In biblical literature, the term "fragments" often refers to the remnants or leftover pieces of food, particularly in the context of miraculous events. The concept of fragments is most prominently featured in the New Testament, specifically in the accounts of Jesus' miraculous feedings of the multitudes.

Miraculous Feedings

The feeding of the 5,000 is one of the most well-known miracles involving fragments. In this event, Jesus feeds a large crowd with only five loaves of bread and two fish. After everyone had eaten and was satisfied, the disciples collected the leftovers. According to the Gospel of John, "So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten" (John 6:13). This gathering of fragments underscores the abundance of God's provision and the importance of stewardship, as nothing was wasted.

Similarly, in the feeding of the 4,000, Jesus again multiplies a small amount of food to feed a multitude. Afterward, the disciples collected seven baskets full of leftover fragments (Matthew 15:37). This miracle, like the feeding of the 5,000, highlights Jesus' compassion and divine authority, as well as the sufficiency of God's provision.

Symbolism and Significance

The collection of fragments in these narratives carries deep symbolic meaning. The act of gathering the leftovers signifies the completeness and perfection of God's work. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of gratitude and the responsible use of resources. The number of baskets collected—twelve in the feeding of the 5,000 and seven in the feeding of the 4,000—may also hold symbolic significance, representing the twelve tribes of Israel and the idea of spiritual completeness, respectively.

Old Testament Context

While the New Testament provides the most direct references to fragments in the context of miraculous feedings, the Old Testament also contains instances where remnants or leftovers play a role. For example, in the account of Elisha, a man brings twenty loaves of barley bread, and Elisha instructs his servant to give it to the people to eat. Despite the servant's doubts, the bread is sufficient to feed a hundred men, with leftovers remaining (2 Kings 4:42-44). This event foreshadows the miraculous feedings of Jesus and emphasizes God's ability to provide abundantly.

Theological Implications

The concept of fragments in the Bible invites reflection on God's providence and the believer's response to divine generosity. It challenges Christians to trust in God's ability to meet their needs and to be mindful stewards of the resources they are given. The gathering of fragments also serves as a metaphor for the spiritual nourishment that Christ provides, which is more than sufficient to satisfy the deepest needs of the human soul.

In summary, the biblical theme of fragments, particularly in the context of Jesus' miracles, illustrates the abundance of God's provision, the importance of stewardship, and the spiritual completeness found in Christ.4486. rhegnumi -- to break apart, by ext. to throw down
... sunder (by separation of the parts; katagnumi being its intensive (with the preposition
in composition), and thrauo a shattering to minute fragments; but not a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4486.htm - 7k

2801. klasma -- a broken piece
... piece. Word Origin from klao Definition a broken piece NASB Word Usage
broken pieces (7), fragments (2). broken, fragment. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2801.htm - 6k

4386. mekittah -- something crushed or pulverized, crushed ...
... mekittah. 4387 . something crushed or pulverized, crushed fragments. Transliteration:
mekittah Phonetic Spelling: (mek-it-taw') Short Definition: pieces. ...
/hebrew/4386.htm - 6k

6604b. pathoth -- a fragment, bit, morsel (of bread)
... 6604a, 6604b. pathoth. 6605 . a fragment, bit, morsel (of bread).
Transliteration: pathoth Short Definition: fragments. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6604b.htm - 5k

2789. cheres -- earthenware, earthen vessel, sherd, potsherd
... potsherd NASB Word Usage earthen (1), earthen vessel (1), earthenware (8), earthenware
vessel (1), earthenware vessel the vessels (1), fragments (1), potsherd ...
/hebrew/2789.htm - 6k

6595. path -- fragment, bit, morsel
... Word Origin from pathath Definition fragment, bit, morsel NASB Word Usage bits
(1), bread (1), fragments (1), morsel (3), piece (6), piece of bread (1), pieces ...
/hebrew/6595.htm - 6k

1233. beqia -- fissure, breach
... Word Origin from baqa Definition fissure, breach NASB Word Usage breaches (1),
fragments (1). breach, cleft. From baqa'; a fissure -- breach, cleft. ...
/hebrew/1233.htm - 6k

The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus
The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus. <. The Extant Works and
Fragments of Hippolytus Hippolytus. Translated by the Rev. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/hippolytus/the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/

The Writings of Methodius: Fragments
The Writings of Methodius: Fragments. <. The Writings of Methodius: Fragments
Methodius. Translated by the Rev. William R. Clark, MA, Vicar of St. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/methodius/the writings of methodius fragments/

Fragments from the Lost Writings of Iren??us
Fragments from the Lost Writings of Iren??us. <. Fragments from the Lost
Writings of Iren??us Iren??us. Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/irenaeus/fragments from the lost writings of irenaeus/

Fragments.
... Fragments. I. In his treatise, Concerning Perfection according to the Saviour,
he writes, "Consent indeed fits for prayer, but fellowship ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tatian/tatians address to the greeks/fragments.htm

Fragments of Papias
Fragments of Papias. <. Fragments of Papias Papias. Table of Contents.
Title Page. Introductory Note to the Fragments of Papias. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/papias/fragments of papias/

Fragments from the Lost Writings of Justin
Fragments from the Lost Writings of Justin. <. Fragments from the Lost
Writings of Justin Justin Martyr. Translated by the Rev. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/

Fragments of Caius
Fragments of Caius. <. Fragments of Caius Caius. Translated by
the Rev. SDF Salmond, MA Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/caius/fragments of caius/

Fragments of the Lost Work of Justin on the Resurrection
Fragments of the Lost Work of Justin on the Resurrection. <. Fragments
of the Lost Work of Justin on the Resurrection Justin Martyr. ...
/.../justin/fragments of the lost work of justin on the resurrection/

Fragments of Lactantius
... Fragments of Lactantius. I. Fear, love, joy, sadness, lust, eager desire,
anger, pity, emulation, admiration,"these motions or ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/fragments of lactantius.htm

'Fragments' or 'Broken Pieces'
... 'FRAGMENTS' OR 'BROKEN PIECES'. 'When they were filled, He said unto His disciples,
Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.'"John 6:12. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/fragments or broken pieces.htm

Fragments (17 Occurrences)
...Fragments (17 Occurrences). Matthew 14:20 And they did all eat, and were filled:
and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. ...
/f/fragments.htm - 11k

Coptic
... Only a few fragments in it (of Exodus, Ecclesiastes, 2 Maccabees, the Minor
Prophets, and Catholic epistles) have yet been found. ...
/c/coptic.htm - 11k

Separate (115 Occurrences)
... from Paul's conflict with the wild beasts to the credibility of the story of Daniel
in the lions' den.) 2. Contents: Of the Acts of Paul only fragments remain. ...
/s/separate.htm - 71k

Text (5 Occurrences)
... " I. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE FOR THE TEXT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 1. Autographs of the
New Testament Writers 2. Papyrus Fragments of the Greek New Testament 3. Greek ...
/t/text.htm - 73k

Manuscripts
... " I. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE FOR THE TEXT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 1. Autographs of the
New Testament Writers 2. Papyrus Fragments of the Greek New Testament 3. Greek ...
/m/manuscripts.htm - 39k

Fragment (1 Occurrence)
... and American) has in each instance "broken pieces." The change is important because
it shows that the pieces left over were not mere fragments or crumbs left ...
/f/fragment.htm - 8k

Hand-baskets (7 Occurrences)
... Hand-baskets (7 Occurrences). Matthew 14:20 And all ate and were filled, and they
took up what was over and above of fragments twelve hand-baskets full. ...
/h/hand-baskets.htm - 8k

Agrapha
... the latter sense in the 1st edition of his great work on the subject which appeared
in German in 1889 under the title, Agrapha: Extra-canonical Gospel Fragments...
/a/agrapha.htm - 21k

Malefactor (2 Occurrences)
... " I. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE FOR THE TEXT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 1. Autographs of the
New Testament Writers 2. Papyrus Fragments of the Greek New Testament 3. Greek ...
/m/malefactor.htm - 49k

Fullness (31 Occurrences)
... it means "the fullness," that by which a gap or rent is filled up, when an old garment
is repaired by a patch; Mark 6:43, `They took up fragments, the fullness ...
/f/fullness.htm - 22k

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