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.
And {G1161} when the day {G2250} began {G756} to wear away {G2827}, then {G1161} came {G4334} the twelve {G1427}, and said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Send {G630} the multitude {G3793} away {G630}, that {G2443} they may go {G565} into {G1519} the towns {G2968} and {G2532} country {G68} round about {G2945}, and lodge {G2647}, and {G2532} get {G2147} victuals {G1979}: for {G3754} we are {G2070} here {G5602} in {G1722} a desert {G2048} place {G5117}.
The day began to draw to a close. The Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away, so that they can go and get lodging and food in the towns and farms around here, because where we are is a remote place.”
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.”
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.
-
Hosea 13:5
¶ I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. -
Matthew 15:23
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. -
Psalms 78:19
Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? -
Psalms 78:20
Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? -
John 6:5
When Jesus then lifted up [his] eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? -
John 6:15
¶ When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. -
Ezekiel 34:25
And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
Luke 9:12 sets the scene for one of Jesus' most remarkable miracles, the feeding of the five thousand. As the day draws to a close, the disciples approach Jesus with a very practical concern about the massive crowd that has gathered to hear Him teach and witness His healing power.
Context
This verse immediately precedes Jesus' miraculous feeding of thousands. He had been ministering to a large multitude in a remote area, described as a "desert place" (Greek: eremos topos, meaning an uninhabited or desolate region, not necessarily a sandy desert). The disciples, observing that it was late and the people were far from any provisions, suggested that Jesus dismiss them. Their concern was logistical: the crowd needed food and lodging, which could only be found in nearby towns and the surrounding countryside. This highlights their human perspective, focused on the practical limitations of the situation, unknowingly setting the stage for a divine demonstration of supply. This scenario is also recounted in other Gospels, such as Matthew 14:15 and Mark 6:35.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "day began to wear away" translates the Greek klino (κλίνω), which means to incline or bend, indicating the declining sun and the approaching evening. The term "desert place" is from the Greek eremos topos (ἔρημος τόπος), which refers to a solitary, uninhabited, or desolate area, emphasizing the isolation of the location and the lack of readily available resources for such a large crowd. This detail underscores the challenge the disciples perceived.
Practical Application
Luke 9:12 offers valuable lessons for believers today. Often, we face situations that seem overwhelming, and our first inclination, like the disciples, is to rely on our own logical solutions or to dismiss the problem. This verse reminds us to bring our seemingly impossible situations to Jesus, even when we don't see a way forward. It challenges us to look beyond our limited resources and trust in God's infinite capacity to provide, even in "desert places" of our lives. It encourages us to have faith that God can meet needs in ways we cannot imagine, turning our practical concerns into opportunities for divine intervention, much like the multiplication of the loaves and fish that followed this conversation.