Luke 9:16
New International Version
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.

New Living Translation
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people.

English Standard Version
And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

Berean Standard Bible
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.

Berean Literal Bible
And having taken the five loaves and the two fish, having looked up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

King James Bible
Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

New King James Version
Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

New American Standard Bible
And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He blessed them and broke them, and gave them to the disciples again and again, to serve the crowd.

NASB 1995
Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people.

NASB 1977
And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them. And He broke them and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

Amplified Bible
Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and He looked up to heaven [and gave thanks] and blessed them, and broke them and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

Christian Standard Bible
Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

American Standard Version
And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake; and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and fish and handed them to his disciples to give to the people.

English Revised Version
And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake; and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the crowd.

Good News Translation
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people.

International Standard Version
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to the disciples to pass on to the crowd.

Majority Standard Bible
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.

NET Bible
Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

New Heart English Bible
He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and broke, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Weymouth New Testament
Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to Heaven He blessed them and broke them into portions which He gave to the disciples to distribute to the people.

World English Bible
He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and having taken the five loaves and the two fishes, having looked up to the sky, He blessed them, and broke, and was giving to the disciples to set before the multitude;

Berean Literal Bible
And having taken the five loaves and the two fish, having looked up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

Young's Literal Translation
and having taken the five loaves, and the two fishes, having looked up to the heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and was giving to the disciples to set before the multitude;

Smith's Literal Translation
And having taken the five loaves and two fishes, having looked up to heaven, be praised them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the crowd.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed them; and he broke, and distributed to his disciples, to set before the multitude.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish, he gazed up to heaven, and he blessed and broke and distributed them to his disciples, in order to set them before the crowd.

New American Bible
Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

New Revised Standard Version
And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jesus took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, and looked up to heaven, and he blessed them, and broke and gave them to his disciples, to set before the people.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Yeshua took those five loaves and two fish, and he gazed into Heaven and he blessed and he broke and he gave to his disciples to set before the crowds.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and broke, and gave them to the disciples, to set before the multitude.

Godbey New Testament
And taking the five loaves and two fishes, looking up to heaven, He blessed them; and He broke, and gave to the disciples to dispense to the multitude.

Haweis New Testament
And taking the five loaves, and the two fishes, looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Mace New Testament
then he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he ask'd blessing: then divided them, and gave them to his disciples to be distributed among the people:

Weymouth New Testament
Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to Heaven He blessed them and broke them into portions which He gave to the disciples to distribute to the people.

Worrell New Testament
And, taking the five loaves and the two fishes, looking up into Heaven, He blessed them, and broke, and kept giving to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Worsley New Testament
And He took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven He blessed them; and brake and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
15They did so, and everyone was seated. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people. 17They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.…

Cross References
Matthew 14:19
And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

Mark 6:41
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

John 6:11
Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.

Matthew 15:36
Taking the seven loaves and the fish, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

Mark 8:6
And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd.

John 6:23
However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

1 Corinthians 11:24
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Matthew 26:26
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

Mark 14:22
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”

Luke 22:19
And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

John 21:13
Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish.

2 Kings 4:42-44
Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. / But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

Exodus 16:15
When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

Psalm 78:19-25
They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness? / When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?” / Therefore the LORD heard and was filled with wrath; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and His anger flared against Israel, ...

Psalm 132:15
I will bless her with abundant provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.


Treasury of Scripture

Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and broke, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

and looking.

Psalm 121:1,2
A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help…

Matthew 14:19
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

Mark 7:34
And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

he blessed.

Luke 22:19
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Luke 24:30
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

Matthew 15:36
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

Jump to Previous
Blessed Blessing Brake Bread Broke Broken Cakes Crowd Disciples Distribute Fish Fishes Five Heaven Kept Loaves Multitude Portions Sky Words
Jump to Next
Blessed Blessing Brake Bread Broke Broken Cakes Crowd Disciples Distribute Fish Fishes Five Heaven Kept Loaves Multitude Portions Sky Words
Luke 9
1. Jesus sends his apostles to work miracles, and to preach.
7. Herod desires to see Jesus.
10. The apostles return.
12. Jesus feeds five thousand;
18. inquires what opinion the world had of him; foretells his passion;
23. proposes to all the pattern of his patience.
28. The transfiguration.
37. He heals the lunatic;
43. again forewarns his disciples of his passion;
46. commends humility;
51. bids them to show mildness toward all, without desire of revenge.
57. Many would follow him, but upon conditions.














Taking the five loaves and the two fish
This phrase highlights the humble beginnings of a miraculous event. The "five loaves and the two fish" symbolize the meager resources available to the disciples. In the Greek, "loaves" (ἄρτους, artous) refers to small barley loaves, the bread of the poor, emphasizing the modesty of the offering. The "fish" (ἰχθύας, ichthyas) were likely small, salted fish, common in the diet of the region. This setting underscores the theme that God can use the simplest of offerings to accomplish His divine purposes, a reminder of His providence and the abundance that comes from faith.

and looking up to heaven
This action signifies Jesus' acknowledgment of the Father as the source of all provision. The Greek word for "looking up" (ἀναβλέψας, anablepsas) implies a deliberate and focused gaze, symbolizing trust and dependence on God. In the historical context, this gesture was a common Jewish practice of prayer, indicating reverence and expectation. It serves as a model for believers to direct their needs and gratitude towards God, recognizing Him as the ultimate provider.

He spoke a blessing
The act of blessing (εὐλόγησεν, eulogēsen) is significant in Jewish tradition, where blessings are pronounced to express gratitude and invoke divine favor. This phrase indicates Jesus' role as the mediator between God and humanity, sanctifying the meal and setting it apart for a holy purpose. The blessing transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, illustrating the power of spoken words aligned with God's will.

and broke them
Breaking the bread (ἔκλασεν, eklasen) is a symbolic act that foreshadows the Last Supper and the breaking of Jesus' body on the cross. In the cultural context, breaking bread was a communal act, signifying fellowship and sharing. This action not only provides physical sustenance but also points to the spiritual nourishment that Jesus offers, inviting believers to partake in His life and sacrifice.

Then He gave them to the disciples
The distribution of the loaves and fish through the disciples (ἔδωκεν τοῖς μαθηταῖς, edōken tois mathētais) highlights the role of the disciples as instruments of Jesus' ministry. This phrase emphasizes the partnership between divine power and human agency. The disciples are entrusted with the task of serving others, a call for all believers to participate in God's work by sharing His blessings with those around them.

to set before the people
This final phrase (παραθεῖναι τῷ ὄχλῳ, paratheinai tō ochlō) illustrates the act of service and hospitality. The Greek word "set before" implies careful and intentional placement, reflecting the orderly and generous nature of God's provision. The "people" (ὄχλῳ, ochlō) represent the multitude, symbolizing the inclusivity of God's kingdom, where all are invited to partake in His abundance. This act of setting the food before the crowd is a testament to God's ability to meet the needs of His people, both physically and spiritually, through the obedience and service of His followers.

Verse 16. - Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. The blessing was the usual introduction of a pious Jewish family to a meal. It was pronounced by the head of the household. An ordinary formula was, "May God, the Ever-blessed One, bless what he has given us!" The Jewish barley loaves were broad, thin cakes; these were usually broken, not out - hence the expression, "and brake." In SS. Mark and Luke the tense of the verb rendered "gave," in the original Greek, is an imperfect, and signifies, "he gave, and kept on giving." This supplies a hint as to the way of working the miracle. Each disciple kept coming to him for a fresh supply of bread. It was, however, as it has been well said, a miracle of the highest order, one of creative power, and is to us inconceivable. The evangelists make no attempt to explain it. They evidently did not care to ask. They beheld it, and related it to us just as they saw it in its simple grandeur. Neither disciples nor crowds seem at first to have grasped the stupendous nature of the act. St. John tells us of its effect on the crowds, who, when they came to see what had been done, wished to take him by force and make him king. For a brief space they were convinced that in the poor Galilee Rabbi they had found King Messiah - none but he could have done this great thing. They were right.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Taking
Λαβὼν (Labōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

the
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

five
πέντε (pente)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4002: Five. A primary number; 'five'.

loaves
ἄρτους (artous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 740: Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

two
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

fish
ἰχθύας (ichthyas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2486: A fish. Of uncertain affinity; a fish.

[and] looking up
ἀναβλέψας (anablepsas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 308: To look up, recover my sight. From ana and blepo; to look up; by implication, to recover sight.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

heaven,
οὐρανὸν (ouranon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

[Jesus] spoke a blessing
εὐλόγησεν (eulogēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2127: (lit: I speak well of) I bless; pass: I am blessed. From a compound of eu and logos; to speak well of, i.e. to bless.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

broke
κατέκλασεν (kateklasen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2622: To break in pieces, break up. From kata and klao; to break down, i.e. Divide.

them.
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

Then
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

He gave [them]
ἐδίδου (edidou)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

to the
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

disciples
μαθηταῖς (mathētais)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

to set before
παραθεῖναι (paratheinai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 3908: From para and tithemi; to place alongside, i.e. Present; by implication, to deposit.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

people.
ὄχλῳ (ochlō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.


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Luke 9:15
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