They all ate
This phrase signifies the inclusivity and completeness of the miracle. The Greek word for "ate" is "ἔφαγον" (ephagon), which is a common term for eating but here implies a communal sharing of sustenance provided by Jesus. Historically, meals in Jewish culture were significant for fellowship and community. This act of eating together symbolizes the unity and provision found in Christ, who meets the needs of all who come to Him.

and were satisfied
The Greek word "ἐχορτάσθησαν" (echortasthēsan) means to be filled or satisfied, often used in the context of being fully content after a meal. This satisfaction is not merely physical but also spiritual, reflecting the deeper fulfillment that Jesus provides. In a historical context, food scarcity was common, and the ability to eat until satisfied was a rare blessing, underscoring the miraculous nature of this event.

and the disciples picked up
The act of the disciples gathering the leftovers is significant. The Greek "συνήγαγον" (synēgagon) means to gather together, indicating a purposeful collection. This reflects the role of the disciples as stewards of Jesus' ministry, responsible for managing and distributing His blessings. It also serves as a lesson in stewardship and gratitude, ensuring that nothing is wasted.

twelve basketfuls
The number twelve is symbolically significant in the Bible, often representing the twelve tribes of Israel or the twelve apostles. The Greek word for basketfuls, "κοφίνους" (kophinous), refers to a specific type of basket used by Jews, indicating a cultural context. This abundance signifies God's provision for His people and the completeness of His care, as well as the continuation of His covenant with Israel through Jesus.

of broken pieces
The "broken pieces" or "κλασμάτων" (klasmatōn) in Greek, emphasize the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fish. In a spiritual sense, it reflects how Jesus takes what is broken and multiplies it for His purposes. This can be seen as a metaphor for how God uses our brokenness to bring about His glory and fulfill His plans.

that were left over
The phrase "left over" or "περισσεύσαντα" (perisseusanta) indicates an abundance beyond immediate need. This surplus is a testament to God's generosity and the overflowing nature of His blessings. In a scriptural context, it reminds believers of the principle that God provides not just enough, but more than enough, encouraging trust in His provision and care.

(17) Twelve baskets.--See Note on Matthew 14:20.

Verse 17. - And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them, twelve baskets. A very impressive lesson from the Creator himself against waste or extravagance. St. John expressly tells us that this order to gather up the fragments of their meal emanated from Jesus himself. Carefulness, thrift, and economy in small things as in great, form part of the teaching of the loving Master. From such passages as Mark 6:37 and John 13:29, it seems probable that the disciples, acting under their Master's direction, were in the habit of distributing, out of their comparative abundance, food to those persons in the villages who were poorer than themselves. It was, no doubt, for some such hallowed object as this that the careful collection of the fragments which filled twelve baskets was made. The "baskets" (cophinus) were usually carried by travelling Jews to keep their food from contracting Levitical pollution in Gentile places. Juvenal, in a well-known passage ('Sat.,' 3:14), writes of the Jews travelling about Italy with no baggage save a little bundle of hay to serve as a pillow, and this cophinus, or basket, for their food. So abundant had been the provision created by Jesus, that the fragments collected far exceeded the original stock of food which the disciples gave to Jesus to bless, to break, and to distribute among the five thousand and upward who were fed that memorable afternoon. This miracle is the only one in the entire Galilaean ministry which is told by all the four evangelists. It evidently had a very prominent place in the teaching of the first days. Rationalizing interpretation in the case of this miracle is singularly at fault. After eighteen centuries of unremitting hostility to the teaching of Jesus Christ, not even a plausible explanation of this miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes has been found by adverse critics. In our own days, Renan, following the ancient interpretation of Paulus, simply suggests that the multitudes were fed by materials provided by themselves. "Every one took his little store of provision from his wallet; they lived on very little" - an explanation, as it has been happily termed, "ludicrously inadequate." After the relation of the great miracle of feeding the five thousand, St. Luke omits in his Gospel a variety of incidents and several discourses told at greater or lesser length by the other evangelists. For instance, the reverential amazement of the people when the nature of the stupendous miracle in connection with the creation of the loaves and fishes flashed upon them, - they wished to recognize him as King Messiah; the walking on the sea; the long and important discourse on the true Bread at Capernaum, the text of which was the late great miracle of the loaves; the journey among the heathen as far as Tyre and Sidon; the meeting with the Syro-phoenician woman; the feeding of the four thousand, etc. These incidents are related in Matthew 14-16:12; Mark 6:45 - 8:80; John 6. No commentator has satisfactorily explained the reason of this omission of important portions of our Lord's public ministry. The reason for St. Luke's action here probably will never be guessed. We must, however, in all theories which we may form of the composition of these Gospels, never lose sight of this fact, that while SS. Matthew and Peter (Mark) were eyewitnesses of the events of the life, St. Luke, and his master, Paul, simply reproduced what they had heard or read. We may, therefore, suppose that St. Luke exercised larger discretionary powers in dealing with materials derived from others than the other two, who desired, no doubt, to reproduce a fairly general summary of their Divine Master's acts. On such a theory of composition, a gap in the story like the one we are now alluding to, in the more eclectic Gospel of St. Luke, would seem scarcely possible in the first two Gospels. We, of course, make no allusion here to the Fourth Gospel; the whole plan and design of St. John was different to that upon which the first three were modelled.

Parallel Commentaries ...


They all ate
ἔφαγον (ephagon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5315: A primary verb; to eat.

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

were satisfied,
ἐχορτάσθησαν (echortasthēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5526: To feed, satisfy, fatten. From chortos; to fodder, i.e. to gorge.

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

[the disciples]
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 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.

picked up
ἤρθη (ērthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 142: To raise, lift up, take away, remove.

twelve
δώδεκα (dōdeka)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1427: Twelve; the usual way in which the Twelve apostles of Jesus are referred to. From duo and deka; two and ten, i.e. A dozen.

basketfuls
κόφινοι (kophinoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2894: A large basket. Of uncertain derivation; a basket.

of broken pieces
κλασμάτων (klasmatōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 2801: A fragment, broken piece. From klao; a piece.

that were left over.
περισσεῦσαν (perisseusan)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4052: From perissos; to superabound, be in excess, be superfluous; also to cause to superabound or excel.


Luke 9:17 NIV
Luke 9:17 NLT
Luke 9:17 ESV
Luke 9:17 NASB
Luke 9:17 KJV

Luke 9:17 BibleApps.com
Luke 9:17 Biblia Paralela
Luke 9:17 Chinese Bible
Luke 9:17 French Bible
Luke 9:17 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Luke 9:17 They ate and were all filled (Luke Lu Lk)