Matthew 14:18

KJV

He said, Bring them hither to me.

KJV (with Strong's)

{G1161} He said {G2036}, Bring {G5342} them {G846} hither {G5602} to me {G3427}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He said, "Bring them here to me."

Berean Standard Bible

“Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.

American Standard Version

And he said, Bring them hither to me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 14:18 records Jesus' concise yet profound command to His disciples, "He said, 'Bring them hither to me.'" This pivotal instruction, issued amidst the challenge of feeding thousands with meager provisions, marks the moment Jesus shifts the focus from human inability to divine capability, setting the stage for one of His most iconic demonstrations of miraculous power and boundless provision.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the narrative of the feeding of the five thousand, immediately following the disciples' pragmatic suggestion to send the hungry crowds away to buy food. Having just received news of [John the Baptist's execution](/matthew/14-10 "Matthew 14:10 - John the Baptist's Execution"), Jesus had sought solitude, but was met by vast throngs whom He compassionately healed ([Matthew 14:13-14](/matthew/14-13-14 "Matthew 14:13-14 - Jesus' Compassion and Healing")). As evening approached, the disciples, faced with the overwhelming number of people and their own limited resources—only [five barley loaves and two small fish](/john/6-9 "John 6:9 - The Boy with the Loaves and Fish")—urged Jesus to dismiss the crowd. Jesus' command in [Matthew 14:18](/matthew/14-18 "Matthew 14:18 - Jesus' Command to Bring the Loaves") directly counters their human-centered solution, initiating His divine intervention.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is a desolate, unpopulated area, likely on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, where large crowds would typically disperse to nearby villages for sustenance. In first-century Judea and Galilee, hospitality was paramount, but feeding such a massive multitude (estimated at five thousand men, plus women and children, as noted in [Matthew 14:21](/matthew/14-21 "Matthew 14:21 - The Number Fed")) was an unprecedented logistical challenge for the disciples. Their suggestion to send the people away was a practical, culturally understandable response to an impossible situation, highlighting the stark contrast between human limitations and the extraordinary nature of Jesus' subsequent action.
* **Key Themes:** [Matthew 14:18](/matthew/14-18 "Matthew 14:18 - Jesus' Command") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel. It underscores the theme of **Divine Sufficiency over Human Scarcity**, demonstrating that Jesus' power transcends all human limitations and that He can multiply even the smallest offering to meet immense needs. It also highlights **Jesus' Authority and Initiative**, as His command is not a suggestion but a direct order, asserting His sovereign control over circumstances and His active role in providing for His people. Finally, it introduces the theme of **The Importance of Offering What We Have**, however meager, to Christ, illustrating that it is in His hands that transformation and abundance occur, a principle seen throughout Jesus' ministry, such as in the parable of the talents in [Matthew 25:14-30](/matthew/25-14-30 "Matthew 25:14-30 - The Parable of the Talents").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **said (Greek, _épō'_):** Derived from G2036, this verb signifies a direct and authoritative utterance. It is not a question or a suggestion, but a declarative command from Jesus, underscoring His position of authority and control over the situation. This word choice emphasizes the divine initiative behind the miracle that is about to unfold.
* **Bring (Greek, _phérō'_):** From G5342, this is an imperative verb, meaning "to bear" or "to carry." Its use here is a direct command for action, requiring the disciples to physically move the meager provisions towards Jesus. It highlights the necessity of human participation, albeit with limited resources, in God's miraculous work.
* **to me (Greek, _moí'_):** This is the dative form of the first-person singular pronoun (G3427), emphasizing the personal and central role of Jesus. The items must be brought specifically *to Him*, indicating that His presence, authority, and involvement are the crucial elements for the miracle to be actualized. The power resides not in the quantity of the food, but in the person to whom it is brought.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He said":** This opening phrase immediately identifies Jesus as the speaker, establishing the divine authority behind the subsequent command. It signals that the solution to the disciples' dilemma will come from a source beyond human ingenuity or resources.
* **"Bring them hither":** This is the direct command for action. "Them" refers to the five loaves and two fish, which the disciples have already identified as their only available food. "Hither" (Greek, _hōde'_) means "to this place" or "here," indicating that Jesus desires the items to be brought into His immediate presence, placing them directly under His control and authority.
* **"to me":** This crucial phrase specifies the recipient of the "bringing." It is not merely "bring them here," but "bring them *to me*." This emphasizes Jesus' centrality to the impending miracle. The transformation of scarcity into abundance is contingent upon the resources being surrendered into His capable hands, highlighting His unique power and role as the provider.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is the **Imperative Mood** of the verb "Bring," which underscores Jesus' absolute **Authority** and **Sovereignty** over the situation. This is not a request but a direct command, highlighting His divine prerogative. There is also an implied **Antithesis** between the disciples' human logic and limited resources versus Jesus' divine power and boundless provision. The "them" in the command functions as a form of **Synecdoche** or **Metonymy**, where the small quantity of loaves and fish represents the entirety of the disciples' inadequate resources, which Jesus transforms into abundance. Furthermore, the entire interaction serves as a **Foreshadowing** of Jesus' later self-identification as the "Bread of Life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), pointing to a deeper spiritual reality of His provision.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 14:18 profoundly illustrates God's character as the ultimate provider (Yahweh-Jireh), manifested in the person of Jesus Christ. It teaches that divine power often works through human participation, even when that participation is seemingly insignificant. Jesus' command to "bring them hither to me" is an invitation to surrender our perceived limitations, meager resources, or overwhelming problems into His hands. It reveals that true abundance and miraculous provision are not dependent on the quantity of what we possess, but on the quality of our trust and the authority of the One to whom we surrender it. This act foreshadows the spiritual truth that all true sustenance, both physical and spiritual, flows from Christ.

* [John 6:9-11](/john/6-9-11 "John 6:9-11 - The Boy's Loaves and Fish")
* [2 Kings 4:42-44](/2_kings/4-42-44 "2 Kings 4:42-44 - Elisha Feeds One Hundred")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This concise command from Jesus carries immense practical weight for believers today. Often, we find ourselves in situations where our resources, talents, time, or even our faith feel utterly insufficient for the challenges we face. Like the disciples, we might be tempted to dismiss the problem, send people away, or rely solely on our own limited ingenuity. However, Jesus' instruction in [Matthew 14:18](/matthew/14-18 "Matthew 14:18 - Jesus' Command") challenges us to bring whatever "little" we have—our anxieties, our weaknesses, our meager offerings, our brokenness—directly to Him. It is in the act of surrender, placing our insufficiency into His all-sufficient hands, that true transformation and miraculous multiplication can occur. This verse encourages us to trust in divine abundance over human scarcity, to relinquish control, and to allow Christ to work in ways far beyond our imagination, turning our inadequacy into an opportunity for His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "meager resources" or perceived limitations are you holding back from Jesus today, believing them to be too small or insignificant for Him to use?**
* **How does this verse challenge your understanding of God's ability to provide beyond human expectation and logical solutions?**
* **In what areas of your life—be it financial, relational, spiritual, or vocational—do you need to surrender control and "bring them hither to Jesus," trusting in His power to multiply?**

### FAQ
**Why didn't Jesus just create food out of nothing, without asking the disciples to bring the loaves and fish?**

Answer: While Jesus certainly possesses the power to create ex nihilo (from nothing), His instruction to "Bring them hither to me" serves crucial pedagogical and theological purposes. First, it teaches the disciples (and us) the importance of human participation, however small, in God's miraculous work. It demonstrates that God often chooses to work through and multiply what we are willing to offer, rather than bypassing our involvement entirely. Second, it highlights the disciples' limited perspective and faith, providing a tangible object (the loaves and fish) for Jesus to demonstrate His power upon, thereby building their faith. It underscores that the miracle is not an abstract act, but a direct intervention upon existing, albeit insufficient, resources, making the divine multiplication even more apparent and impactful.

**What is the significance of the phrase "hither to me" in Jesus' command?**

Answer: The phrase "hither to me" (Greek, _hōde pros me_) is highly significant because it emphasizes Jesus' centrality and authority in the miracle. "Hither" means "to this very spot," indicating a specific, immediate location. "To me" underscores that the loaves and fish must be placed directly into Jesus' hands. This is not a general instruction to gather the food, but a precise directive to bring it *to Him*. It signifies that the power to multiply and provide resides solely in Jesus. The miracle is not an automatic process initiated by the disciples' offering, but a direct act of divine power mediated through the person of Christ. It highlights His personal involvement and His unique role as the source of all provision.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 14:18, with Jesus' command to "Bring them hither to me," finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus' identity as the ultimate provider and the "Bread of Life." The physical feeding of the five thousand, initiated by this command, serves as a powerful foreshadowing of the spiritual nourishment Jesus offers to all humanity. Just as He took the meager loaves and fish and multiplied them to satisfy physical hunger, so He offers Himself, the true bread from heaven, to satisfy our deepest spiritual hunger. His invitation to "bring them to me" extends far beyond physical provisions; it is an enduring call for all to come to Him for eternal life and spiritual sustenance. As Jesus declares in [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." This act culminates in the ultimate sacrifice, where Jesus gives His very flesh for the life of the world ([John 6:51](/john/6-51 "John 6:51 - Jesus Gives His Flesh for the Life of the World")), a truth celebrated in the Eucharist, where believers spiritually partake of Christ's broken body and shed blood, remembering His boundless provision for our salvation ([1 Corinthians 11:23-26](/1_corinthians/11-23-26 "1 Corinthians 11:23-26 - The Lord's Supper")). Thus, Matthew 14:18 points forward to Jesus as the one who not only feeds bodies but eternally nourishes souls.

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.