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Matthew 14 · a question people ask

How many people did Jesus feed?

In the text

Matthew says, "Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children" (14:21). He gives a number for the men, about five thousand, and no number for the women and children, and these notes don't reckon one. When Jesus speaks of it later, he says "the five loaves for the five thousand" (16:9). The other Gospels give their own counts, and Favor's Mark 6 sets all four side by side in Four Gospels at the loaves.

The verses

“Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.”
Matthew 14:21 · World English Bible
“Don’t you yet perceive or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up,”
Matthew 16:9 · World English Bible
“Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.”
Mark 6:44 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 14

Matthew 14: Truly the Son of God

In the WEB's Matthew, the words Son of God come first from the tempter (4:3, 4:6) and from those who cried out across the sea (8:29). Then, after Jesus took hold of Peter and the wind ceased, those in the boat "worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”" (14:33).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions