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.”
Parallel translations
- 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.
- 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 for them, because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Luke 12:29–30Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.
- Acts 27:33While the day was coming on, Paul begged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.
- Matt 14:14–21Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
- Mark 8:1–10In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself, and said to them,
- Mark 9:22Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.”
- Heb 4:15For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.
- Matt 12:40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man 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 to her, “Don’t cry.”
- Matt 20:34Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.
- Matt 6:32–33For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
- Matt 27:63saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’
- 1 Sam 30:11–12They found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he ate; and they gave him water to drink.
- 1 Sam 14:28–31Then one of the people answered, and said, “Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’” The people were 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.