Bible Strands
Matthew 14:15
When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The disciples address Jesus at dusk in an isolated area, requesting that He release the crowds to find provisions in surrounding villages (Matthew 14:15).
The words — Ὀψίας (Opsias) denotes evening, while προσῆλθον (prosēlthon) literally means they approached or drew near to Him.
The thread — This moment parallels the identical account in Mark 6:35 and aligns with the disciples' later pragmatic concern in Mark 8:3 regarding the crowd's physical needs.
Why it lands — The text records a practical human request that immediately precedes Jesus' command to provide the food, establishing the contrast between human limitation and divine action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
Cross-references
- Matthew 15:23 But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
- Mark 8:3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.”
- Mark 6:35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late.
- Luke 9:12 As the day neared its end, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in a desolate place here.”