Matthew 14 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
FBV Free Bible Version
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard what Jesus was doing
1 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,
1 Ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ καιρῷ ἤκουσεν Ἡρῴδης ὁ τετράρχης τὴν ἀκοὴν Ἰησοῦ
2 and he told his servants, “He must be John the Baptist resurrected from the dead, and that's why he has such powers!”
2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.”
2 καὶ εἶπε τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῦ· οὗτός ἐστιν Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστής· αὐτὸς ἠγέρθη ἀπὸ τῶν νεκρῶν, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο αἱ δυνάμεις ἐνεργοῦσιν ἐν αὐτῷ.
3 Herod had detained John, and had him put in chains and imprisoned on account of Herodias, the wife of Philip, his brother.
3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
3 ὁ γὰρ Ἡρῴδης κρατήσας τὸν Ἰωάννην ἔδησεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἔθετο ἐν φυλακῇ διὰ Ἡρῳδιάδα τὴν γυναῖκα Φιλίππου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ.
4 For John had been telling him, “It's not legal for you to marry her.”
4 For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
4 ἔλεγε γὰρ αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰωάννης· οὐκ ἔξεστί σοι ἔχειν αὐτήν.
5 Herod wanted to kill John but he was afraid of the people's reaction for they considered John a prophet.
5 When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
5 καὶ θέλων αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι ἐφοβήθη τὸν ὄχλον, ὅτι ὡς προφήτην αὐτὸν εἶχον.
6 However, on Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the party, and Herod was delighted with her.
6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.
6 γενεσίων δὲ ἀγομένων τοῦ Ἡρῴδου ὠρχήσατο ἡ θυγάτηρ τῆς Ἡρῳδιάδος ἐν τῷ μέσῳ καὶ ἤρεσε τῷ Ἡρῴδῃ·
7 So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she wanted.
7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.
7 ὅθεν μεθ᾽ ὅρκου ὡμολόγησεν αὐτῇ δοῦναι ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσηται.
8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a plate the head of John the Baptist.”
8 She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.”
8 ἡ δέ, προβιβασθεῖσα ὑπὸ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτῆς, δός μοι, φησίν, ὧδε ἐπὶ πίνακι τὴν κεφαλὴν Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ.
9 Then the king regretted the promise he had made, but because of the oaths he'd made in front of his dinner guests, he gave the order to do it.
9 The 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,
9 καὶ ἐλυπήθη ὁ βασιλεύς, διὰ δὲ τοὺς ὅρκους καὶ τοὺς συνανακειμένους ἐκέλευσε δοθῆναι,
10 The order was passed on and John was beheaded in prison.
10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
10 καὶ πέμψας ἀπεκεφάλισε τὸν Ἰωάννην ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ.
11 John's head was brought on a plate and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.
11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the young lady; and she brought it to her mother.
11 καὶ ἠνέχθη ἡ κεφαλὴ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πίνακι καὶ ἐδόθη τῷ κορασίῳ, καὶ ἤνεγκε τῇ μητρὶ αὐτῆς.
12 John's disciples came and took the body, and buried him. Then they went and told Jesus.
12 His disciples came, took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
12 καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἦραν τὸ σῶμα καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτό, καὶ ἐλθόντες ἀπήγγειλαν τῷ Ἰησοῦ.
13 When Jesus heard the news he went away by boat to a quiet place to be alone, but when the crowds learned where he was, they followed him on foot from the towns.
13 Now 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.
13 Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀνεχώρησεν ἐκεῖθεν ἐν πλοίῳ εἰς ἔρημον τόπον κατ᾽ ἰδίαν· καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ ὄχλοι ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ πεζῇ ἀπὸ τῶν πόλεων.
14 When Jesus got out of the boat and saw the huge crowds, he was full of sympathy for them, and healed their sick.
14 Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
14 Καὶ ἐξελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶδε πολὺν ὄχλον, καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐθεράπευσε τοὺς ἀρρώστους αὐτῶν.
15 As evening came the disciples went up to him and said, “This place is miles from anywhere and it's getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
15 When 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.”
15 ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· ἔρημός ἐστιν ὁ τόπος καὶ ἡ ὥρα ἤδη παρῆλθεν· ἀπόλυσον τοὺς ὄχλους, ἵνα ἀπελθόντες εἰς τὰς κώμας ἀγοράσωσιν ἑαυτοῖς βρώματα.
16 But Jesus told them, “They don't need to leave. You give them something to eat!”
16 But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
16 ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν ἀπελθεῖν· δότε αὐτοῖς ὑμεῖς φαγεῖν.
17 “All we have here are five loaves and a couple of fish,” they replied.
17 They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”
17 οἱ δὲ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· οὐκ ἔχομεν ὧδε εἰ μὴ πέντε ἄρτους καὶ δύο ἰχθύας.
18 “Bring them to me,” said Jesus.
18 He said, “Bring them here to me.”
18 ὁ δὲ εἶπε· φέρετέ μοι αὐτοὺς ὧδε.
19 He told the crowds to sit down on the grass. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven and blessed them. After that he broke the loaves into pieces and gave the bread to the disciples, and the disciples gave it to the crowds.
19 He 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.
19 καὶ κελεύσας τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνακλιθῆναι ἐπὶ τοὺς χόρτους, λαβὼν τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους καὶ τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας, ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εὐλόγησε, καὶ κλάσας ἔδωκε τοῖς μαθηταῖς τοὺς ἄρτους, οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ τοῖς ὄχλοις.
20 Everybody ate until they were full. Then they collected up the leftovers which filled twelve baskets.
20 They all ate and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.
20 καὶ ἔφαγον πάντες καὶ ἐχορτάσθησαν, καὶ ἦραν τὸ περισσεῦον τῶν κλασμάτων δώδεκα κοφίνους πλήρεις.
21 Some five thousand men ate the food, not counting women and children.
21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.
21 οἱ δὲ ἐσθίοντες ἦσαν ἄνδρες ὡσεὶ πεντακισχίλιοι χωρὶς γυναικῶν καὶ παιδίων.
22 Right after this he made the disciples get into the boat and go back to the other side of the lake while he sent the crowds on their way.
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
22 Καὶ εὐθέως ἠνάγκασεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους.
23 After he'd sent the crowds away, he went up into the mountains to pray. Evening came and he was there all alone.
23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.
23 καὶ ἀπολύσας τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος κατ᾽ ἰδίαν προσεύξασθαι. ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης μόνος ἦν ἐκεῖ.
24 By now the boat was a long way out from land, being pounded by the waves because the wind was blowing against it.
24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
24 τὸ δὲ πλοῖον ἤδη μέσον τῆς θαλάσσης ἦν, βασανιζόμενον ὑπὸ τῶν κυμάτων· ἦν γὰρ ἐναντίος ὁ ἄνεμος.
25 About 3 a.m. Jesus caught up with them, walking on the sea.
25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.
25 τετάρτῃ δὲ φυλακῇ τῆς νυκτὸς ἀπῆλθε πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦς περιπατῶν ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης.
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. They screamed out in fear, “It's a ghost!”
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.
26 καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν περιπατοῦντα ἐταράχθησαν λέγοντες ὅτι φάντασμά ἐστι, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου ἔκραξαν.
27 But immediately Jesus said to them, “Don't worry, it's me! Don't be afraid!”
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
27 εὐθέως δὲ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων· θαρσεῖτε, ἐγώ εἰμι· μὴ φοβεῖσθε.
28 “Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come over to you, walking on the water,” Peter replied.
28 Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”
28 ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπε· Κύριε, εἰ σὺ εἶ, κέλευσόν με πρός σε ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα.
29 “Come on then,” said Jesus. Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus.
29 He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.
29 ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, ἐλθέ. καὶ καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ πλοίου ὁ Πέτρος περιεπάτησεν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα ἐλθεῖν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν.
30 But when he saw how strong the wind was, he became scared, and started to sink. “Lord! Save me!” he cried out.
30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
30 βλέπων δὲ τὸν ἄνεμον ἰσχυρὸν ἐφοβήθη, καὶ ἀρξάμενος καταποντίζεσθαι ἔκραξε λέγων· Κύριε, σῶσόν με.
31 Immediately Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him, and said, “You have such little trust in me. Why did you doubt?”
31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
31 εὐθέως δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα ἐπελάβετο αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ὀλιγόπιστε! εἰς τί ἐδίστασας;
32 When they got into the boat, the wind died down,
32 When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.
32 καὶ ἐμβάντων αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον ἐκόπασεν ὁ ἄνεμος·
33 and those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “You really are the Son of God!”
33 Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”
33 οἱ δὲ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ ἐλθόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες· ἀληθῶς Θεοῦ υἱὸς εἶ.
34 After crossing the lake they arrived at Gennesaret.
34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
34 Καὶ διαπεράσαντες ἦλθον εἰς τὴν γῆν Γεννησαρέτ.
35 When the people there realized Jesus was there, they let everyone in the whole area know. They brought all who were sick to him,
35 When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick;
35 καὶ ἐπιγνόντες αὐτὸν οἱ ἄνδρες τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου ἀπέστειλαν εἰς ὅλην τὴν περίχωρον ἐκείνην, καὶ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ πάντας τοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας,
36 and pleaded with him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak. Everyone that touched him was healed.
36 and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.
36 καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα κἂν μόνον ἅψωνται τοῦ κρασπέδου τοῦ ἱματίου αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὅσοι ἥψαντο διεσώθησαν.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Herodias
Previously the wife of Herod's brother Philip, whom Herod married, and for whom John the Baptist rebuked him; she bore a grudge against John and sought his death.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17; Mark 6:19
John the Baptist
Son of Zechariah, who preached in the wilderness and baptized in the Jordan, pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, rebuked Herod over Herodias and was imprisoned and beheaded.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 3:1; Matthew 14:3; Luke 1:13
Cross references (35)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Luke 3:1; Mark 8:15; Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9; Acts 4:27
- 2 John 10:41; Matthew 16:14; Mark 8:28; Matthew 11:11
- 3 Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19–20; Matthew 4:12; Mark 6:19; Matthew 11:2
- 4 Leviticus 20:21; Leviticus 18:16; Mark 6:18; Proverbs 28:1; Deuteronomy 25:5–6
- 5 Matthew 21:32; Matthew 11:9; Matthew 21:26; Mark 14:1–2; Mark 6:19–20
- 6 Mark 6:21–23; Hosea 1:5–6; Genesis 40:20; Matthew 22:24; Esther 1:2–12
- 7 Esther 5:6; Esther 5:3; Esther 7:2
- 8 Proverbs 29:10; Mark 6:24; 1 Kings 18:13; 2 Chronicles 22:2–3; 2 Kings 11:1
- 9 John 19:12–16; Mark 6:14; Mark 6:26; Ecclesiastes 5:2; Daniel 6:14–16
- 10 Revelation 11:7; Luke 9:9; Matthew 17:12; Mark 6:27–29; Jeremiah 2:30
- 11 Revelation 16:6; Revelation 17:6; Jeremiah 22:17; Ezekiel 19:2–3; Ezekiel 16:3–4
- 12 Acts 8:2; Matthew 27:58–61
- 13 Luke 9:10–17; Matthew 14:1–2; Mark 6:30–44; John 6:1–15; Matthew 12:15
- 14 Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 9:36; Hebrews 2:17; Matthew 15:32–39; John 11:33–35
- 15 Matthew 15:23; Mark 8:3; Mark 6:35–36; Luke 9:12
- 16 2 Kings 4:42–44; 2 Corinthians 8:2–3; Ecclesiastes 11:2; John 13:29; Proverbs 11:24
- 17 John 6:5–9; Matthew 15:33–34; Mark 6:37–38; Luke 9:13; Mark 8:4–5
- 19 Mark 8:6–7; 1 Samuel 9:13; Luke 24:30; 1 Timothy 4:4–5; Mark 6:41
- 20 Exodus 16:12; 1 Kings 17:12–16; Mark 6:42–44; Matthew 16:8–10; Exodus 16:8
- 21 Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 9:8–11; Acts 4:4; John 6:10; Acts 4:34
- 22 Mark 6:45–51; John 6:15–21; Matthew 15:39
- 23 Luke 6:12; Mark 6:46; Matthew 26:36; John 6:15–17; Matthew 6:6
- 24 Mark 6:48; John 6:18; Matthew 8:24; Isaiah 54:11
- 25 Job 9:8; John 6:19; Mark 6:48; Psalm 104:3; Matthew 24:43
- 26 Revelation 1:17; Luke 1:11–12; Mark 6:49–50; Daniel 10:6–12; Job 4:14–16
- 27 John 16:33; Revelation 1:17–18; Acts 23:11; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 41:4
- 28 John 6:68; Romans 12:3; Matthew 26:33–35; John 13:36–38; Matthew 19:27
- 29 Philippians 4:13; Mark 9:23; Acts 3:16; Luke 17:6; Mark 11:22–23
- 30 Lamentations 3:54–57; 2 Timothy 4:16–17; Mark 14:38; Matthew 8:24–25; Jonah 2:2–7
- 31 James 1:6–8; Psalm 138:7; Genesis 22:14; Matthew 8:26; Matthew 17:20
- 32 Psalm 107:29–30; Mark 4:41; Mark 6:51; John 6:21
- 33 Psalm 2:7; John 11:27; Romans 1:4; John 1:49; Mark 1:1
- 34 Mark 6:53–56; Luke 5:1; John 6:24–25
- 35 Matthew 4:24–25; Mark 2:1–12; Mark 3:8–10; Mark 6:55; Mark 1:28–34
- 36 Luke 6:19; Acts 19:11–12; Matthew 9:20–21; Acts 3:16; Mark 3:10
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The lesson of the Gospel which we have just heard is a lesson of humility to us all, that we may see and know where we are, and whither we must tend and hasten. For that ship which carries the disciples, which was tossed in the waves by a contrary wind, is not without its meaning.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
See Him on every occasion "departing," For not by His appearance only, but by His actions He would have this confirmed, because He knew the devil's craft, and that he would leave nothing undone to destroy this doctrine.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Soter is a name of five letters; Pater, too, contains five letters; Agape (love), too, consists of five letters; and our Lord, after blessing the five loaves, fed with them five thousand men.
Nevertheless after He was come up into the ship, they who were being borne in her, came saying, "Of a truth Thou art the Son of God." But before this plain discovery of Himself they were troubled, saying, "It is a phantom." But He coming up into the ship took away the fluctuation of mind from their hearts, when they …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
"At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus." For Herod the king, this man's father, he that slew the children, was dead.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)