The life of Jesus · New Testament
The Story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand
With five loaves and two fish Jesus feeds a crowd of about five thousand men; John’s Gospel follows it with his teaching that he is the bread of life.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
This is the only miracle of Jesus, apart from the resurrection, recorded in all four Gospels. A large crowd follows Jesus to a remote place; he has compassion on them, and with five loaves and two fish he feeds them all, with twelve baskets of pieces left over. Mark 6:34–44John 6:5–13
John adds what happened next: the crowd wants to make Jesus king by force, and the next day he teaches that he is the bread of life. Many disciples leave, and Peter answers, “Lord, to whom would we go?” John 6:14–15John 6:35John 6:66–69
Principal passages
People in this story
- Jesus The Story of Jesus
- Philip the apostle The Story of Philip the apostle
- Andrew The Story of Andrew
- Simon Peter The Story of Simon Peter
- a boy with five barley loaves and two fish
Places named
- A deserted place near Bethsaida Luke 9:10
- The far side of the Sea of Galilee (Tiberias) John 6:1
- Capernaum John 6:59
Only places the passages name. Locations are not guessed.
The story, event by event
In the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here.
The crowd follows
The apostles return from their mission and Jesus takes them to a quiet place, but a great crowd gets there ahead of them. He has compassion on them because they are like sheep without a shepherd, and teaches them.
People: Jesus
Five loaves and two fish
Late in the day the disciples want to send the crowd away; Jesus tells them to give the people something to eat. A boy’s five loaves and two fish are brought. Jesus gives thanks, the disciples distribute the food, all eat and are satisfied, and twelve baskets are left.
People: Jesus, Philip the apostle, Andrew, a boy with five barley loaves and two fish
They want to make him king
Seeing the sign, the people say Jesus is the prophet who is to come. Knowing they intend to make him king by force, he withdraws to the mountain alone.
People: Jesus
“I am the bread of life”
The crowd finds Jesus at Capernaum. He tells them not to work for food that perishes, and says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry.”
“To whom would we go?”
Many disciples find the teaching hard and stop following him. Jesus asks the twelve if they also want to leave, and Peter answers, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Related and parallel passages
- Matthew 14:13–14 Parallel account · The crowd follows
- Luke 9:10–11 Parallel account · The crowd follows
- John 6:1–4 Parallel account · The crowd follows
- Matthew 14:15–21 Parallel account · Five loaves and two fish
- Luke 9:12–17 Parallel account · Five loaves and two fish
- John 6:5–13 Parallel account · Five loaves and two fish
- Mark 8:1–10 Supporting passage · Five loaves and two fish — A separate feeding of four thousand
- John 6:41–59 Supporting passage · “I am the bread of life” — The discussion continues in the synagogue at Capernaum
Later in the Bible
Later passages that recall or interpret this story. They are not events within it.
- Mark 8:17–21 Later recollection — Jesus asks the disciples to remember how many baskets were left over.
Connected themes
- Generosity
A boy’s small meal is blessed and shared until everyone is fed. John 6:9–13
- Mercy
Jesus has compassion on the crowd. Mark 6:34
Questions for study
Written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
- What details does each Gospel include that the others do not (compare Mark 6:35-44 with John 6:5-13)?
- Why do the disciples want to send the crowd away, and what does Jesus say?
- How does the crowd misunderstand the sign in John 6:14-15 and 6:26?
- What does Peter’s answer in John 6:68-69 show about why he stays?
Study guides
- How the Four Gospels Relate
The parallel accounts compared in lesson two. Mark 6:35–44John 6:5–13
Use offline
Save this story on your device, then download the Bible books it uses in your version: Mark, John. The study keeps only its own notes and references; the Scripture comes from the books on your device, never a second copy.