Feeding the 5,000

Illustration of Feeding the 5,000
Five loaves and two fish in a boy's lunch. Jesus blessed them, broke them, and fed 5,000 men plus women and children - with twelve baskets left over.

In the Gospels, Jesus performed this miracle after teaching and healing a crowd that had followed him to a remote area, leaving the disciples concerned about how to provide food for the estimated 5,000 men plus women and children present. Taking five loaves and two fish offered by a boy, Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, and had the disciples distribute it, resulting in everyone eating their fill with twelve baskets of fragments collected afterward. This event demonstrates Jesus' compassion and divine power to multiply resources, serving as a sign of his identity as the Messiah who fulfills God's provision like the manna in the wilderness and pointing to the abundance of the kingdom.

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Details

Category
Provision
Testament
New Testament
Performed by
Jesus

Key Chapters

John 6 The Bread of Life 9 min read This miracle shows Jesus multiplying our small gifts to abundantly care for othe... Mark 6 Jesus Rejected at Nazareth 8 min read This miracle shows Jesus' tender compassion, meeting our deepest needs by turnin... Luke 9 The Twelve Sent Out 9 min read This story reveals Jesus' compassionate care in meeting real needs, showing He m...

Key Passages

The Feeding

John 6:5-14

This miracle shows Jesus multiplying our small gifts to abundantly care for others, encouraging us to trust him with every need.

W5hen Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peterโ€™s brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

Mark's Account

Mark 6:35-44

This miracle shows Jesus' tender compassion, meeting our deepest needs by turning small offerings into abundant provision for many.

A35nd when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. 37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? 38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42 And they did all eat, and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

Luke's Account

Luke 9:12-17

This story reveals Jesus' compassionate care in meeting real needs, showing He multiplies our small offerings when offered in faith.

A12nd when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. 14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

Explore Related

Characters 5

Jesus Jesus is portrayed in the Bible as the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah whose coming fulfilled Oldโ€ฆ Peter Peter, originally a fisherman named Simon, was called by Jesus along the Sea of Galilee to become one ofโ€ฆ Andrew Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter and a fisherman from Bethsaida, was among the first disciples called byโ€ฆ John (Apostle) John the Apostle, son of Zebedee and brother of James, was among Jesus' innermost circle of disciples andโ€ฆ James (Son of Zebedee) James, son of Zebedee, was one of the first apostles called by Jesus while fishing on the Sea of Galilee,โ€ฆ

Places 1

Sea of Galilee The Sea of Galilee, a freshwater lake in northern Israel also known as Lake Kinneret, formed the geographicโ€ฆ

Themes 3

Faith Without faith it is impossible to please God. From Abraham leaving everything for an unknown land to aโ€ฆ Gratitude Only one of ten healed lepers returned to say thank you. That moment captures a universal truth inโ€ฆ Sovereignty of God The Lord reigns. From Joseph's slavery to Daniel's lions' den, Scripture reveals a God who works all thingsโ€ฆ

Did You Know?

1

This is the only miracle (besides the resurrection) recorded in all four Gospels.

2

5,000 men plus women and children likely means 15,000-20,000 people total.

3

12 baskets of leftovers remained. One for each apostle who doubted it could be done.