Jesus Heals Many and Feeds the Four Thousand
Matthew 15:29-39
Matt.15.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- μεταβας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- εκειθεν: ADV
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- παρα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- θαλασσαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- Γαλιλαιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- αναβας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ορος: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εκαθητο: VERB,impf,mp,ind,3,sg
- εκει: ADV
Parallels
- Mark 7:31-37 (structural): Narrative parallel: Jesus' movement into the region bordering the Sea of Galilee/Decapolis and a sequence of healings—Mark recounts a similar travel-and-healing episode corresponding to Matthew 15:29–31.
- Matthew 5:1 (verbal): Verbal/structural parallel: identical phrasing of Jesus 'going up into the mountain' and 'sitting down,' a formula that introduces significant teaching or ministry scenes (here the Sermon on the Mount).
- Matthew 14:14 (thematic): Thematic parallel: depicts Jesus' compassion and the healing of large crowds—Matthew 14:14 parallels the motif in 15:29–31 of public healings following his movement to a place by the sea.
- John 6:3 (verbal): Verbal/structural parallel: John similarly describes Jesus 'going up into a mountain' and sitting with his disciples before a major public provision/healing episode (the feeding of the 5,000), echoing the setting language of Matthew 15:29.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Jesus went on from there and walked along the Sea of Galilee; and he went up on the mountain and sat down.
- And Jesus, moving on from there, walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He went up on the mountain and sat down there.
Matt.15.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- προσηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- οχλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- πολλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εχοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- μεθ᾽εαυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,m
- κωφους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- τυφλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- χωλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- κυλλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ετερους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- πολλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ερριψαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- παρα: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ποδας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- και: CONJ
- εθεραπευσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτους·: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 7:31-37 (verbal): Very close parallel narrative: Jesus brings out people with hearing and speech defects (deaf, mute), places/freedom to heal, and heals them; similar list of ailments and the miraculous healings in the same pericope (Mark's account of the same healing activity).
- Matt.4:23 (thematic): Summary statement of Jesus' ministry: he went about teaching and 'healing every disease and every sickness'—a thematic parallel emphasizing widespread healing of many kinds like Matthew 15:30.
- Matt.9:35 (thematic): Another summary of Jesus' mission: he went through cities and villages, preaching and 'healing every disease and every infirmity,' matching the motif of large crowds and numerous healings.
- Luke 6:17-19 (structural): Luke's scene of a large crowd bringing those with various infirmities to Jesus, who healed them all; structurally parallel in crowd action, diversity of ailments, and mass healings.
- Acts 10:38 (allusion): Peter's summary of Jesus' ministry as one 'who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil'—an early Christian theological summary alluding to passages like Matthew 15:30 describing broad healing activity.
Alternative generated candidates
- Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the mute, those with crippled limbs, and many others; and they laid them before him, and he healed them.
- Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the mute, the crippled, and many others; they laid them at his feet, and he healed them.
Matt.15.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ωστε: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οχλον: NOUN,acc,sg,masc
- θαυμασαι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- βλεποντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- κωφους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- λαλουντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- κυλλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- υγιεις: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- χωλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- περιπατουντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- τυφλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- βλεποντας·και: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- εδοξασαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- Ισραηλ: PROPN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 7:37 (verbal): Parallel account of the same episode; reports the crowd’s amazement at the healing of the deaf, mute, lame, and blind with very similar wording.
- Matt.9:33 (verbal): Another Matthean report of Jesus making the mute speak and the crowd marveling—shared language and miracle motif (mute speaking, popular amazement).
- Matt.11:5 (thematic): Jesus summarizes his messianic signs—'the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the dead are raised'—which echoes the catalogue of healings in 15:31 as proof of divine action.
- Luke 7:22 (thematic): Parallel to Matt.11:5; lists the same kinds of miraculous restorations (blind, lame, lepers cleansed, deaf, dead raised) and frames them as confirming Jesus’ messianic identity, resonating with the reaction in 15:31.
- Isaiah 35:5–6 (allusion): Prophetic promise that 'the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped, the lame shall leap like a deer'—background prophecy to which the Gospel’s catalog of healings (and the crowd’s glorifying God) alludes.
Alternative generated candidates
- So the crowds were astonished when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made whole, the lame walking, the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
- The crowd marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
Matt.15.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- προσκαλεσαμενος: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- μαθητας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- ειπεν·Σπλαγχνιζομαι: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- επι: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οχλον: NOUN,acc,sg,masc
- οτι: CONJ
- ηδη: ADV
- ημεραι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- τρεις: NUM,acc,pl,f
- προσμενουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART
- εχουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- τι: ADV
- φαγωσιν·και: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- απολυσαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- νηστεις: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- ου: PART
- θελω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- μηποτε: PART
- εκλυθωσιν: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- οδω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 8:1-10 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel: Jesus expresses compassion, cites that the crowd has been with him three days and has nothing to eat, and then feeds them (feeding of the 4,000).
- Matthew 14:13-21 (thematic): Earlier Matthean feeding miracle (feeding of the 5,000): same theme of Jesus' compassion for a crowd and miraculous provision of food to prevent them leaving hungry.
- Luke 9:11-17 (thematic): Lucan account of the feeding of the 5,000: parallels in compassion, crowding, and miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes to feed a large multitude.
- 2 Kings 4:42-44 (allusion): Elisha's multiplication of loaves to feed a multitude echoes the prophetic/Israelite tradition of miraculous provision that Jesus fulfills in the feedings.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Jesus called his disciples and said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me three days and have nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."
- Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me three days and have nothing to eat; and I will not send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.'
Matt.15.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- λεγουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται·Ποθεν: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- εν: PREP
- ερημια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αρτοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- τοσουτοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- ωστε: CONJ
- χορτασαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- οχλον: NOUN,acc,sg,masc
- τοσουτον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Matt.14:16 (verbal): In the feeding of the 5,000 the disciples likewise protest, ‘Where shall we get so much bread in the wilderness?’ — nearly identical concern and wording.
- Mark 8:4 (verbal): Parallel to Matthew 15:33 in the feeding of the 4,000: Mark records the disciples’ similar question about where to find enough bread in the wilderness.
- John 6:5-9 (thematic): In John’s account Jesus asks where to buy bread; Philip replies that two hundred denarii would not suffice — the same practical doubt about feeding a large crowd is highlighted.
- Exodus 16 (allusion): God’s provision of manna for Israel in the wilderness serves as an Old Testament background to Jesus’ miraculous provision of bread for the crowds.
Alternative generated candidates
- The disciples said to him, "Where would we get so many loaves in the wilderness as to satisfy such a crowd?"
- The disciples said to him, 'Where would we get so many loaves in a wilderness as to feed such a great crowd?'
Matt.15.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Ποσους: NOUN,nom,sg,m+PRON,acc,pl,m
- αρτους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εχετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- ειπαν·Επτα: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl+NUM,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ολιγα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- ιχθυδια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- Mark 8:5 (verbal): Direct parallel to Matthew 15:34 in the feeding of the four thousand — Jesus asks how many loaves they have and they answer seven and a few fish; near-verbatim correspondence in Mark's account.
- Mark 6:38 (verbal): Parallel in the feeding of the five thousand: Jesus asks how many loaves they have and the disciples report the small quantity (five loaves and two fish), a very similar question-and-answer pattern.
- Matthew 14:17 (verbal): Within Matthew's account of the feeding of the five thousand Jesus asks the same practical question ('How many loaves have you?') and receives the limited supply (five loaves and two fish), echoing the form of 15:34.
- John 6:9 (thematic): In John’s feeding narrative a boy is noted as having five barley loaves and two fish — parallels the motif of a small, identified supply of loaves and fish used by Jesus to feed a multitude.
Alternative generated candidates
- He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."
- And Jesus asked them, 'How many loaves do you have?' They said, 'Seven, and a few small fish.'
Matt.15.35 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- παραγγειλας: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- οχλω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αναπεσειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 14:19 (verbal): In the feeding of the 5,000 Jesus similarly commands the crowd to sit on the grass (similar verb and construction: παραγγείλας … ἀναπεσεῖν), a close verbal parallel.
- Mark 6:39 (verbal): Mark's account of the 5,000 uses nearly identical wording for ordering the crowd to sit on the ground/grass (ἐπέταξεν/παραγγείλας … ἀναπεσεῖν ἐπὶ τὸν χόρτον).
- Mark 8:6 (verbal): In Mark's narration of the feeding of the 4,000 Jesus again commands the crowd to sit on the ground, mirroring Matthew 15:35 in wording and action.
- Luke 9:12-17 (structural): Luke's feeding of the 5,000 forms a structural parallel: Jesus arranges the people to sit and then distributes loaves and fishes, matching the sequence and function of the command in Matthew 15:35.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he commanded the crowds to sit down on the ground.
- He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves and the fish, he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
Matt.15.36 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ελαβεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl
- αρτους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ιχθυας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ευχαριστησας: VERB,aor,act,ptcp,nom,sg,m
- εκλασεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εδιδου: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- μαθηταις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- οχλοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Matt.14.19 (structural): Feeding miracle of the 5,000: Jesus takes the loaves, gives thanks/blesses, breaks them, and gives them to the disciples to distribute—same sequence as 15:36.
- Mark 6:41 (verbal): Parallel account of the 5,000 with nearly identical wording (took the loaves, gave thanks, broke them, and gave to the disciples).
- John 6:11 (verbal): John’s report of the feeding (took the loaves, gave thanks, distributed) echoes the same verbs and liturgical action.
- Mark 8:6 (verbal): Parallel to Matthew 15:36 (feeding of the 4,000): explicitly mentions seven loaves and the same sequence—took, gave thanks, broke, gave to disciples.
- Luke 9:16 (structural): Luke’s account of the 5,000 follows the same narrative pattern (taking the loaves, blessing/thanksgiving, breaking, distribution) and thus parallels Matthew 15:36 thematically and structurally.
Alternative generated candidates
- He took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
- They all ate and were satisfied; and they gathered up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that remained.
Matt.15.37 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εφαγον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εχορτασθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- περισσευον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- κλασματων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- ηραν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl
- σπυριδας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- πληρεις: ADJ,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 8:8 (verbal): Direct parallel account of the feeding of the 4,000 — same detail that all ate, were satisfied, and seven baskets of fragments were collected.
- Matthew 14:20 (verbal): Feeding of the 5,000 uses nearly identical language (they all ate and were satisfied) and also describes collecting leftover fragments into baskets (twelve baskets).
- John 6:12-13 (thematic): John’s feeding of the 5,000 likewise emphasizes that everyone was filled and the disciples gathered the remaining fragments so nothing was lost, highlighting the motif of miraculous provision and leftovers.
- Luke 9:17 (structural): Luke’s parallel to the feeding of the 5,000 repeats the formulaic summary (‘they all ate and were satisfied’) and the collection of leftover baskets, mirroring Matthew’s narrative structure.
Alternative generated candidates
- They all ate and were satisfied; and they gathered up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that remained.
- Those who ate were about four thousand men, besides women and children.
Matt.15.38 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- εσθιοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- τετρακισχιλιοι: NUM,nom,pl,m
- ανδρες: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- χωρις: PREP
- γυναικων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- παιδιων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
Parallels
- Mark 8:9 (verbal): Direct Synoptic parallel to Matthew 15:38: reports the feeding of the four thousand and the dismissal, using similar wording about the number fed ('four thousand').
- Matthew 14:21 (thematic): Earlier Matthean feeding miracle (the 5,000) that similarly counts 'men, besides women and children,' highlighting the motif of large crowds fed by Jesus and the formulaic population note.
- Mark 6:44 (verbal): Parallel account to Matthew 14:21 in Mark’s Gospel; gives the numerical detail for the feeding of the 5,000 and the same phrasing 'besides women and children,' providing a verbal and narrative analogue to Matt.15:38.
- John 6:10 (structural): John’s account of the feeding (of the 5,000) describes the distribution to the crowds and the counting/placement of people, offering a structural parallel in how the evangelists report the crowd and the feeding miracle.
Alternative generated candidates
- Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
- And he sent the crowds away.
Matt.15.39 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- απολυσας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- οχλους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- ενεβη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- πλοιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- ηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- ορια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- Μαγαδαν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 8:10 (verbal): Direct gospel parallel to Matthew 15:39—after feeding the crowd Jesus immediately gets into a boat and goes to a nearby district (Mark names Dalmanutha), mirroring the same sequence and movement.
- Mark 6:45 (structural): After the feeding of the 5,000 Mark records Jesus sending the multitudes away and compelling the disciples into the boat to cross to the other side—same narrative pattern of dismissing crowds and crossing by boat.
- Matthew 14:22–34 (thematic): In the earlier Matthew feeding episode Jesus sends the crowds away, instructs the disciples to embark, and crosses the sea (followed by the walk on the water and arrival at Gennesaret)—a recurring Matthean pattern of dismissal and boat travel.
- Luke 9:10 (thematic): Luke describes Jesus withdrawing with the disciples to a secluded place and the crowds following, culminating in teaching and feeding—parallels the theme of dismissal/withdrawal and movement between regions after large public ministry episodes.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he sent the crowds away, and went up into the boat and came to the region of Magadan.
- Then he got into the boat and went away to the district of Magadan.
Then Jesus went on from there and walked by the Sea of Galilee. He went up on the mountain and sat down. And great multitudes came to him, bringing with them those who were lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at his feet, and he healed them. So the multitudes marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away fasting, lest they faint on the way.' And the disciples said to him, 'Where would we get so many loaves in a wilderness as to satisfy such a great multitude?' And Jesus said to them, 'How many loaves do you have?' They said, 'Seven, and a few small fish.' And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish; and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples to the crowd. And they ate and were filled; and they took up seven baskets of the broken pieces that remained. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And he sent away the crowds, and having entered the boat he went away to the district of Magadan.