And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The sheer abundance is astonishing, not just that everyone was filled, but that twelve full baskets of leftovers remained. This wasn't just enough for the moment; it was a surplus that demonstrated God's overflowing provision and His care for future needs, leaving no doubt about the miracle's power.
And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just compassionately responded to a massive crowd's needs by miraculously feeding them with just five loaves and two fish. After everyone has eaten their fill, the disciples are instructed to gather up all the leftovers, resulting in a surprising twelve baskets of food. This abundance, far exceeding the initial offering, powerfully demonstrates Jesus' divine power and care for the people, even beyond their immediate hunger.
Imagine the scene: thousands fed with just a few loaves and fish. This wasn't just a meal; it was a powerful demonstration of God's ability to provide abundantly, even when resources seem impossibly scarce.
Jesus, seeing the immense crowd and their hunger, didn't just meet their immediate need; He performed a miracle that declared His divine power over creation itself.
Abundant Satisfaction
Divine Creation
What happened after everyone was full? Jesus didn't let a single crumb go to waste. This detail reveals something profound about God's care and our responsibility.
The instruction to gather the leftovers was as significant as the feeding itself. It teaches us valuable lessons about stewardship and the value God places on every part of His provision.
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No Waste, Only Value
Lessons for Today
Understand the original words
chortazō · Greek Verb
To be filled or sated, often implying not just the physical removal of hunger but a sense of completeness or abundance provided by God's miraculous intervention.
The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand occurred during a time of Jesus' growing fame and also personal grief. The act served not only to miraculously provide for the physical needs of a massive crowd but also as a powerful demonstration of God's provision and Jesus' divine authority, with the twelve baskets of leftovers symbolizing abundance and God's economy in preserving His gifts.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and gathering followers throughout Galilee. His fame spreads rapidly.
c. 27-30 AD
John the Baptist Imprisoned and Executed
John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod Antipas and later beheaded. Jesus withdraws to a solitary place after hearing the news, seeking to comfort his disciples and himself.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus Departs by Boat
Jesus, hearing of John's death, departs by ship to a desert place. The crowds, however, follow him on foot.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus Teaches and Heals
Jesus sees the large crowd, is moved with compassion, and begins to teach them many things and heal the sick.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
As evening approaches, Jesus miraculously feeds over five thousand men, plus women and children, with five loaves and two fish, leaving twelve baskets of leftovers.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus Walks on Water
Later that night, Jesus walks on water to meet his disciples in the boat, calming their fear and demonstrating his power over nature.
This passage describes Jesus commanding the disciples to gather the leftovers after the miraculous feeding, directly echoing the instruction not to waste God's provision and highlighting the abundance that remained.
2 Kings 4:43This Old Testament account of Elisha feeding a hundred men with a small amount of bread shows a similar pattern of divine multiplication and leftover provision, demonstrating God's consistent care for His people's needs throughout Scripture.
Deuteronomy 8:3This verse reminds us that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God, placing the miraculous feeding in the context of Jesus providing spiritual nourishment as well as physical sustenance.
Mark 6:37This parallel account includes the disciples' question about buying bread, underscoring their limited perspective and the overwhelming nature of the miracle, while also showing Jesus' compassionate response to the people's hunger.
Psalm 78:25This Psalm speaks of God giving them 'grain and wine' and calling it 'bread of angels,' reflecting the miraculous nature of the provision and hinting at the heavenly source of this sustenance.
vincentMatthew 14:20: "And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full."
Were filled (ἐχορτάσθησαν)See on Matthew 5:6.Baskets (κοφίνους)Wyc., coffins, a transcription of the Greek word. Juvenal, the Roman satirist, describes the grove of Numa, near the Capenian gate of Rome, as being "let out to the Jews, whose furniture is a basket (cophinus) and some hay" (for a bed), "Sat." iii., 14. These were small hand-baskets, specially provided for…
calvinMatthew 14:13-21: "When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities."
- When Jesus heard this, he departed thence to a ship to a desert place apart; and when the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14. And Jesus, when leaving (the ship,) saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion towards them, and healed of such of them as were diseased. 15. A…
The sheer abundance is astonishing, not just that everyone was filled, but that twelve full baskets of leftovers remained. This wasn't just enough for the moment; it was a surplus that demonstrated God's overflowing provision and His care for future needs, leaving no doubt about the miracle's power.
Jesus has just compassionately responded to a massive crowd's needs by miraculously feeding them with just five loaves and two fish. After everyone has eaten their fill, the disciples are instructed to gather up all the leftovers, resulting in a surprising twelve baskets of food. This abundance, far exceeding the initial offering, powerfully demonstrates Jesus' divine power and care for the people, even beyond their immediate hunger.
Jesus has just compassionately responded to a massive crowd's needs by miraculously feeding them with just five loaves and two fish. After everyone has eaten their fill, the disciples are instructed to gather up all the leftovers, resulting in a surprising twelve baskets of food. This abundance, far exceeding the initial offering, powerfully demonstrates Jesus' divine power and care for the people, even beyond their immediate hunger.
"And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over." — The sheer abundance is astonishing, not just that everyone was filled, but that twelve full baskets of leftovers remained. This wasn't just enough for the moment; it was a surplus that demonstrated G…
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Last reviewed October 2026