New Testament

Luke 9:13

The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English

At a Glance

In this passage, Jesus challenges his disciples to take responsibility for feeding a large crowd.

Author
Luke the physician
Written
Around AD 60-62
Genre
Gospel and history
Original Audience
Gentile Christians (addressed to Theophilus)
CBTClear Bible Translation

But Jesus said, "You feed them." They replied, "All we have is 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish — unless you want us to go buy food for all these people."

KJVKing James Version

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

Verse Analysis

Plain-English insight for readers

In this passage, Jesus challenges his disciples to take responsibility for feeding a large crowd. The disciples are overwhelmed and point out their limited resources: just five loaves of bread and two fish. This moment highlights their doubt and the impossibility of the task at hand. Jesus, however, is teaching them about faith and reliance on God’s provision. Instead of focusing on what they lack, He encourages them to use what they have. This interaction sets the stage for the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, demonstrating that with faith, even the smallest resources can be multiplied to meet great needs. It emphasizes the importance of trusting in God’s ability to provide, even when circumstances seem dire. The disciples' initial response reflects a common human tendency to focus on limitations rather than possibilities, but Jesus redirects their perspective towards faith and action.

How to apply Luke 9:13 to your life

When faced with overwhelming challenges, remember that God can work through our limited resources. Instead of focusing on what we lack, we should trust in His ability to provide and take action with what we have. This encourages us to be proactive in serving others.

Curated for this public verse page. Luke Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick, clear answers about this verse

What does Luke 9:13 mean?

In Luke 9:13, Jesus instructs His disciples to feed a large crowd with their limited resources of five loaves and two fish. This moment illustrates the importance of faith and reliance on God's provision, showing that even small offerings can lead to miraculous outcomes when placed in His hands.

What is the significance of the loaves and fish in Luke 9:13?

The five loaves and two fish in Luke 9:13 symbolize the disciples' limited resources and their initial doubt about feeding the crowd. Jesus uses this situation to teach them that with faith, even the smallest contributions can be multiplied to meet great needs.

How does Luke 9:13 relate to faith?

Luke 9:13 relates to faith by demonstrating that Jesus encourages His disciples to act on their limited resources rather than focusing on their lack. This teaches that faith can lead to miraculous outcomes, even when circumstances seem impossible.

What lesson can we learn from Luke 9:13?

From Luke 9:13, we learn that we should not let our limitations prevent us from taking action. Instead, we can trust in God's ability to provide and use what we have to serve others, highlighting the importance of resourcefulness and faith.

The Book of Luke
Book Summary

The Book of Luke

Luke 1: The Births of John the Baptist and Jesus Foretold

In the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a priest named Zacharias serves in the temple. He and his wife Elisabeth are both righteous but have no children because Elisabeth is barren, and they are both old. While Zacharias burns incense, the angel Gabriel appears to him and says Elisabeth will bear a son who is to be named John. The child will be great before the Lord, will drink no wine or strong drink, and will be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. Zacharias asks how he can know this, since he and his wife are old. Gabriel says Zacharias will be unable to speak until these things come to pass because he did not believe.

Premium

Unlock the full Luke summary

Continue reading every chapter — themes, structure, and turning points.

The complete summary of Luke — a chapter-by-chapter breakdown covering all 24 chapters.

What you get

Every chapter of Luke summarized in clear, modern English

How each section connects — narrative flow, key themes, and turning points

Permanent access — read anytime, on any device

Best Value

Best value • Save over 90%

or

One-time purchase • Access anytime

ClearBible summaries are proprietary content and may not be copied, republished, or resold.

Checkout works as a guest. After payment, you create an account to claim your unlock.