verses

Matthew 16 9 Meaning

In Matthew 16:9, Jesus directly confronts His disciples' lack of understanding and faith, urging them to remember His miraculous power of provision. Despite having witnessed two astounding feedings of thousands of people with minimal resources, they were still fixated on a literal shortage of physical bread. Jesus' question, "Do you not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?" serves as a sharp rebuke, highlighting their spiritual dullness and inability to discern spiritual truth from carnal concerns. It implicitly criticizes their short memory of His past wonders and their failure to connect these mighty works to His divine identity and limitless ability to care for them.

Matthew 16 9 Context

Matthew 16:9 is situated immediately after Jesus cautions His disciples about the "leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." The disciples, misinterpreting His metaphor, conclude that He is referring to their literal lack of bread. This grave misunderstanding prompts Jesus' sharp rebuke. The entire chapter involves testing and revelation; Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ (Mt 16:16) follows soon after this discussion, emphasizing the shift from spiritual dullness to a profound recognition of Jesus' identity, albeit imperfectly grasped. Historically and culturally, worry over daily bread was a very real concern for people in that agrarian society, which made the disciples' physical focus understandable, yet inexcusable given the miracles they had just witnessed.

Matthew 16 9 Word analysis

• Do ye not yet understand, (οὔπω νοεῖτε - oupō no-eíte):

  • Oupō means "not yet," expressing astonishment at the prolonged lack of comprehension.
  • Noeite (from noeō) signifies mental apprehension, grasping the true nature or meaning of something; more than just knowing facts, it means putting ideas together, discerning. Jesus is bewildered they haven't discerned the implications of the miracles.
  • Significance: Highlights spiritual dullness despite ample evidence.

• neither remember (οὐδὲ μνημονεύετε - oude mnēmoneuete):

  • Oude means "neither" or "not even."
  • Mnēmoneuete (from mnēmoneuō) means to remember, recall, bear in mind, keep in memory. It's an active recollection, implying that they should be drawing conclusions from past experiences.
  • Significance: Their lack of recall points to a failure of faith; past experiences should inform present trust.

• the five loaves (τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους - tous pente artous):

  • Refers specifically to the first feeding miracle described in Matthew 14:13-21.
  • Artous are ordinary loaves of bread.
  • Significance: Jesus cites the precise detail of the miracle they witnessed firsthand.

• of the five thousand (τῶν πέντε χιλιάδων - tōn pente chiliadōn):

  • Specifies the magnitude of the multitude fed in the first miracle.
  • Significance: The vast number emphasizes the supernatural scale of Jesus' power.

• and how many baskets (καὶ πόσους κοφίνους - kai posous kophinous):

  • Posous means "how many."
  • Kophinous refers to a specific type of wicker basket, often carried by Jewish travelers to carry their own food and utensils to avoid ritual contamination.
  • Significance: This detail directly alludes to the precise remnants collected after the first miracle (Mt 14:20: twelve baskets). It indicates a super-abundance of provision.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • Do ye not yet understand, neither remember: This powerful double negative highlights Jesus' exasperation. Their failure is twofold: they don't comprehend the spiritual meaning of His actions and teachings, nor do they recall the factual evidence of His power sufficiently to trust Him. This implies a lack of spiritual discernment rooted in forgetfulness.
  • the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up: Jesus cites specific, undeniable historical events that the disciples themselves were actively involved in (collecting the fragments). The existence of the abundance of collected fragments ("how many baskets") served as physical, undeniable proof of the miracle. This contrasts their small amount of present bread with the vast surplus Jesus provided, challenging their shallow faith.

Matthew 16 9 Bonus section

• Distinction of Baskets: The careful use of two distinct Greek words for "baskets" across the two feeding miracles (κοφίνους - kophinous for the 5000 in Jewish territory, and σπυρίδας - spyridas for the 4000 likely in Gentile territory, mentioned in the following verse, Mt 16:10) highlights not just different events but perhaps subtle nuances. Kophinous were smaller Jewish wicker baskets; spyridas were large hampers or food baskets, often much bigger, possibly holding a person. Jesus' precise recall of "how many baskets" uses the specific term from the 5000, emphasizing that despite 12 baskets of leftover bread (more than they started with!), they still feared scarcity. This verbal precision indicates the disciples should have noticed the differing quantities and types of leftovers, hinting at God's abundant provision across various contexts.
• Spiritual Blindness as a Pattern: The disciples' lack of understanding here is part of a recurring pattern throughout the Gospels, showing even those closest to Jesus struggled to grasp His divine nature and the full implications of His kingdom teachings. It underscores that spiritual revelation requires more than mere physical presence or observation; it requires the work of the Holy Spirit.
• Prophetic Fulfillment: The two feedings can also be seen as prefiguring Jesus' provision for both Jews (5000, 12 baskets symbolizing the 12 tribes/disciples) and Gentiles (4000, 7 baskets symbolizing completeness or Gentile nations) in His church, demonstrating His universal power to sustain His people. Their failure to grasp this implies a greater lack of appreciation for His holistic mission.

Matthew 16 9 Commentary

Matthew 16:9 encapsulates Jesus' astonishment at His disciples' spiritual short-sightedness. Despite having witnessed His power to create abundance from scarcity on two grand occasions, their primary concern remained the trivial matter of physical bread. Jesus' question functions as a spiritual "memory test" and a "comprehension test" combined. He expects them to connect His past miracles of provision to His current warnings, understanding that His concern is not for their stomach but for their soul, shielding them from the "leaven" of corrupt doctrines and hypocritical leadership. Their struggle mirrors the Old Testament Israelites' recurring failure to trust God despite His repeated demonstrations of power and provision. This verse serves as a timeless reminder to believers: true understanding comes from remembering God's past faithfulness and applying those truths to current challenges, rather than succumbing to earthly worries or literalistic interpretations of spiritual matters.