Matthew 15:38

Study note

Setting — The narrator records the conclusion of Jesus’ feeding of the four thousand, noting the specific headcount after the crowd has eaten. This occurs immediately after the disciples collect seven basketfuls of leftovers and before Jesus dismisses the crowd to sail to Magadan.

The words — The Greek τετρακισχίλιοι (tetrakischilioi) literally means "four thousand," specifying the exact number of men present. The term χωρὶς (chōris) translates to "besides" or "apart from," indicating the women and children were excluded from that count.

The thread — This headcount and the collection of leftover fragments run parallel to the earlier feeding of five thousand in Matthew 14:20. The structural repetition of counting the fed and gathering surplus baskets appears again in the narrative sequence of Matthew 15:37 and Matthew 15:39.

Why it lands — The text demands a reader note the precise scope of the provision and the explicit exclusion of women and children from the numerical tally. It asks the reader to observe how the narrative records concrete numbers before moving to the next action without adding commentary on the group's composition.

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.