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Matthew 14:17 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.
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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/14.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/14.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/14.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/14.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/14.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/14.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And they say to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/14.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/14.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />They said to Him, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/14.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />They said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to Him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/14.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But they said, "We have only five small loaves of bread and two fish." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/14.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They told him, "All we have here are five loaves of bread and two fish."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/14.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"All we have here are five loaves and two fish," they replied. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/14.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />They told him, "We don't have anything here except five loaves of bread and two fish."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,? they answered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/14.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />They said to him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And they told him, "We only have here five loaves and two fish."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And they say to him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/14.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"We have nothing here," they said, "but five loaves and a couple of fish."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/14.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/14.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And they say to Him, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fishes.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/14.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And they say to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And they say to him, 'We have not here except five loaves, and two fishes.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And they say to him, We have not here but five loaves, and two fishes.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />They answered him: We have not here, but five loaves, and two fishes. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />They answered him, “We have nothing here, except five loaves and two fish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/14.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />They said to him, We have nothing here, except five loaves of bread and two fish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/14.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />But they said to him, “There is nothing here with us but five loaves and two fish.”<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/14.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />They said to him: We have here but five loaves and two fishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/14.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />And they say to Him, We have nothing here except five loaves and two fishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/14.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />And they said unto him, We have nothing here except five loaves and two fishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/14.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />we have nothing here, said they, but five loaves, and two fishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/14.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"We have nothing here," they said, "but five loaves and a couple of fish."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/14.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />And they say to Him, "We have nothing here except five loaves and two fishes."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/14.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />And they said, we have nothing here but five loaves and two fishes:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/14-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=4082" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/14.htm">The Feeding of the Five Thousand</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">16</span>“They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.” <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: Ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.">“</a> <a href="/greek/2192.htm" title="2192: echomen (V-PIA-1P) -- To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.">We have</a> <a href="/greek/5602.htm" title="5602: hōde (Adv) -- From an adverb form of hode; in this same spot, i.e. Here or hither.">here</a> <a href="/greek/1487.htm" title="1487: ei (Conj) -- If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.">only</a> <a href="/greek/3361.htm" title="3361: mē (Adv) -- Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether."></a> <a href="/greek/4002.htm" title="4002: pente (Adj-AMP) -- Five. A primary number; five.">five</a> <a href="/greek/740.htm" title="740: artous (N-AMP) -- Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.">loaves of bread</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/1417.htm" title="1417: dyo (Adj-AMP) -- Two. A primary numeral; two.">two</a> <a href="/greek/2486.htm" title="2486: ichthyas (N-AMP) -- A fish. Of uncertain affinity; a fish.">fish,”</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legousin (V-PIA-3P) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">they answered.</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autō (PPro-DM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons."></a> </span> <span class="reftext">18</span>“Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/6-9.htm">John 6:9</a></span><br />“Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/6-38.htm">Mark 6:38</a></span><br />“Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/9-13.htm">Luke 9:13</a></span><br />But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/6-5.htm">John 6:5-7</a></span><br />When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” / But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do. / Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/4-42.htm">2 Kings 4:42-44</a></span><br />Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. / But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/8-5.htm">Mark 8:5-7</a></span><br />“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. / And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd. / They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/6-11.htm">John 6:11-13</a></span><br />Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. / And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” / So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-34.htm">Matthew 15:34</a></span><br />“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/6-1.htm">John 6:1-4</a></span><br />After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias). / A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick. / Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/16-4.htm">Exodus 16:4-5</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions. / Then on the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/11-13.htm">Numbers 11:13</a></span><br />Where can I get meat for all these people? For they keep crying out to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/9-7.htm">1 Samuel 9:7-8</a></span><br />“If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” / The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/17-12.htm">1 Kings 17:12-16</a></span><br />But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.” / “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son, / for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/16-9.htm">Matthew 16:9-10</a></span><br />Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? / Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/22-35.htm">Luke 22:35</a></span><br />Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And they say to him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/15-33.htm">Matthew 15:33,34</a></b></br> And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/11-21.htm">Numbers 11:21-23</a></b></br> And Moses said, The people, among whom I <i>am</i>, <i>are</i> six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/78-19.htm">Psalm 78:19,20</a></b></br> Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/12-4.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/hosea/3-1.htm">Cakes</a> <a href="/amos/3-12.htm">Couple</a> <a href="/matthew/13-57.htm">Except</a> <a href="/matthew/13-48.htm">Fish</a> <a href="/zephaniah/1-3.htm">Fishes</a> <a href="/daniel/12-12.htm">Five</a> <a href="/matthew/4-3.htm">Loaves</a> <a href="/matthew/13-57.htm">Save</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/15-2.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/matthew/15-34.htm">Cakes</a> <a href="/mark/6-38.htm">Couple</a> <a href="/matthew/15-24.htm">Except</a> <a href="/matthew/14-19.htm">Fish</a> <a href="/matthew/14-19.htm">Fishes</a> <a href="/matthew/14-19.htm">Five</a> <a href="/matthew/14-19.htm">Loaves</a> <a href="/matthew/14-30.htm">Save</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 14</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-1.htm">Herod's opinion of Jesus.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-3.htm">Wherefore John Baptist was beheaded.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-13.htm">Jesus departs into a solitary place,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-15.htm">where he feeds five thousand men with five loves and two fishes.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-22.htm">He walks on the sea to his disciples;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-34.htm">and landing at Gennesaret, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">35. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/14-35.htm">heals the sick who touch of the hem of his garment.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/14.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/14.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,</b><br>This phrase highlights the disciples' initial response to Jesus' instruction to feed the multitude. The mention of "five loaves of bread and two fish" underscores the limited resources available, setting the stage for the miraculous feeding of the 5,000. This event is one of the few miracles recorded in all four Gospels, emphasizing its significance. The loaves were likely small barley loaves, common food for the poor, as noted in <a href="/john/6-9.htm">John 6:9</a>. The fish were probably small, salted fish, typical of the region around the Sea of Galilee, where fishing was a primary occupation. This setting reflects the everyday life and sustenance of the people in first-century Palestine.<p><b>they answered.</b><br>The disciples' response indicates their practical concern and limited understanding of Jesus' power at this moment. Their answer reflects a human perspective focused on scarcity and insufficiency. This moment serves as a teaching opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate His divine provision and foreshadows the spiritual nourishment He offers. The disciples' interaction with Jesus here can be compared to other instances where they struggle to grasp His teachings and miracles, such as in <a href="/mark/8-14.htm">Mark 8:14-21</a>, where Jesus reminds them of the feeding miracles to illustrate His ability to provide.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The central figure in this passage, Jesus is about to perform the miracle of feeding the five thousand. His compassion and divine power are key themes.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_disciples.htm">The Disciples</a></b><br>They are the ones who bring the concern of limited resources to Jesus. Their interaction with Jesus highlights their initial lack of understanding of His power.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_crowd.htm">The Crowd</a></b><br>A large group of people who have followed Jesus, eager to hear His teachings and witness His miracles. They are the recipients of the miracle.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wilderness.htm">The Wilderness</a></b><br>The setting of this event, symbolizing a place of need and dependence on God, reminiscent of the Israelites' experience in the desert.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/f/five_loaves_and_two_fish.htm">Five Loaves and Two Fish</a></b><br>The meager resources available, which Jesus uses to demonstrate His ability to provide abundantly.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/dependence_on_god.htm">Dependence on God</a></b><br>Just as the disciples brought their limited resources to Jesus, we are called to bring our needs and insufficiencies to God, trusting in His provision.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_abundance.htm">God's Abundance</a></b><br>God's ability to multiply the loaves and fish reminds us that He can take our small offerings and use them for His glory and purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_action.htm">Faith in Action</a></b><br>The disciples' role in distributing the food illustrates the importance of participating in God's work, even when we don't fully understand His plans.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/compassion_for_others.htm">Compassion for Others</a></b><br>Jesus' concern for the physical needs of the crowd challenges us to care for the holistic well-being of those around us.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_14.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 14</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_fish_symbol_mean.htm">What does the Christian fish symbol represent?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reconcile_proverbs_10_3_with_starving_believers.htm">Proverbs 10:3 claims God prevents the righteous from going hungry—how do we reconcile this with starving believers throughout history? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_bread_and_wine's_miracles_fit_science.htm">In Matthew 26:26–29, how can the supernatural implications of the bread and wine be reconciled with scientific understanding of physical substances? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_5_loaves,_2_fish_feed_thousands.htm">In Matthew 14:15-21, how can five loaves and two fish realistically feed thousands of people?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And they say unto him, We have here</span> (<span class="greek">ῶδε</span>) <span class="cmt_word">but five loaves</span> (<a href="/matthew/4-3.htm">Matthew 4:3</a>, note), <span class="cmt_word">and two fishes</span> (<a href="/matthew/7-9.htm">Matthew 7:9</a>, note). St. Matthew omits the question, "Shall we go and buy?" etc., which comes in Mark and Luke, and essentially in John (ver. 5). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/14-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">“We have</span><br /><span class="grk">ἔχομεν</span> <span class="translit">(echomen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2192.htm">Strong's 2192: </a> </span><span class="str2">To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">here</span><br /><span class="grk">ὧδε</span> <span class="translit">(hōde)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5602.htm">Strong's 5602: </a> </span><span class="str2">From an adverb form of hode; in this same spot, i.e. Here or hither.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">only</span><br /><span class="grk">εἰ</span> <span class="translit">(ei)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1487.htm">Strong's 1487: </a> </span><span class="str2">If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">five</span><br /><span class="grk">πέντε</span> <span class="translit">(pente)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4002.htm">Strong's 4002: </a> </span><span class="str2">Five. A primary number; 'five'.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">loaves of bread</span><br /><span class="grk">ἄρτους</span> <span class="translit">(artous)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_740.htm">Strong's 740: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">two</span><br /><span class="grk">δύο</span> <span class="translit">(dyo)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1417.htm">Strong's 1417: </a> </span><span class="str2">Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fish,”</span><br /><span class="grk">ἰχθύας</span> <span class="translit">(ichthyas)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2486.htm">Strong's 2486: </a> </span><span class="str2">A fish. Of uncertain affinity; a fish.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they answered.</span><br /><span class="grk">λέγουσιν</span> <span class="translit">(legousin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. </span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/14-17.htm">Matthew 14:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/14-17.htm">Matthew 14:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/14-17.htm">Matthew 14:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/14-17.htm">Matthew 14:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/14-17.htm">Matthew 14:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/14-17.htm">Matthew 14:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/14-17.htm">Matthew 14:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/14-17.htm">Matthew 14:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/14-17.htm">Matthew 14:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/14-17.htm">Matthew 14:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/14-17.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 14:17 They told him We only have here (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/14-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 14:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 14:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/14-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 14:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 14:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>