Text -- Matthew 15:33-39 (NET)

15:33 The disciples said to him, “Where can we get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy so great a crowd?” 15:34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven– and a few small fish.” 15:35 After instructing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 15:36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples, who then gave them to the crowds. 15:37 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 15:38 Not counting children and women, there were four thousand men who ate. 15:39 After sending away the crowd, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Mat 15:36

¹ tn Grk “was giving them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowd.”

NET Notes: Mat 15:37

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

NET Notes: Mat 15:38

¹ tc ‡ Although most witnesses (B C L W ˹³ 33 Ï f sy^s,p,h mae) read “women and children” instead of “children and women,” it is likely that the majority’s reading is a harmonization to Matt 14:21. “Children and women” is found in early and geographically widespread witnesses (e.g., א D [Θ Ë¹] 579 lat sy^c sa bo), and has more compelling internal arguments on its side, suggesting that this is the original reading. NA²⁷, however, agrees with the majority of witnesses.

² tn Grk “And those eating were four thousand men, apart from children and women.”

NET Notes: Mat 15:39

¹ sn Magadan was a place along the Sea of Galilee, the exact location of which is uncertain.