Matthew 14:17

KJV

And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} they say {G3004} unto him {G846}, We have {G2192} here {G5602} but {G3756}{G1508} five {G4002} loaves {G740}, and {G2532} two {G1417} fishes {G2486}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"All we have with us," they said, "is five loaves of bread and two fish."

Berean Standard Bible

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

American Standard Version

And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
The disciples' pragmatic, yet limited, assessment of their resources in the face of an immense crowd. Their declaration, "We have here but five loaves, and two fishes," starkly contrasts the overwhelming need with their meager provisions, setting the stage for Jesus to demonstrate His divine power, compassion, and boundless ability to provide far beyond human expectation or capacity. This statement serves as a pivotal moment, highlighting human inadequacy as a prelude to God's miraculous abundance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the renowned account of Jesus feeding the five thousand, a miracle so significant it is recorded in all four Gospels ([Mark 6:30-44](/mark/6-30-44 "Mark 6:30-44 - Feeding the Five Thousand"), [Luke 9:10-17](/luke/9-10-17 "Luke 9:10-17 - Feeding the Five Thousand"), and [John 6:1-14](/john/6-1-14 "John 6:1-14 - Feeding the Five Thousand")). Immediately preceding this event, Jesus had withdrawn to a desolate place after receiving the devastating news of John the Baptist's execution ([Matthew 14:13](/matthew/14-13 "Matthew 14:13 - Jesus Withdraws After John's Death")). Despite His desire for solitude, vast crowds followed Him, drawn by His teaching and healing ministry. As evening approached, the disciples, observing the multitude's hunger, urged Jesus to dismiss them so they could find food in nearby villages ([Matthew 14:15](/matthew/14-15 "Matthew 14:15 - Disciples' Suggestion")). Jesus' unexpected command, "They need not depart; give ye them to eat" ([Matthew 14:16](/matthew/14-16 "Matthew 14:16 - Jesus Commands Disciples to Feed the Crowd")), directly elicits the disciples' statement in verse 17, revealing their initial human-centric perspective on the impossible task before them.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting for this miracle was a "desert place" or "desolate place" ([Matthew 14:13](/matthew/14-13 "Matthew 14:13 - Jesus Withdraws to a Desert Place")), likely an unpopulated, rocky, or uncultivated area, not necessarily a barren desert, but certainly without immediate access to food markets or villages. Feeding thousands of people in such a remote location, without modern infrastructure, was an enormous logistical challenge. The "five loaves" were typically small, flat, round barley cakes, a staple and inexpensive food for the common people, often carried by travelers. The "two fishes" were likely small, dried, or pickled fish, used as a relish or protein source, also common among the poor. This humble provision underscores the stark reality of the disciples' limited resources in contrast to the immense scale of the need, making the subsequent miracle all the more astounding to those familiar with the economic realities of the time.

* **Key Themes:** Matthew 14:17 powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Gospel of Matthew and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Human Limitation vs. Divine Abundance**. The disciples' statement highlights the utter inadequacy of human resources when confronted with a task of divine proportion, setting the stage for Jesus to demonstrate God's limitless power to provide. This contrasts sharply with the abundance that follows, where twelve baskets of leftovers are collected ([Matthew 14:20](/matthew/14-20 "Matthew 14:20 - Abundance After the Miracle")). Another crucial theme is **Faith and Obedience**. Despite their initial skepticism and focus on what they lacked, the disciples ultimately obeyed Jesus' instruction to bring what little they had. This act of surrendering their small offering, though seemingly insignificant, was the crucial first step that allowed for the miracle to unfold, illustrating that God often works through our humble obedience, not our self-sufficiency. Finally, the **Humble Nature of the Offering** emphasizes that God can use the most ordinary and seemingly insignificant things to accomplish extraordinary and divine purposes, echoing principles found throughout Scripture, such as God choosing the weak things of the world to shame the strong ([1 Corinthians 1:27](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27 - God chooses the Weak")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **say (Greek, _légō'_):** From G3004, this primary verb means "to lay forth," or "to relate in words." In this context, it signifies the disciples' verbalization of their assessment. It's not a casual remark but a direct response, conveying their understanding of the situation and their perceived inability to meet the need. Their "saying" expresses a practical, human perspective on the overwhelming challenge.
* **have (Greek, _échō'_):** From G2192, this primary verb means "to hold," encompassing various applications such as possession, ability, or condition. Here, it denotes possession: "We possess/have here." The accompanying negative particle ("but") emphasizes the *limited* nature of their possession, highlighting their perceived lack and inability to provide for such a multitude. It underscores their focus on what they *do* have versus what is *needed*.
* **loaves (Greek, _ártos'_):** From G740, this word refers to "bread (as raised) or a loaf." This term typically denotes common, everyday bread, often in the form of small, flat cakes, rather than elaborate or large loaves. The humble nature of these "loaves" (and the accompanying "fishes") further accentuates the magnitude of the miracle that Jesus performs, demonstrating His power to multiply the most basic provisions into an abundant feast.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they say unto him,"**: This opening clause establishes the disciples' direct communication with Jesus. Their response is immediate and collective ("they say"), indicating a shared understanding of the problem and their limited capacity. It sets up their statement as a direct answer to Jesus' command to feed the crowd, revealing their initial human perspective on the logistical impossibility.
* **"We have here but five loaves,"**: This part of the statement reveals the disciples' inventory and their sense of inadequacy. The phrase "but five loaves" (Greek: `ou ei mḗ pénte ártous`, literally "not if not five loaves") emphasizes the *mere* or *only* five loaves, highlighting the extreme scarcity of their provisions. It underscores their focus on the quantitative insufficiency of what they possess in the face of thousands.
* **"and two fishes."**: This final clause completes the inventory of their meager resources. The "two fishes" further emphasize the smallness of their offering. Together with the five loaves, these items represent a subsistence meal for a few individuals, not a multitude. This stark contrast between the vast need and the paltry supply is crucial for magnifying the miracle that Jesus is about to perform, turning human limitation into a display of divine power.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Understatement** is evident in the disciples' assessment; their statement of having "but five loaves, and two fishes" is a profound understatement of the resources required to feed thousands, highlighting the vast disparity between human capacity and the divine task. This sets the stage for **Irony**, as their declaration of scarcity inadvertently becomes the very platform for Jesus' demonstration of super-abundance. The disciples perceive a problem, but their lack becomes the very means through which God's limitless provision is revealed. Furthermore, the "loaves and fishes" carry **Symbolism**. Beyond their literal meaning as humble provisions, they symbolize the insufficiency of human effort and resources when faced with divine challenges. Yet, in Jesus' hands, they are transformed into a symbol of divine provision and, ultimately, foreshadow the spiritual nourishment Jesus offers as the "Bread of Life" and the sustenance provided through the Eucharist.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 14:17 serves as a powerful theological statement about the nature of divine provision and human dependency. It underscores the biblical principle that God often chooses to work through human inadequacy to display His omnipotence and grace. The disciples' honest admission of their limited resources is not a sign of failure but a necessary prerequisite for witnessing God's miraculous intervention. This moment exemplifies how God delights in taking what is small, insignificant, or insufficient in human eyes and multiplying it for His glory and for the benefit of His people. It teaches us that our "lack" can become the very canvas upon which God paints His abundance, transforming scarcity into surplus and demonstrating that His power is made perfect in weakness.

* [2 Kings 4:42-44](/2_kings/4-42-44 "2 Kings 4:42-44 - Elisha Feeds One Hundred Men")
* [John 6:9-13](/john/6-9-13 "John 6:9-13 - Andrew's Statement and the Miracle")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The disciples' statement in Matthew 14:17 resonates deeply with the human experience of facing overwhelming needs with seemingly insufficient resources. In our own lives, we often encounter situations—whether personal challenges, community needs, or global crises—where our abilities, time, or finances feel like "five loaves and two fishes" against a multitude of demands. This verse calls us to move beyond a purely human assessment of scarcity and to cultivate a posture of faith and surrender. It reminds us that God does not require us to be self-sufficient, but rather to be faithful with what little we have, bringing it to Him in humble obedience. When we offer our limited resources, talents, or even our brokenness to Christ, He is able to take what seems insignificant and multiply it far beyond our imagination, not only to meet the immediate need but also to reveal His boundless power and unfailing provision. This encourages us to trust in God's sufficiency, knowing that His capacity is not constrained by our limitations, and to look for opportunities where our "little" can become the catalyst for His "much."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "five loaves and two fishes" do you feel you possess in the face of current challenges or needs in your life or community?**
* **How does focusing on your limitations, rather than God's limitless power, affect your willingness to act in faith?**
* **In what areas of your life are you being called to surrender your perceived inadequacy to Christ, trusting Him to multiply your efforts?**
* **How can this story encourage you to see seemingly overwhelming problems as opportunities for God to demonstrate His abundance?**

### FAQ

**Why did the disciples only have so little food for such a large crowd?**

Answer: The disciples were not prepared for such a massive gathering in a remote location. They had followed Jesus, who had sought solitude after a trying period. It was common for people traveling in that era to carry only enough food for their immediate needs, especially in unpopulated areas. The small amount of food they had – likely their own meager provisions – highlights their lack of foresight for such an immense crowd and underscores the extraordinary nature of the miracle Jesus was about to perform, demonstrating that His power is not dependent on human preparedness or abundance.

**What kind of loaves and fishes were these?**

Answer: The "loaves" (Greek: _ártos_) were almost certainly small, flat barley cakes, which were common and inexpensive staple foods for the poor in that region. They were not large, leavened loaves as we might imagine today. The "fishes" (Greek: _ichthýs_) were likely small, dried, or pickled fish, often used as a relish or a source of protein to accompany the bread. This detail emphasizes the humble and ordinary nature of the provisions, making the subsequent miracle of multiplication even more astonishing and a clear demonstration of divine power over human scarcity.

**Does this miracle have any parallels in other biblical accounts?**

Answer: Yes, while unique in its scale and context within the New Testament, the miraculous feeding of a multitude has an Old Testament precedent. The prophet Elisha, in [2 Kings 4:42-44](/2_kings/4-42-44 "2 Kings 4:42-44 - Elisha Feeds One Hundred Men"), miraculously fed one hundred men with twenty barley loaves and some fresh grain, with some left over. This Old Testament parallel sets a precedent for God's miraculous provision through His prophets, but Jesus' miracle in Matthew far surpasses it in magnitude, highlighting His greater authority and divine nature.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 14:17, with the disciples' declaration of their meager resources, powerfully foreshadows and finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is not merely a multiplier of physical bread, but the very "Bread of Life" who came down from heaven to give life to the world ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")). The miracle of the loaves and fishes, initiated by human insufficiency, points directly to Christ's infinite sufficiency to meet humanity's deepest spiritual hunger. It anticipates the ultimate act of divine provision at the Last Supper, where Jesus takes bread and wine, symbolizing His own body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life ([Matthew 26:26-28](/matthew/26-26-28 "Matthew 26:26-28 - Institution of the Lord's Supper")). In Christ, our spiritual "five loaves and two fishes"—our sin, inadequacy, and inability to save ourselves—are taken by Him, broken, and transformed into an overflowing abundance of grace, redemption, and eternal life. He is the one in whom "all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form" ([Colossians 2:9](/colossians/2-9 "Colossians 2:9 - Fullness of Deity in Christ")), demonstrating that true provision and fulfillment are found not in what we possess, but in the boundless life and grace freely offered through His sacrifice and resurrection ([John 1:16](/john/1-16 "John 1:16 - Fullness of Grace from Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 9:13

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

Mark 6:37

He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

Mark 6:38

He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

Matthew 15:33

And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

Matthew 15:34

And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

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 6:9

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?