Luke 9:14
For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The requirement to sit in organized groups echoes Israel in the wilderness, when Moses organized the people in groups for judicial matters (Exodus 18:21, 25: "rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens"). Mark 6:39 notes they sat on "green grass," indicating springtime near Passover (John 6:4)—one year before Jesus's crucifixion. The crowd's organization allowed the disciples to serve systematically and ensured all were fed. This orderliness also enabled witnesses to testify accurately to the miracle's extent.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does Jesus organize the crowd before performing the miracle, and what does this teach about God's orderly character?
- How does the specification of 5,000 men (plus women and children) emphasize both the miracle's magnitude and the testimony's reliability?
- In what ways does Jesus involve the disciples in the miracle rather than acting independently, and what does this model for ministry?
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Analysis & Commentary
For they were about five thousand men (ἦσαν γὰρ ὡσεὶ ἄνδρες πεντακισχίλιοι, ēsan gar hōsei andres pentakischilioi)—The Greek andres specifically means adult males, not just "people." Matthew 14:21 clarifies: "beside women and children." The total crowd could have been 10,000-15,000. This detail emphasizes the magnitude of the miracle—not feeding a small group but thousands with five loaves and two fish.
And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company (εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ· Κατακλίνατε αὐτοὺς κλισίας ὡσεὶ ἀνὰ πεντήκοντα, eipen de pros tous mathētas autou: Kataklinate autous klisias hōsei ana pentēkonta)—Jesus organizes the crowd systematically. The word klisias ("groups, companies") suggests orderly arrangement. Mark 6:40 adds they sat in groups of hundreds and fifties, creating a pattern that facilitated distribution and verified the count. This organization demonstrates that Jesus's miracles aren't chaotic but orderly, reflecting the character of the God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33). It also involves the disciples actively in the miracle's unfolding.