Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way.”
- KJV Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
- NKJV Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
- NASB Now Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”
- NLT Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.”
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 has compassion on the hungry crowd that has been with him three days. It matters because it shows his tender care for people's physical as well as spiritual needs.
Overview
Jesus voices his compassion for the multitude who have stayed without food, unwilling to send them away faint. His concern for their bodily hunger reveals the depth of his care. This sets up the feeding of the four thousand, a sign of his provision. The Shepherd who feeds the crowd points to the Bread of Life who satisfies the deepest hunger of the soul.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 9:36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Luke 12:29–30And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.
- Acts 27:33Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food.
- Matt 14:14–21When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
- Mark 8:1–10In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said,
- Mark 9:22“It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
- Heb 4:15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
- Matt 12:40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
- Luke 7:13When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”
- Matt 20:34Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.
- Matt 6:32–33For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
- Matt 27:63“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’
- 1 Sam 30:11–12Now his men found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. They gave the man water to drink and food to eat—
- 1 Sam 14:28–31Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ That is why the people are faint.”
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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 15:32 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.