Bible fact · Direct biblical statement
The crowd was bigger than "five thousand"
Matthew says about five thousand men ate, "in addition to women and children". The total number is not given. Matthew 14:15–21
Discover why
Jesus took five loaves and two fish, gave thanks, and the disciples gave the food to the crowd. Everyone ate and was filled, and twelve baskets of pieces were left. Matthew 14:17–20
"Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children." Mark, Luke and John give the number of men without adding this phrase. Matthew 14:21Mark 6:44John 6:10
What the Bible does not say
Matthew does not say how many women and children there were, so any total for the whole crowd is a guess.
Read the passage
Matthew 14:15–21 WEB
15When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.” 16But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.” 18He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20They all ate and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces. 21Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.
Test yourself
For children
Jesus fed about 5,000 men with five loaves and two fish, and there were women and children too!