New Testament · John 6:1–14Matthew 14:21
Jesus Feeds the Crowd — Bible Story for Kids
A boy had five small loaves and two fish. Jesus gave thanks, and thousands of people ate until they were full, with twelve baskets left over.
This is a retelling for children, written by BibleKenya from the Bible passages shown on each picture. It is not a Bible translation.
A very big crowd followed up a hill. Jesus asked , "Where can we buy bread for all these people?"
A great crowd followed because they saw the he did for the sick. Jesus asked , "Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?" He said this to test him, for he knew what he would do. Philip answered, "Two hundred worth of bread is not enough for each of them to get a little."
Bible explorer A denarius was about a day's wage for a worker (Matthew 20:2).
said, "Here is a boy with five small loaves and two fish. But that's not enough for so many people."
, Simon Peter's brother, said, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many?"
Bible explorer Only John's Gospel mentions the boy.
told everyone to sit down on the grass. He took the bread, thanked God and shared it. He did the same with the fish. Everyone ate as much as they wanted!
said, "Have the people sit down." There was much grass, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus took the loaves and, having given thanks, distributed them to those who were sitting, and the fish likewise, as much as they wanted.
Bible explorer Matthew 14:21 says there were about five thousand men, "besides women and children".
When everyone was full, the picked up the leftovers. There were twelve baskets full!
When they were full, said to his , "Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost." They gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves.
The people were amazed. They said, "This must be the Prophet God promised!"
When the people saw the which did, they said, "This is truly the prophet who comes into the world."
Bible explorer The next day Jesus said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35).
The end of the story
Read it in the Bible
This is the Bible text itself, from the version shown. Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition
John 6:1–14 WEB
1After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick. 3Jesus went up into the mountain, and he sat there with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5Jesus therefore, lifting up his eyes and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?” 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may receive a little.” 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many?” 10Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11Jesus took the loaves, and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down, likewise also of the fish as much as they desired. 12When they were filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost.” 13So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten. 14When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.”
Matthew 14:21 WEB
21Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.
Who is in the story?
Words to learn
- Blessing
- A blessing is a good gift from God, or kind words asking God to do good to someone. Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them.
- Denarius
- A denarius was a silver coin. In one of Jesus' stories, workers were paid one denarius for a day of work.
- Disciple
- A disciple is a learner who follows a teacher. Peter and Andrew left their fishing nets to follow Jesus.
- Miracle (sign)
- A miracle is an amazing thing that only God can do. Jesus calmed a storm with just a few words.
What can we learn from this passage?
The disciples saw only how little they had, but Jesus took a boy's small meal, gave thanks, and fed everyone with plenty left over. John 6:9John 6:11–13