And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”
Parallel translations
- WEB When they were filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost.”
- KJV When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
- NKJV So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”
- NASB And when they had eaten their fill, He *said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.”
- NLT After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
After everyone is full, Jesus tells the disciples to gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted. It shows that God's abundance is never careless and that He values every fragment.
Overview
The command to lose nothing reflects both prudence and a deeper theme in John, where Jesus loses none whom the Father gives Him (6:39; 17:12). Even in overflowing provision, there is purposeful care. The gathered fragments will testify to the reality and scale of the miracle.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Luke 1:53He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
- Neh 9:25They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.
- Luke 9:17They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
- Mark 6:42–44They all ate and were satisfied,
- Neh 8:10Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
- Matt 14:20–21They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
- Matt 15:37–38They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
- Mark 8:8–9The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
- Prov 18:9Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
- Luke 15:13After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
- Luke 16:1Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 6:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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