But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.
LUKE 9:13KJVWhat does Luke 9:13 mean?
Luke 9:13 shows Jesus telling his disciples to give food to the crowd, but the disciples respond that they only have five loaves of bread and two fish, unless they go and buy food for everyone. The verse highlights the disciples' sense of limitation and their uncertainty about how to meet the needs of so many people.
In this scene, Jesus is speaking directly to his disciples as a large crowd gathers around them. The disciples are aware of the crowd’s hunger and their own lack of resources. This moment sets up the well-known miracle where Jesus multiplies the food, but here, the focus is on the disciples’ practical concerns and their honest reply about what they have on hand.
The Greek behind Luke 9:13
- The word "Give" (δότε, dote) is a direct command from Jesus, emphasizing that he expects the disciples themselves to take action, not just look to him for a solution.
- The phrase "We have no more but" (οὐκ εἰσὶν ἡμῖν πλείονα ἢ, ouk eisin hēmin pleiona ē) shows the disciples’ emphasis on their limited resources, highlighting their practical mindset and the apparent impossibility of the task.
- "Loaves" (ἄρτους, artous) and "fishes" (ἰχθύας, ichthyas) are ordinary, everyday foods, underlining how little the disciples have to offer compared to the size of the crowd.
Why Luke 9:13 matters
- This verse helps clear up the idea that the disciples were always confident or full of faith; here, they are clearly unsure and focused on their lack.
- It emphasizes the contrast between human limitation and what Jesus is about to do, setting the stage for the miracle that follows.
- Luke 9:13 connects to the wider passage by showing the disciples’ involvement and responsibility, not just as bystanders but as participants in Jesus’ ministry.