Matthew 15:38

And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

And ^{G1161} they that did eat ^{G2068} were ^{G2258} four thousand ^{G5070} men ^{G435}, beside ^{G5565} women ^{G1135} and ^{G2532} children ^{G3813}.

Those eating numbered four thousand men, plus women and children.

A total of four thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.

And they that did eat were four thousand men, besides women and children.

Commentary on Matthew 15:38 (KJV)

The verse Matthew 15:38 concludes the account of Jesus miraculously feeding a large multitude, often referred to as the "feeding of the four thousand." It specifies the number of people who ate, highlighting the immense scale of the miracle and the boundless provision of Jesus Christ.

Context

This verse is the culmination of Jesus' compassionate response to a hungry crowd who had been with Him for three days, having little to eat (Matthew 15:32). After taking seven loaves and a few small fish, giving thanks, and breaking them, He distributed the food through His disciples to the multitude. This event is distinct from the earlier feeding of the five thousand (recorded in Matthew 14), differing in location, the initial amount of food, and the number of baskets of leftovers collected.

Key Themes

Divine Provision: The verse powerfully underscores Jesus' miraculous power to create abundance from scarcity, demonstrating God's ability to provide for His people's physical needs in extraordinary ways. It showcases His limitless resources.
Jesus' Compassion: This miracle is rooted in Jesus' deep concern for the well-being of the crowd, preventing them from fainting on their journey home (Matthew 15:32). His actions reveal a Messiah who cares intimately for humanity.
Vastness of the Multitude: By specifying "four thousand men, beside women and children," the text emphasizes the truly immense size of the crowd that Jesus fed. This ancient method of counting typically only enumerated adult males, meaning the total number of individuals present was significantly higher, likely numbering well over ten thousand people.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "beside women and children" (Greek: χωρὶς γυναικῶν καὶ τέκνων - choris gynaikōn kai teknōn) is crucial for understanding the true scope of this miracle. It means "apart from" or "separate from" women and children. This was a common way in ancient Near Eastern and Roman cultures to count large groups, focusing on the adult male population for census or military purposes. Therefore, the actual number of people fed was much greater than 4,000, illustrating an even more profound act of divine provision and care.

Practical Application

Matthew 15:38 serves as a powerful reminder of Jesus' boundless compassion and His ability to meet every need, even when human resources seem utterly insufficient. For believers today, it instills confidence in God's faithfulness to provide, not only for physical sustenance but also for spiritual nourishment and guidance. It encourages us to trust in Christ's power and to bring our needs to Him, knowing that He cares for us profoundly. This miracle also highlights the importance of being attentive to the needs of others, following Jesus' example of compassion and selfless service.

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.

No cross-references found for this verse.