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Luke 9:12

in Luke 9

As the day neared its end, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in a desolate place here.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And the day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages and country round about, and lodge, and get provisions: for we are here in a desert place.

KJV

And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

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This verse in Luke 9

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Cyril of Alexandria

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 444.

For, as has been said, they sought to be healed of different diseases, and because the disciples saw that what they sought might be accomplished by His simple assent, they say, Send them away, that they be no more distressed. But mark the overflowing kindness of Him who is asked. He not only grants those things which the disciples seek, but to those who follow Him, He supplies the bounty of a munificent hand, commanding food to be set before them; as it follows, But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat.

This site's exposition

As the day neared its end

on Luke 9:12-14

Jesus turned the problem back on the Twelve: You give them something to eat. Their own count of only five loaves and two fish, against about five thousand men, shows how impossible obedience looks before the miracle.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Gregory of Nyssa

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 395.

proposed

(Orat. Catech. Mag. c. 23.) For whom neither the heaven rained manna, nor the earth brought forth corn according to its nature, but from the unspeakable garner of divine power the blessing was poured forth. The bread is supplied in the hands of those who serve, it is even increased through the fulness of those who eat. The sea supplied not their wants with the food of fishes, but He who placed in the sea the race of fishes.

The Medieval Church4 voices

A commentator

Bonaventure

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 9 · Written in the 13th century.

proposed

Now the day began to decline, etc. After the instruction of the disciples through a familiar example, there follows instruction through a figurative deed, and this in the feeding of the crowds. Concerning the expression of which, two things are introduced by the Evangelist. The …

A commentator

Bede

On the Gospel of Luke · Written before 735.

proposed

The day began to decline, and the twelve, approaching, said to him, "Send the crowds away, so that they may go into the villages and countryside around and find food." As the day declined, the Savior feeds the crowds, because either with the end of …

A commentator

Bede

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 735.

proposed

Now when the day was going down, he refreshes the multitudes, that is, as the end of the world approaches, or when the Sun of righteousness sets for us.

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 1107.

proposed

But when the day was wearing away, the disciples now beginning to have a care of others take compassion on the multitude.
4 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

When the day began to wear away,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

The miracle described in these verses is more frequently related in the Gospels than any that our Lord wrought. There is no doubt a meaning in this repetition . It is intended to draw our special attention to the things which it contains. We see, for one thing, in these verses — a striking example of our Lord Jesus Christ's divine power . He feeds an assembly of five thousand men, with five loaves and two fish.
The miracle described in these verses is more frequently related in the Gospels than any that our Lord wrought. There is no doubt a meaning in this repetition . It is intended to draw our special attention to the things which it contains. We see, for one thing, in these verses — a striking example of our Lord Jesus Christ's divine power . He feeds an assembly of five thousand men, with five loaves and two fish. He makes a scanty supply of food, which was barely sufficient for the daily needs of Himself and His disciples — to satisfy the hunger of a company as large as a Roman legion. There could be no mistake about the reality and greatness of this miracle. It was done publicly, and before many witnesses. The same power which at the beginning made the world out of nothing — caused food to exist, which before had not existed. The circumstances of the whole event made deception impossible. Five thousand hungry men would not have agreed that they were "all filled" — if they had not received real food. "Twelve baskets full of fragments" would never have been taken up — if real material loaves and fish had not been miraculously multiplied. Nothing, in short, can explain the whole transaction — but the finger of God. The same hand which sent manna from Heaven in the wilderness to feed the nation of Israel, was the hand which multiplied five loaves and two fish — to supply the needs of five thousand men. The miracle before us is one among many proofs that with Christ, nothing is impossible. The Savior of sinners is Almighty. He "calls those things which are not — as though they were." (Romans 4:17.) When He wills a thing — it shall be done. When He commands a thing — it shall come to pass. He can create . . . light out of darkness, order out of disorder, strength out of weakness, joy out of sorrow, and food out of nothing at all.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Send the multitude away - See this miracle explained at large, on the parallel places, Mat 14:15-21 (note); Mar 6:36-44 (note).

The words behind it

32 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

10 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Matthew 15:23But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”3 worksJohn 6:5–15When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”3 worksJohn 6:1After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias).3 worksMark 6:35–44By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late.3 worksHosea 13:5I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.3 worksMatthew 15:32Then 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.”2 works
The other 4 cross-references, with their words ▾
Matthew 14:15–21When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”2 worksPsalms 78:19–20They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?2 worksEzekiel 34:25I will make with them a covenant of peace and rid the land of wild animals, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest.2 worksMark 5:31His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Hosea 13:5

    I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.

    it leads to

    • Deuteronomy 32:10

      He found him in a desert land, in a barren, howling wilderness; He surrounded him, He instructed him, He guarded him as the apple of His eye.

    • Deuteronomy 8:15

      He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness with its venomous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty and waterless land. He brought you water from the rock of flint.

    • Deuteronomy 2:7

      Indeed, the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. The LORD your God has been with you these…

    • Galatians 4:9

      But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them…

    • Psalms 142:3

      Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.

  • Through

    John 6:1

    After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias).

    it leads to

    • Mark 6:31–44

      And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time…

    • John 6:23

      However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

    • Luke 5:1

      On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,

Where this verse is studied

About Luke

The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, about 1668. Public domain.
The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, about 1668. Public domain.
Luke: the study guide →Read Luke 9 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 9; Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Gregory of Nyssa, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.

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