Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

MATTHEW 16:10KJV
Know the Bible

Matthew 16:10 (KJV)

What does Matthew 16:10 mean?

In Matthew 16:10, Jesus asks his disciples to recall the food left over after he fed four thousand people with seven loaves. His question challenges their worry about having too little bread. They had already seen a large crowd fed from a small supply.

The question continues from verse 9, where Jesus recalls feeding a different crowd. The baskets picture the food collected after everyone had eaten. In the earlier account of this meal, the disciples gathered seven baskets of leftovers (Matthew 15:37).

The Greek behind Matthew 16:10

  • “baskets” — σπυρίς (spyris): The word refers to a basket or hamper. Matthew uses this word for the containers collected after the meal for the four thousand, while the account of the other crowd uses a different word for its baskets.

Why Matthew 16:10 matters

  • Jesus is asking the disciples to remember the amount left over, not just the number of people fed. His question, “how many baskets ye took up?” draws their attention to what they collected afterward.
  • The question helps clear up the disciples’ misunderstanding about Jesus’ warning about “leaven,” a substance used to make bread rise. They thought he meant they had forgotten bread, but Matthew later explains that he was warning them about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:7, 11–12).

Where else these words appear

“thousand” Greek G5070 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 15:38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
  • 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.

“baskets” Greek G4711 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 15:37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
  • Mark 8:8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
  • Mark 8:20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

“many” Greek G4214 · used in 27 verses

  • Matthew 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
  • Mark 8:5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
  • Luke 16:5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

“seven” Greek G2033 · used in 63 verses

  • Matthew 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
  • Luke 20:31 And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
  • Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.