And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

MATTHEW 15:38KJV
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Matthew 15:38 (KJV)

What does Matthew 15:38 mean?

Matthew 15:38 states that four thousand men ate, not counting the women and children present. This verse highlights the large number of people who were fed during this event, emphasizing that the total crowd was even bigger than the number given.

In this part of Matthew, Jesus has just performed a miracle by feeding a huge crowd with a small amount of food. The verse is a summary statement, making it clear that the figure of four thousand refers only to the men, while many more women and children were also there. This detail helps the reader grasp the scale of the miracle and the size of the crowd Jesus cared for.

The Greek behind Matthew 15:38

  • ἄνδρες (andres, G435): This word means "men," specifically adult males. By using this term, the verse distinguishes the counted group from women (γυναῖκες, gynaikes) and children (παιδία, paidia), showing that the total number fed was much larger than four thousand.
  • χωρὶς (chōris, G5565): This word is often translated as "beside" or "apart from." Here, it clarifies that the count of four thousand does not include women and children, underlining that the crowd was significantly larger.

Why Matthew 15:38 matters

  • Matthew 15:38 clears up a common misunderstanding that only four thousand people were present; in fact, the total number was much higher when including women and children.
  • The verse emphasizes the scale of Jesus’ miracle, showing that his provision reached far more people than the number first suggests.
  • This detail connects to the broader narrative, as it mirrors a similar miracle (the feeding of the five thousand) and highlights Jesus’ compassion and ability to meet the needs of large crowds.

Where else these words appear

“thousand” Greek G5070 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 16:10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
  • Mark 8:9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
  • Mark 8:20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

“beside” Greek G5565 · used in 37 verses

  • Matthew 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
  • Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
  • Hebrews 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

“children” Greek G3813 · used in 48 verses

  • Matthew 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
  • Mark 5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
  • Luke 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

“eat” Greek G2068 · used in 55 verses

  • Matthew 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
  • Mark 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
  • 1 Corinthians 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.