Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 9:14
For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
14. Jive thousand men) “Besides women and children,” Mat 14:21. These would probably not be numerous, and would not (in accordance with Eastern usage) sit down with the men, but would stand apart.
by fifties in a company ] The vivid details of Mark shew the eyewitness of St Peter. He compares them to parterres of flowers ( prasiai prasiai, ‘by garden beds’) as they sat on the green grass in their bright Oriental robes of red and blue and yellow. St Luke’s word, klisiai, means literally in dining-parties, from klisia, ‘a couch.’ This systematic arrangement made it easy to tell the number of the multitude.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For they were about five thousand men,…. Beside women and children, Mt 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 comments on Mr 6:39].
[See comments on Mr 6:40].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
About (). Luke as Mt 14:21 adds this word to the definite statement of Mr 6:44 that there were 5,000 men, a hundred companies of fifty each.
Sit down (). First aorist active imperative. Recline, lie down. Only in Luke in the N.T. See also verse 15.
In companies (). Cognate accusative after
kataklinate . Only here in the N.T. A row of persons reclining at meals (table company).
About fifty each ( ). Distributive use of and approximate number again ().
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
In a company [] . The plural, in companies. Lit., table – companies. The word is also used in classical Greek of a couch for reclining at table. Only here in New Testament. See on Mr 6:39.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For they were about five thousand men.” (esan gar hosei andres pentakischilioi) “For there were about five thousand men,” people of mature age of the male sex, men besides women and children, Mat 14:21. This is one miracle that is recounted by all four of the Gospel writers.
2) “And he said to his disciples,” (ei pen de pros tous mathetas autou) “Then he said directly to his disciples,” Mar 6:39.
3) “Make them sit down by fifties in a company.” (kataklinate autous klisias hosei ana pentekonta) “You all make them to recline with about fifty in each group,” Mar 6:39-40. Mar 8:6 uses a Gk. term meaning rows like flower beds with gay colored garments of red, blue and yellow.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(14) Make them sit down.Literally, recline, or lie down.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘For they were about five thousand men.’
The full situation, revealing the reason for the dilemma, is then laid out. This tiny amount of food would have to be sufficient for five thousand grown men (to say nothing of women and children). Five thousand was a round number signifying the covenant community. In terms of symbolism what followed would teach that Jesus would continually feed His people in that new community. But in practical terms at this stage it indicated a small round barley loaf to every thousand men, an impossible situation.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
‘And he said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each.” ’
But they were now to learn that with Jesus nothing was impossible, and that He had within Him the resources sufficient for every situation. So He told them to seat the people down in covenant groups of fifty, resulting in about a hundred groups. This would enable them to ensure that none were overlooked. In view of the clear connection of this feeding with 1Ki 17:14-16 and 2Ki 4:42-44 there may just have been in His mind here 1Ki 18:4; 1Ki 18:13 where Obadiah split a hundred of God’s prophets into groups of fifty and hid them in a cave where he could feed them with bread and water, the idea being that these people were similarly enjoying His protection.
‘In companies (klisia).’ The word originally meant a hut or tent, and then a couch, and then came to mean those who laid on such, and thus eventually a group gathered to dine lying on couches (a couch group). Here therefore it indicated a group ready to eat.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
Ver. 14. See Trapp on “ Luk 9:13 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
14. ] by companies the accusative of the manner , or situation , or time, in which: see Winer, 32. 4, edn. 6.
. ] Mark gives . with his usual precision. Besides these companies, there were the women and children unarranged: see on Joh 6:10 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 9:14 . Hence also he does not think it worth while to mention the amount of money at their disposal (200 denarii, Mar 6:37 ). , dining parties, answering to Mk.’s . Mk.’s , describing the appearance to the eye. like flower beds, with their gay garments, red, blue, yellow, Lk. omits.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
men. Greek. Plural of aner. App-123.
to. Greek pros. App-104. Not the same word as in verses: Luk 9:9, Luk 9:16 [Conversion Note: These numbers were listed after the Luk 9:16 verse and appear to be a misprint on page 1459 of the original book: vv. 16, -51, 53, 56, 62.]
down = recline.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
14.] -by companies-the accusative of the manner, or situation, or time, in which: see Winer, 32. 4, edn. 6.
.] Mark gives . with his usual precision. Besides these companies, there were the women and children unarranged: see on Joh 6:10.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 9:14. , by fifties) A convenient number, on account of there being five loaves: and also the men thus formed one hundred fifties; Mar 6:40.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Make: Mar 6:39, Mar 6:40, Mar 8:6, 1Co 14:40
Reciprocal: Mat 14:19 – he commanded Mat 15:35 – to sit Joh 6:10 – Make
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
Jesus prepared to feed the multitude by a miracle of the food. For the sake of orderliness he had them sit down in convenient groups.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Verse 14
By fifties; not precisely, but in groups of about that number.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Luke’s account here does not differ from the others significantly. The miracle shows that when believers become partners with Jesus in the execution of His mission, He can enable them to provide greater blessing for others than they can by themselves. And He takes good care of His servants; each disciple received a basket of leftovers. The absence of reference to the crowd’s reaction in the synoptic accounts focuses attention on the results of the miracle. It must have elicited another question: Who is Jesus?