Luke 9:12

10 Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida.

11 But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.

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.”

13 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

14 (There were about five thousand men.) He told His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.”
KJV
And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.
WEB
The day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms and lodge and get food, for we are here in a deserted place.”
ASV
And the day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages and country round about, and lodge, and get provisions: for we are here in a desert place.
DARBY
But the day began to decline, and the twelve came and said to him, Send away the crowd that they may go into the villages around, and [into] the fields, and lodge and find victuals, for here we are in a desert place.
BLB
And the day began to decline, and having come, the Twelve said to Him, “Dismiss the crowd so that, having gone to the surrounding villages and fields, they might lodge and might find provisions; for we are in a wilderness place here.”
ÅB
Men dagen begynte å helle; da gikk de tolv til ham og sa: La folket fare, så de kan gå bort i byene og bygdene heromkring og få herberge og finne føde! for her er vi på et øde sted.
OTB
Da dagen begynte å gå mot slutten, kom de tolv til ham og sa: "Send folkemengden bort så de kan gå til de omkringliggende landsbyene og gårdene for å finne husly og mat, for vi er på et øde sted."
B1930
Men dagen begynte å helle; da gikk de tolv til ham og sa: La folket fare, så de kan gå bort i byene og bygdene heromkring og få herberge og finne føde! for her er vi på et øde sted.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Mark 6:35–44

    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.

    Read in context
  • John 6:5–15

    When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”

    Read in context
  • 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.”

    Read in context
  • Hosea 13:5

    I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.

    Read in context
  • John 6:1

    After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias).

    Read in context
  • Psalms 78:19–20

    They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 34:25

    I will make with them a covenant of peace and rid the land of wild animals, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 15:32

    Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”

    Read in context