Luke 9:17
in Luke 9They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they ate, and were all filled: and there was taken up that which remained over to them of broken pieces, twelve baskets.
KJV
And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
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This verse in Luke 9
Commentary
17 notes on this verseIt is clear that the multitude were filled not by a scanty meal, but by a constant and increasing supply of food. You might see in an incomprehensible manner amid the hands of those who distributed, the particles multiplying which they broke not; the fragments too, untouched by the fingers of the breakers, spontaneously mounting up.
This site's exposition
They did so, and everyone was seated
on Luke 9:15-17
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them, then gave them to the disciples, the same take, bless, break, give that returns in Luke 22. They all ate and were satisfied, with twelve basketfuls left over, one for each disciple who had called the supply impossible. Elisha fed a hundred men from twenty loaves in 2 Kings 4, and here the same need is met on a far larger scale.
This site's exposition
twelve basketfuls of broken pieces
The leftovers exceed the five loaves they began with. Bonaventure sets the meal beside the Psalm where the poor eat and are satisfied. Theophylact says the scene teaches how a store increases when it is shared with the needy.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Not without meaning are the fragments which remained over and above what the multitudes had eaten, collected by the disciples, since those things which are divine you may more easily find among the elect than among the people. Blessed is he who can collect those which remain over and above even to the learned. But for what reason did Christ fill twelve baskets, except that He might solve that word concerning the Jewish people, His hands served in the basket? (Ps. 81:6.) that is, the people who before collected mud for the pots, now through the cross of Christ gather up the nourishment of the heavenly life. Nor is this the office of few, but all. For by the twelve baskets, as if of each of the tribes, the foundation of the faith is spread abroad.
(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.
"Place," he said, "in these twelve baskets all the fragments that remain." Thousands at that feast reclining, with abundance had been fed On the five loaves they had eaten and two fishes multiplied. You, our bread, our true refection, never-failing sweetness are. He can nevermore …
God has broken five loaves and two fishes and fed the five thousand With these foods that satisfy to the fullest their hunger. Then twice six baskets are filled with the fragments that are left over: Such is the bounty dispensed from the heavenly table …
But what was the result of the miracle? It was the satisfying of a large multitude with food. There were as many as five thousand men besides women and children, according to what another of the holy Evangelists has added to the narrative. Nor did the miracle end here. There were also gathered twelve baskets of fragments. And what do we infer from this? A plain assurance that hospitality receives a rich recompense from God. The disciples offered five loaves. After a multitude this large had been satisfied, there was gathered for each one of them a basketful of fragments. Let nothing, therefore, prevent willing people from receiving strangers, no matter what there may be likely to blunt the will and readiness of men. Let no one say, "I do not possess suitable means. What I can do is altogether trifling and insufficient for many." Receive strangers, my beloved. Overcome that reluctance which wins no reward. The Savior will multiply the little you have many times beyond expectation. Although you give but little, you will receive much. For he that sows blessings shall also reap blessings, according to the blessed Paul's words.
9 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
Nor was this all that the miracle came to; but it follows, And there was taken up of the fragments that remained, twelve baskets, that this might be a manifest proof that a work of love to our neighbour will claim a rich reward from God.
[Jesus] offers himself as the bread of life to those who believe in him. It is he who came down from heaven and gave life to the world.
The Medieval Church4 voices
Fourth, regarding the satiety of those eating, it is added: And they all ate and were satisfied, so that the word of the Psalm might be verified: "The poor shall eat and shall be satisfied, and they shall praise the Lord who seek him"; and …
Twelve baskets of fragments were taken up that were left over. What was left over by the crowds is gathered by the disciples, because the more sacred mysteries, which the unrefined cannot grasp, should not be neglected but sought by the perfect. For by the …
Or by the twelve baskets the twelve Apostles are figured, and all succeeding teachers, despised indeed by men without, but within loaded with the fragments of saving food.
And that we might learn the value of hospitality, and how much our own store is increased when we help those that need.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And they did eat, and were all filled,.... Every one had a part, and enough: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them, twelve baskets; See Gill on Mat 14:20.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
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.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
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.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔφαγον | ephagon | they ate | G5315 → | 93 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐχορτάσθησαν | echortasthesan | were satisfied | G5526 → | 16 times |
| πάντες, | pantes | all, | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἤρθη | erthe | was taken up | G142 → | 100 times |
| τὸ | to | that | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περισσεῦσαν | perisseusan | having been a surplus | G4052 → | 39 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | to them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| κλασμάτων | klasmaton | of fragments | G2801 → | |
| κόφινοι | kophinoi | hand-baskets | G2894 → | |
| δώδεκα.¶ | dodeka | twelve. | G1427 → | 75 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔφαγονthey ate
ephagonG5315 →93 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐχορτάσθησανwere satisfied
echortasthesanG5526 →16 times
πάντες,all,
pantesG3956 →1235 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἤρθηwas taken up
ertheG142 →100 times
τὸthat
toG3588 →19766 times
περισσεῦσανhaving been a surplus
perisseusanG4052 →39 times
αὐτοῖςto them
autoisG846 →5565 times
κλασμάτωνof fragments
klasmatonG2801 →
κόφινοιhand-baskets
kophinoiG2894 →
δώδεκα.¶twelve.
dodekaG1427 →75 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach 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
Proverbs 13:25A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:10
Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
- Proverbs 10:3
The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the craving of the wicked.
- Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- 1 Timothy 4:8
For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
- Proverbs 6:11
and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
- Psalms 34:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About Luke
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 9; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 48; 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); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Prudentius, HYMNS FOR EVERY DAY 9.58-63; Prudentius, SCENES FROM SACRED HISTORY 37 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.