Luke 9:16

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking up toward heaven, made a b’rakhah, broke the loaves and began giving them to the talmidim to distribute to the crowd.

Berean Standard Bible:

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.

American Standard Version:

And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake; and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Then^{G1161} he took^{G2983} the five^{G4002} loaves^{G740} and^{G2532} the two^{G1417} fishes^{G2486}, and looking up^{G308} to^{G1519} heaven^{G3772}, he blessed^{G2127} them^{G846}, and^{G2532} brake^{G2622}, and^{G2532} gave^{G1325} to the disciples^{G3101} to set before^{G3908} the multitude^{G3793}.

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Commentary for Luke 9:16

Luke 9:16 is part of the narrative where Jesus feeds the multitude, a miraculous event recorded in all four Gospels. The verse captures a pivotal moment in this miracle: Jesus takes the meager offering of five loaves and two fish, lifts his eyes to heaven in a gesture of prayer and thanksgiving, blesses the food, and then begins to distribute it through his disciples to a large crowd of people. This act is emblematic of the themes of provision, divine power, and the importance of faith.

Historically, this event occurs in a remote location, likely in the Galilean countryside, where Jesus had been teaching and healing. The crowd, estimated to be about 5,000 men plus women and children, had followed Jesus, eager to hear his teachings and witness his miracles. The disciples, confronted with the practical issue of feeding such a large assembly, suggested sending the people away to find food. However, Jesus instead performs a miracle of multiplication, demonstrating his divine authority over nature and fulfilling his role as a provider and nurturer, much like the image of God providing manna to the Israelites in the wilderness.

The miracle also prefigures the Eucharist, with Jesus' actions of taking, blessing, breaking, and giving the bread paralleling the Last Supper narrative. This event underscores Jesus' identity as the Messiah and foreshadows his role as the spiritual sustenance for believers. The feeding of the 5,000 is a powerful demonstration of God's ability to take something small and insignificant and transform it into something abundant and sufficient for all, teaching a lesson about generosity, trust in God's provision, and the community's responsibility to share resources.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1161
   There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δέ
   Transliteration: dé
   Pronunciation: deh
   Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
   
2. Strong's Number: G2983
   There are 248 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: λαμβάνω
   Transliteration: lambánō
   Pronunciation: lam-ban'-o
   Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas δέχομαι is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while αἱρέομαι is more violent, to seize or remove)):--accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).
   
3. Strong's Number: G4002
   There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: πέντε
   Transliteration: pénte
   Pronunciation: pen'-teh
   Description: a primary number; "five":--five.
   
4. Strong's Number: G740
   There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἄρτος
   Transliteration: ártos
   Pronunciation: ar'-tos
   Description: from αἴρω; bread (as raised) or a loaf:--(shew-)bread, loaf.
   
5. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
6. Strong's Number: G1417
   There are 124 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δύο
   Transliteration: dýo
   Pronunciation: doo'-o
   Description: a primary numeral; "two":--both, twain, two.
   
7. Strong's Number: G2486
   There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἰχθύς
   Transliteration: ichthýs
   Pronunciation: ikh-thoos'
   Description: of uncertain affinity; a fish:--fish.
   
8. Strong's Number: G308
   There are 101 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀναβλέπω
   Transliteration: anablépō
   Pronunciation: an-ab-lep'-o
   Description: from ἀνά and βλέπω; to look up; by implication, to recover sight:--look (up), see, receive sight.
   
9. Strong's Number: G1519
   There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: εἰς
   Transliteration: eis
   Pronunciation: ice
   Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
   
10. Strong's Number: G3772
    There are 264 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὐρανός
    Transliteration: ouranós
    Pronunciation: oo-ran-os'
    Description: perhaps from the same as ὄρος (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity):--air, heaven(-ly), sky.
    
11. Strong's Number: G2127
    There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εὐλογέω
    Transliteration: eulogéō
    Pronunciation: yoo-log-eh'-o
    Description: from a compound of εὖ and λόγος; to speak well of, i.e. (religiously) to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper):--bless, praise.
    
12. Strong's Number: G846
    There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: αὐτός
    Transliteration: autós
    Pronunciation: ow-tos'
    Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
    
13. Strong's Number: G2622
    There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: κατακλάω
    Transliteration: katakláō
    Pronunciation: kat-ak-lah'-o
    Description: from κατά and κλάω; to break down, i.e. divide:--break.
    
14. Strong's Number: G1325
    There are 377 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: δίδωμι
    Transliteration: dídōmi
    Pronunciation: did'-o-mee
    Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
    
15. Strong's Number: G3101
    There are 252 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μαθητής
    Transliteration: mathētḗs
    Pronunciation: math-ay-tes'
    Description: from μανθάνω; a learner, i.e. pupil:--disciple.
    
16. Strong's Number: G3908
    There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: παρατίθημι
    Transliteration: paratíthēmi
    Pronunciation: par-at-ith'-ay-mee
    Description: from παρά and τίθημι; to place alongside, i.e. present (food, truth); by implication, to deposit (as a trust or for protection):--allege, commend, commit (the keeping of), put forth, set before.
    
17. Strong's Number: G3793
    There are 170 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὄχλος
    Transliteration: óchlos
    Pronunciation: okh'los
    Description: from a derivative of ἔχω (meaning a vehicle); a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot:--company, multitude, number (of people), people, press.