For there were about 5,000 men there. Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
Parallel translations
- WEB For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
- KJV For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
- BSB (There were about five thousand men.) He told His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
- NKJV For there were about five thousand men. Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.”
- NASB (For there were about five thousand men.) But He said to His disciples, “Have them recline to eat in groups of about fifty each.”
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
There were about five thousand men, and Jesus orders them seated in groups of fifty. The orderly arrangement shows He is in command of the situation about to unfold.
Overview
Luke notes the sheer size of the crowd to underscore the magnitude of the coming miracle. Jesus' instruction to organize the people into groups reflects order and intentionality, and prepares for an orderly distribution. As the true Shepherd, He makes the people sit down, echoing the green pastures of Psalm 23.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Mark 8:6He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the multitude.
- 1 Cor 14:40Let all things be done decently and in order.
- Mark 6:39–40He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 9:14 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.