Matthew 14 · Verse 17

Matthew 14:17

And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
Matthew 14:17, King James Version

Matthew 14:17 in other translations

BSB“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
WEBThey told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”
ASVAnd they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
YLTAnd they say to him, ‘We have not here except five loaves, and two fishes.'
DARBYBut they say to him, We have not here save five loaves and two fishes.
BBEAnd they say to him, We have here but five cakes of bread and two fishes.
WebsterAnd they say to him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

What does Matthew 14:17 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. We have here but five loaves, etc. These loaves were in the possession of a lad, or young man, who was with them, and were made of barley, Jn 6:9. It is possible that this lad was one in attendance on the apostles to carry their food; but it is most probable he was one who had provision to sell among the multitude. Barley was a cheap kind of food, scarcely one-third the value of wheat, and was much used by poor people. A considerable part of the food of the people in that region was probably fish, as they lived on the borders of a lake that abounded in fish.

Mt 14:13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 We have here but five loaves and two fishes - When we are deeply conscious of our own necessities, we shall be led to depend on Jesus with a firmer faith. God often permits his servants to be brought low, that they may have repeated opportunities of proving the kindness and mercy of their gracious Lord and Master.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 14:13-21

When Christ and his word withdraw, it is best for us to follow, seeking the means of grace for our souls before any worldly advantages. The presence of Christ and his gospel, makes a desert not only tolerable, but desirable. This little supply of bread was increased by Christ's creating power, till the whole multitude were satisfied. In seeking the welfare of men's souls, we should have compassion on their bodies…

Read the full comment on Matthew 14:13-21 →

Matthew 14:17 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.

οἱhoi<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
λέγουσινlegousinthey sayG3004
αὐτῷ·autōto Him;G846
οὐκoukNotG3756
ἔχομενechomenwe haveG2192
ὧδεhōdehereG5602
εἰeionlyG1487
μὴmēexceptG3361
πέντεpentefiveG4002
ἄρτουςartousloavesG740
καὶkaiandG2532
δύοduotwoG1417
ἰχθύας.ichthuasfish.G2486

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

Cross references for Matthew 14:17

  • John 6:5-9

    When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, …

  • Matthew 15:33-34

    And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

  • Mark 6:37-38

    He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

  • Luke 9:13

    But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

  • Mark 8:4-5

    And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

  • Matthew 16:9

    Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

  • Psalms 78:19-20

    Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?

  • Numbers 11:21-23

    And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them? And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
15:33,34; Nu 11:21-23; Ps 78:19,20; Mr 6:37,38; 8:4,5; Lu 9:13
Joh 6:5-9

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

Context

  • Matthew 14:16

    But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

  • Matthew 14:17

    And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

  • Matthew 14:18

    He said, Bring them hither to me.

Read all of Matthew 14

Matthew 14:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ellos dijeron: No tenemos aquí sino cinco panes y dos peces.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais ils lui disent: Nous n’avons ici que cinq pains et deux poissons.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie aber sagen zu ihm: Wir haben nichts hier als nur fünf Brote und zwei Fische.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Responderunt ei: Non habemus hic nisi quinque panes et duos pisces.