John 6 · Verse 12

John 6:12

When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
John 6:12, King James Version

John 6:12 in other translations

BSBAnd when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”
WEBWhen they were filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost.”
ASVAnd when they were filled, he saith unto his disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost.
YLTAnd when they were filled, he saith to his disciples, ‘Gather together the broken pieces that are over, that nothing may be lost;'
DARBYAnd when they had been filled, he says to his disciples, Gather together the fragments which are over and above, that nothing may be lost.
BBEAnd when they had had enough, Jesus said to his disciples, Take up the broken bits which are over, so that nothing may be wasted.
WebsterWhen they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, Gather the fragments that remain, that nothing may be lost.

What does John 6:12 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Gather up the fragments. This command is omitted by the other evangelists. It shows the care of Jesus that there should be no waste. Though he had power to provide any quantity of God, yet he has here taught us that the bounties of Providence are not to be squandered. In all things the Saviour set us an example of frugality, though he had an infinite supply at his disposal; he was himself economical, though he was Lord of all. If he was thus saving, it becomes us dependent creatures not to waste the bounties of a beneficent Providence. And it especially becomes the rich not to squander the bounties of Providence. They often feel that they are rich. They have enough. They have no fear of want, and they do not feel the necessity of studying economy. Yet let them remember that what they have is the gift of God--just as certainly as the loaves and fishes created by the Saviour were his gift. It is not given them to waste, nor to spend in riot, nor to be the means of injuring their health or of shortening life. It is given to sustain life, to excite gratitude, to fit for the active service of God. Everything should be applied to its appropriate end, and nothing should be squandered or lost.

(c) "When the were filled" Neh 9:25 (d) "that nothing be lost" Neh 8:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Gather up the fragments - "Great will be the punishment of those who waste the crumbs of food, scatter seed, and neglect the law." Synops Sohar. Among the Jews the פאה peah, or residue after a meal, was the property of the servitors.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 6:1-14

John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf…

Read the full comment on John 6:1-14 →

John 6:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὡςhōsWhenG5613
δὲdenowG1161
ἐνεπλήσθησανeneplēsthēsanthey were filledG1705
λέγειlegeiHe saysG3004
τοῖςtoisto theG3588
μαθηταῖςmathētaisdisciplesG3101
αὐτοῦ·autouof Him;G846
συναγάγετεsunagagetedo gather togetherG4863
τὰtatheG3588
περισσεύσανταperisseusantahaving been over and aboveG4052
κλάσματαklasmatafragmentsG2801
ἵναinaso thatG2443
μήmēnothingG3361
τιtianythingG5100
ἀπόληται.apolētaimay be lost.G622

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 6:12

  • Luke 1:53

    He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

  • Mark 6:42-44

    And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

  • Nehemiah 9:25

    And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

  • Luke 9:17

    And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

  • Nehemiah 8:10

    Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

  • Matthew 14:20-21

    And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

  • Matthew 15:37-38

    And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

  • Luke 16:1

    And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

  • Proverbs 18:9

    He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

  • Mark 8:8-9

    So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they.
Ne 9:25; Mt 14:20,21; 15:37,38; Mr 6:42-44; 8:8,9; Lu 1:53; 9:17
that nothing.
Ne 8:10; Pr 18:9; Lu 15:13; 16:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 6:11

    And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

  • John 6:12

    When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

  • John 6:13

    Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Read all of John 6

John 6:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y como fueron saciados, dijo á sus discípulos: Recoged los pedazos que han quedado, porque no se pierda nada.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et après qu’ils furent rassasiés, il dit à ses disciples: Amassez les morceaux qui sont de reste, afin que rien ne soit perdu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als sie aber gesättigt waren, spricht er zu seinen Jüngern: Sammelt die übriggebliebenen Brocken, auf daß nichts umkomme.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ut autem impleti sunt, dixit discipulis suis: Colligite quæ superaverunt fragmenta, ne pereant.