Matthew 14: John the Baptizer is killed, five thousand are fed, and Jesus walks on the sea
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Herod hears the report about Jesus and says that John has risen from the dead. The text then tells how Herod had John arrested, and how he promised a girl at his birthday whatever she asked and had John beheaded in the prison. Jesus goes to a deserted place, where he feeds about five thousand men, besides women and children, with five loaves and two fish. That night he comes to the disciples walking on the sea, Peter walks on the water and begins to sink, and when they are in the boat the wind stops. At Gennesaret the sick are brought to him.
Who is speaking?
No verse is in gold. Herod speaks to his servants in verse 2, and John's words to him are given in verse 4. The girl speaks in verse 8. The disciples speak in verses 15 and 17, and cry out "It's a ghost!" in verse 26. Jesus speaks in verses 16, 18, 27, 29 and 31. Peter speaks in verses 28 and 30, and the people in the boat speak in verse 33. The narrator tells the rest. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,
In plain English: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus,
The Greek word: "Tetrarch" is tetrarchēs. The dictionary gives it as the ruler of a fourth part of a country. The word is in 4 verses of the New Testament (counted across the whole New Testament).
Good to know: The text calls Herod "the tetrarch" in this verse and "the king" in . says "King Herod". The text does not explain the two titles.
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2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.”
In plain English: and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptizer. He is risen (or: has been raised) from the dead, and that is why these powers are at work in him."
The Greek word: "Powers" is dynameis, from dynamis. The dictionary gives it as force, and especially miraculous power or a miracle itself.
How it is translated: Dynamis is in 13 verses of Matthew. The World English Bible has "mighty" in 6 and "power" in 6, and "miracle" in none. In and it is "mighty works", and here it is "powers".
The Greek word: "He is risen" is ēgerthē, from egeirō. The dictionary gives it as to waken or rouse, from sleep, from illness or from death.
What changes: Read as "is risen", Herod says John has himself come back from the dead. Read as "has been raised", he says John has been brought back, and the sentence does not name who did it.
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3For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
In plain English: Herod had arrested John, tied him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.
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4For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
In plain English: John had been saying to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
Good to know: The text does not name a law. in the World English Bible says: "You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife." says: "If a man takes his brother's wife, it is an impurity." gives John's words as "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
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5When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
In plain English: Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the crowd, because they held John to be a prophet.
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6But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.
In plain English: When Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in front of them and pleased Herod.
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7Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.
In plain English: So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.
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8She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.”
In plain English: Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer."
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9The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given,
In plain English: The king was grieved. But because of his oaths and those who sat at the table with him, he ordered it to be given,
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10and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
In plain English: and he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
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11His head was brought on a platter and given to the young lady; and she brought it to her mother.
In plain English: John's head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
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12His disciples came, took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
In plain English: John's disciples came, took the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
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13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.
In plain English: When Jesus heard this, he left from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
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14Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
In plain English: Jesus came out and saw a large crowd. He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
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15When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.”
In plain English: When evening came, his disciples came to him and said, "This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away, so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves."
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16But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
In plain English: But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."
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17They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”
In plain English: They said to him, "We have only five loaves and two fish here."
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18He said, “Bring them here to me.”
In plain English: He said, "Bring them here to me."
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19He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
In plain English: He told the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven (or: the sky), blessed, broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
The Greek word: "Blessed" is eulogēsen, from eulogeō. The dictionary gives it as to speak well of, and so to bless, to thank, or to ask a blessing on something. The text does not give his words.
Good to know: In , at the feeding of the four thousand, the Greek word for this moment is a different one, eucharisteō, "gave thanks".
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20They all ate and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.
In plain English: They all ate and were filled. They picked up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.
The Greek word: "Baskets" is kophinoi, from kophinos. The dictionary gives it as a small basket. The word is in 6 verses of the New Testament, and the World English Bible has "basket" in all 6.
Good to know: The seven baskets in are a different Greek word, spyris, which the dictionary gives as a hamper or lunch container. and keep the two words apart: the baskets of the five thousand are kophinos, and the baskets of the four thousand are spyris.
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21Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.
In plain English: Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
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22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
In plain English: At once Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowds away.
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23After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.
In plain English: After he had sent the crowds away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
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24But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
In plain English: By now the boat was in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, because the wind was against them.
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25In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.
In plain English: In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.
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26When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.
In plain English: When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled and said, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.
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27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
In plain English: At once Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I (or: I am). Don't be afraid."
The Greek words: "It is I" is egō eimi, word for word "I am".
What changes: Read as "It is I", Jesus answers their cry of "a ghost" by saying who is there. Read as "I am", the same two words stand alone. The text gives no more than the two words, and then "Take courage" and "Don't be afraid".
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28Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”
In plain English: Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."
The Greek word: "Lord" is kyrie, from kyrios. The dictionary gives it as supreme in authority, a master, and a respectful title.
How it is translated: Kyrios is in 76 verses of Matthew. The World English Bible has "Lord" in 72, "sir" in 3 and "master" in 3 (some verses have more than one). The servants' word to the householder in is "Sir", the disciples' answer in is "Lord", and in the dogs eat from their "masters'" table.
What changes: Read as "Lord", Peter calls Jesus by a title of authority. Read as "sir", it is a respectful way to address someone. The text does not say which Peter means.
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29He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.
In plain English: He said, "Come." Peter got down from the boat, walked on the water to come to Jesus.
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30But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
In plain English: But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid. He began to sink and cried out, "Lord, save me!"
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31Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
In plain English: At once Jesus reached out his hand, took hold of him and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
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32When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.
In plain English: When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.
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33Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”
In plain English: Those in the boat came and worshiped (or: bowed down to) him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God (or: a son of God)."
The Greek word: "Worshiped" is prosekynēsan, from proskyneō. The dictionary gives it as to crouch to, and so to bow down in homage, to do reverence to, or to adore.
How it is translated: In Matthew's 13 verses with this word, the World English Bible has "worship" in 10, "bow" in 1 and "kneel" in 1.
What changes: Read as "worshiped", the act is described as worship. Read as "bowed down to", it is described as falling down in respect. The Greek word covers both.
The Greek words: "The Son of God" is theou huios, word for word "of God son". The Greek has no word for "the" or "a" before "Son".
What changes: Read as "the Son of God", they give him a title. Read as "a son of God", they say he is a son of God without saying more. The text gives only these words.
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34When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
In plain English: When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
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35When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick;
In plain English: When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word into the whole region around, and they brought him all who were sick,
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36and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.
In plain English: and begged him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.
Good to know: tells the Israelites to make fringes on the borders of their garments, with a cord of blue. The text here does not say that this is the fringe meant.
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