“They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
- KJV But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
- NKJV But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
- NASB But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go; you give them something to eat!”
- NLT But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”
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
Jesus tells the disciples they themselves should feed the crowd. He challenges them to look to Him rather than away.
Overview
Rather than dismissing the crowd, Jesus instructs His disciples to provide food, a task far beyond their means. His command stretches their faith and invites them to participate in His work. The verse teaches that Christ often calls His people to serve in ways that require dependence on His power rather than their own resources.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 2 Kgs 4:42–44Now 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.
- 2 Cor 8:2–3In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
- Eccl 11:2Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.
- John 13:29Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.
- Prov 11:24One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
- Luke 3:11John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”
- Job 31:16–17If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
- 2 Cor 9:7–8Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 14:16 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.