Luke 9:14
 Luke 9:14 
New International Version (©2011)
(About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

New Living Translation (©2007)
For there were about 5,000 men there. Jesus replied, "Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each."

English Standard Version (©2001)
For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
(For there were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, "Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
(For about 5,000 men were there.) Then He told His disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50 each."

International Standard Version (©2012)
Now there were about 5,000 men. So he told his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50."

NET Bible (©2006)
(Now about five thousand men were there.) Then he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
For there were about five thousand men, and Yeshua said, “Make them recline by groups of fifty men in a group.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
(There were about five thousand men.) Then he told his disciples, "Have them sit in groups of about fifty."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in companies.

American King James Version
For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

American Standard Version
For they were about five thousand men. And he said unto his disciples, Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples: Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

Darby Bible Translation
for they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down in companies by fifties.

English Revised Version
For they were about five thousand men. And he said unto his disciples, Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each.

Webster's Bible Translation
For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

Weymouth New Testament
But He said to His disciples, "Make them sit down in parties of about fifty each."

World English Bible
For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

Young's Literal Translation
for they were about five thousand men. And he said unto his disciples, 'Cause them to recline in companies, in each fifty;'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:10-17 The people followed Jesus, and though they came unseasonably, yet he gave them what they came for. He spake unto them of the kingdom of God. He healed those who had need of healing. And with five loaves of bread and two fishes, Christ fed five thousand men. He will not see those that fear him, and serve him faithfully, want any good thing. When we receive creature-comforts, we must acknowledge that we receive them from God, and that we are unworthy to receive them; that we owe them all, and all the comfort we have in them, to the mediation of Christ, by whom the curse is taken away. The blessing of Christ will make a little go a great way. He fills every hungry soul, abundantly satisfies it with the goodness of his house. Here were fragments taken up: in our Father's house there is bread enough, and to spare. We are not straitened, nor stinted in Christ.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - They were about five thousand men. St. Matthew adds, "besides women and children." The multitude generally had come from a considerable distance, we know; there would not be, comparatively speaking, many women and children among them. These were grouped together apart, and, of course, fed, but were not counted among the five thousand. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. "Jesus has no sooner ascertained that there are five loaves and two fishes, than he is satisfied. He commands them to make the multitude sit down. Just as though he had said, 'I have what I want; the meal is ready; let them be seated!' But he takes care that his banquet shall be conducted with an order worthy of the God who gives it. Everything must be calm and solemn; it is a kind of Passover meal. By the help of the apostles, he seats his guests in rows of fifty each (St.. Matthew), or in double rows of fifty, by hundreds (Mark). This orderly arrangement allowed of the guests being easily counted. St. Mark describes in a dramatic manner the striking spectacle presented by these regularly formed companies, each consisting of two equal ranks, and all arranged upon the slope of the hill. The pastures at that time were in all their spring glory. SS. John and Mark both bring forward the beauty of this natural carpet. 'Much grass' (St. John); 'on the green grass' (St. Mark)" (Godet). St. Mark's vivid picturesque details show the observant eve-witness. The words rendered "in ranks" ("they sat down in ranks") literally mean they were like flower-beds set in the green grass. The bright-coloured Eastern robes of these men, as they sat in long rows, suggested the happy comparison.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For they were about five thousand men,.... Beside women and children, Matthew 14:21,

and he said to his disciples, make them to sit down by fifties in a company; and by hundreds also; some companies had a hundred apiece in them, and others fifty; and which was done partly, for the more easy numbering of them, and partly and chiefly for the more convenient distribution of food to them; See Gill on Mark 6:39. See Gill on Mark 6:40.


Luke 9:14 Parallel Commentaries

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The Feeding of the Five Thousand
13But he said to them, Give you 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. 14For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. 15And they did so, and made them all sit down. …

Mark 6:39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
Luke 9:13 He replied, "You give them something to eat." They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish--unless we go and buy food for all this crowd."
Luke 9:15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down.