Matthew 14:20

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

And {G2532} they did {G5315} all {G3956} eat {G5315}, and {G2532} were filled {G5526}: and {G2532} they took up {G142} of the fragments {G2801} that remained {G4052} twelve {G1427} baskets {G2894} full {G4134}.

They all ate as much as they wanted, and they took up twelve baskets full of the pieces left over.

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.

Matthew 14:20 describes the miraculous outcome of Jesus feeding over five thousand people with just five loaves and two fish. This verse highlights the astonishing abundance of Christ's provision, a central theme in the Gospels.

Context

This verse concludes the narrative of one of Jesus' most well-known miracles: the feeding of the five thousand. After a long day of teaching and healing, Jesus' disciples suggested sending the large crowd away to buy food. However, Jesus challenged them to feed the multitude themselves, despite their meager resources (Matthew 14:15-18). With a simple prayer of blessing, Jesus multiplied the food, ensuring everyone present had more than enough to eat. This act immediately precedes Jesus walking on water, further emphasizing His divine power.

Key Themes

  • Divine Abundance and Sufficiency: The phrase "all eat, and were filled" emphasizes that Jesus didn't just provide enough, but a complete satisfaction for everyone present. The miracle demonstrates God's limitless capacity to provide for the needs of His people, exceeding all expectations.
  • Miraculous Power of Christ: This event powerfully illustrates Jesus' divine authority over creation, showcasing Him as the Son of God capable of performing signs that point to His identity as the Messiah. It anticipates His role as the "Bread of Life" (John 6:35).
  • Order and Stewardship: The collection of "fragments that remained twelve baskets full" shows an emphasis on order and the value of even the smallest portions. It teaches that even in miraculous abundance, stewardship and avoiding waste are important principles.
  • Symbolism of Twelve: The "twelve baskets" are highly symbolic. The number twelve often represents completeness, particularly in relation to the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. This surplus may signify that Jesus' provision is not only sufficient for the present need but also for the future needs of His chosen people and the nascent church, ministered through the apostles. Mark 6:43 and John 6:13 also record this detail.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "filled" is echortasthēsan (ἐχορτάσθησαν), which means to be fully satisfied or satiated, often used of animals being fed to their fill. This emphasizes the complete and generous nature of Jesus' provision. The "baskets" are kophinous (κοφίνους), a specific type of small, portable basket typically used by Jews for carrying provisions, perhaps to maintain separation from Gentiles or for travel. This detail distinguishes it from the larger "spyridas" baskets mentioned in the later feeding of the four thousand (Matthew 15:37).

Practical Application

Matthew 14:20 serves as a powerful reminder of God's boundless love and ability to provide. For believers today, it instills confidence that Jesus can meet every need—spiritual, emotional, and physical—often in ways that surpass our expectations. It encourages us to bring our meager resources to Him, trusting that He can multiply them for His glory and for the benefit of many. Furthermore, the collection of leftovers reminds us to be good stewards of the blessings we receive, whether they are abundant or seemingly small.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Exodus 16:12

    I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD your God.

  • Mark 6:42

    And they did all eat, and were filled.

  • Mark 6:44

    And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

  • Exodus 16:8

    And Moses said, [This shall be], when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what [are] we? your murmurings [are] not against us, but against the LORD.

  • 1 Kings 17:12

    And she said, [As] the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I [am] gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

  • 1 Kings 17:16

    [And] the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

  • Matthew 16:8

    [Which] when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

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