What baskets were used at the feeding of the five thousand?

Bible Question:

What is the meaning of the Greek word for basket in the feedings of the five thousand and of the four thousand?

Bible Answer:

 

There are two significant miracles found in the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that involve the creation of food for two massive crowds of people. Both of them reveal that Jesus Christ created or multiplied food from a very small quantity of fish and bread. The two miracles are called the “Feeding of the Five Thousand” (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13) and the “Feeding of the Four Thousand” (Matthew 15:32-16:12; Mark 8:1-21).

The two miracles are amazing because not only did Jesus feed a total of at least nine thousand men (and probably a total all together of about 36,000 including women and children) on those two occasions, but everyone was filled. Afterward, there was an amazing amount of food left over! For example, all four gospels record that at the “Feeding of the Five Thousand,” Jesus’ disciples found five loaves of bread and two fish to give Jesus with which to feed the crowd.  Then we are told that Jesus prayed for the food and started breaking off pieces of bread and fish to give to the people. After the massive crowd of five thousand men (and probably about 20,000 women and children) had eaten and were full, there were twelve baskets full of bread and fish leftover. That miracle was performed for a crowd of Jewish people near Galilee.

Then about two months later, Jesus fed a crowd of four thousand Greek men (and probably about an additional total of 16,000 with women and children) at the “Feeding of the Four Thousand.” That miracle occurred in the Decapolis region. We are told on that occasion Jesus started with seven loaves of bread and a few fish, and after the people had eaten and were full, there were seven baskets full of food left over. So, these two miracles are different for they did not occur in the same location. The crowds were different in size. One had Jewish people and the other one had Greeks. The number of loaves of bread and fish were different and so were the number of left over baskets of food.

These two events reveal that Jesus truly performed two distinct miracles. Those who might claim the people only ate a few crumbs of bread and a very tiny piece of fish failed to notice that Matthew, Mark and Luke state that everyone was satisfied (chortazo). The Greek word chortazo means to be filled with food. The gospel of John adds that everyone was filled up (empiplemi). So, Matthew, Mark, and Luke reveal they ate food and were filled, and John emphasizes that their stomachs were filled up. Now it is obvious that no one one would have been filled up or satisfied with food if they just eaten crumbs and a pinch of fish. The miracle is truly amazing because we are told that after everyone had eaten, there were more baskets of food left over than were loaves of bread and fish at the beginning. Notice that the artist’s painting at the beginning of this article shows a boy with a very small, shallow basket. For example, in Matthew 14:20 we are told,

They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. Matthew 14:20 (NASB)

But the Greek word for basket in all four gospels at the “Feeding of the Five Thousand” is kophinos. That Greek word refers to a large wicker basket. It was not the small basket depicted in the artist’s painting.

But the Greek word that is used for the seven baskets of leftovers in the “Feeding of the Four Thousand” is spyris. In Matthew 15:37 we are told,

And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full. Matthew 15:37 (NASB)

The Greek word that is used in this verse for baskets refers to very large baskets.  The word was used here for a basket is one the size of a modern clothes hamper or a basket large enough to hold a man. Now that is an amazing miracle! Imagine how many fish and loaves of bread could fit into seven clothes hampers or seven baskets large enough to hold a man!

A third Greek word for basket is found in 2 Corinthians 11:33. This verse refers to a basket that was used to lower the apostle Paul from a window.

I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands. 2 Corinthians 11:33 (NASB)

The Greek word basket in this verse is called sargane. It is the largest basket made of braided ropes, where as a spyris basket was made of twisted reeds.

Conclusion

Therefore, the two miracles of the “Feeding of the Five Thousand” and the “Feeding of the Four Thousand”reveal that Jesus did amazing miracles. We must not miss the fact that this is the only miracle that all four gospels recorded. It reveals that Jesus was and is our God. This is consistent with an official report sent to the Roman Emperor Tiberius by Pontius Pilate that reported that Jesus did perform various miracles. In fact, historical records reveal that Tiberius Caesar was a Roman emperor during 14-37 AD. After reading Pilate’s official governmental reports, he asked the Roman Senate to declare that Jesus was God.

So, we should not be surprised that the gospel of John states,

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31 (NASB)

Suggested Links:

Did Tiberius ask the Roman Senate to recognize Christ as deity?
Pontius Pilate — Wrote Jesus did miracles and was crucified.
What miracles and how many did Jesus perform in the gospels?
Dionysius, Thallus, & others — Darkness at the crucifixion of Christ