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.
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.”
- BSB 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.”
- 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 9:36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
- Luke 12:29–30And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
- Acts 27:33And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
- Matt 14:14–21And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
- Mark 8:1–10In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
- Mark 9:22And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
- Heb 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- Matt 12:40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
- Luke 7:13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
- Matt 20:34So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
- Matt 6:32–33(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
- Matt 27:63Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
- 1 Sam 30:11–12And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;
- 1 Sam 14:28–31Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.