Matthew 14

1 At [that specific] that time [the right moment, opportunity] Herod [the ruler, tetrarch] the tetrarch [a ruler of a fourth part of a country] heard [listened, understood] the reports [news, fame] about [concerning, regarding] Jesus [God is salvation, the Messiah] word study 2 and said to his servants, “This is John [one who baptizes] the Baptist; he has risen [come back to life, been resurrected] from the dead [the state of being lifeless, spiritually or physically]! That is why [because of this, due to this reason] miraculous powers [mighty works, divine energies] are at work [active, being exercised] in him [through his ministry, within his person].” word study 3 Now Herod [the king, a ruler of the Jews] had arrested [laid hold on, seized] John [the Baptist, a prophet] and bound [tied, fastened] him and put him in prison [a place of confinement, a guard] on account of [because of, for the sake of] Herodias [the wife of Herod’s brother], his brother Philip’s [a relative, a family member] wife [a female partner, a spouse], word study 4 because John [the Baptist, a prophet] had been telling him, “It is not [absolutely] lawful [permitted, righteous] for you [as his brother] to have [possess, marry] her [his brother’s wife].” word study 5 Although Herod [wanted to, desired to] wanted to kill John, he was afraid [feared, had reverence for] of the people [the multitude, the crowd], because they regarded [counted, esteemed] John as a prophet [one who speaks for God]. word study 6 On Herod’s [birthday celebration] birthday, however, the daughter [female child] of Herodias [Salome] danced [to move rhythmically] before them [in their presence] and pleased [to be agreeable] Herod [the king] word study 7 so much that he promised [with a solemn vow] with an oath [a sacred promise] to give [bestow, grant] to her whatever [whichever thing] she asked [requested] [whatever she might desire, whatsoever she would ask]. word study 8 Prompted [urged, led forward] by her mother [at her suggestion, under her authority], she said, “Give me [bestow upon me, grant to me] here [in this place, at this moment] on a platter [a flat dish, a plate] the head [the upper part of the body, the leader] of John [the Baptizer, the one who prepares] the Baptist [the one who baptizes, immerses].” word study 9 The king [ruler, sovereign] was grieved [saddened, distressed], but because of his oaths [sacred promises, vows] and his guests [those dining with him, reclining at the table], he ordered [commanded, instructed] that her wish [request, desire] be granted [given, fulfilled] word study 10 and [subsequently, as a result] sent [dispatched an order, commanded] to have John [the Baptist, a prophet] beheaded [executed by cutting off his head, decapitated] in [within, inside] the prison [a place of confinement, a jail]. word study 11 John’s head [the upper part of the body] was brought in [to bear or lead] on a platter [a flat dish] and presented [to give] to the girl [a little girl], who carried [to bear or lead] it to her mother [a female parent]. word study 12 Then John’s disciples [followers, pupils] came and took [lifted up, removed] his body [physical person, corpse] and buried [interred, laid to rest] it. And they went and informed [told, announced] Jesus [the Savior, God’s salvation]. word study 13 When Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] heard about John, He withdrew [departed, went away] by boat [a ship, vessel] privately [quiet place] to a solitary [deserted, uninhabited] place. But the crowds [a large group of people, multitude] found out about it and followed Him on foot [by land, walking] from the towns [cities, populated areas]. word study 14 When He stepped ashore [came forth, went out] and saw a large [great, huge] crowd [multitude, group of people], He had compassion [pity, sympathy] on them [toward them, upon them] and healed [made well, cured] their sick [ill, weak, infirm]. word study 15 When [evening, at nightfall] evening came, the disciples [learners, followers] came to Him and said, “This is a desolate [deserted, waste] place, and the hour [time, specific moment] is already [past, gone by, late] late. Dismiss [send away, release] the crowds [large groups, multitudes] so they can go to the villages [small towns, rural areas] and buy [purchase, acquire] themselves some food [nourishment, sustenance].” word study 16 “They [certainly] do not need [have no requirement] to go away [depart from this place],” Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] replied [said to them]. “You [yourselves, as servants] give [bestow upon, provide] them something [food, nourishment] to eat [consume, partake].” word study 17 “We have [only, nothing more than] here [in this place, at our disposal] only five [a small number, insufficient] loaves [cakes, bread] of bread [food, sustenance] and [also, in addition to] two [a few, a small amount] fish [a type of seafood],” they answered [replied, spoke in response]. word study 18 “Bring [lead, carry] them [those loaves] here [to this place, hither] to Me [to Myself, I],” Jesus [the Messiah, the Christ] said [spoke, declared]. word study 19 And He directed [commanded, gave orders to] the crowds [multitudes, large groups of people] to sit down [recline, lean back] on the grass [herbage, a place for pasture]. Taking the five [a specific number, a few] loaves [bread, food] and the two [a small number, a pair] fish [a type of food, a symbol] and looking up [gazing upwards, directing his eyes] to heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place], He spoke [uttered, expressed] a blessing [praise, thanksgiving]. Then He broke [divided, shared] the loaves and gave them to the disciples [learners, followers], and the disciples gave them to the people [the crowd, the multitude]. word study 20 They all [every single one] ate [to eat, whether literally or figuratively] and were satisfied [filled to the full, having enough], and the disciples picked up [lifted up, took away] twelve [a dozen] basketfuls [small wicker baskets] of broken pieces [fragments, leftovers] that were left over [remaining, exceeding]. word study 21 About [approximately, around] five thousand [a multitude of] men [adult males] were fed [ate and were satisfied], in addition to [besides] women [females] and [also] children [young ones]. word study 22 Immediately [at once, without delay] Jesus made the disciples [learners, followers] get into the boat [ship, vessel] and go on ahead of Him [before His presence] to the other side [further around the lake, across the water], while He dismissed [sent away, released] the crowds [multitudes, large groups of people]. word study 23 After He had sent them away [released, let go], He went up [ascended, went to a higher place] on the mountain [a high elevation, a place of solitude] by Himself [alone, in solitude] to pray [to communicate with God, to worship]. When evening [the time of day between daylight and darkness] came, He was there [in that place, at that moment] alone [by Himself, without others], word study 24 but the boat [ship, vessel] was already [now, at this time] far from land [in the midst of the sea], buffeted [tossed, distressed] by the waves [powerful waves, turbulent water] because the wind [a strong gust, a contrary breeze] was against [hostile to, opposed to] it. word study 25 During the fourth [between 3 and 6 a.m.] watch [period of guarding, division of the night] of the night [time of darkness], Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] went out [away, departed] to them, walking [living, following] on the [Mediterranean, large body of water] sea [vast ocean]. word study 26 When the disciples [learners, followers] saw Him walking [moving, proceeding] on the sea [large body of water], they were terrified [troubled, deeply disturbed]. “It’s a ghost [specter, apparition]!” they said, and cried out [shouted, screamed] in fear [alarm, dread]. word study 27 But Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] spoke up at once [immediately, without delay]: “Take courage [be of good cheer, have faith]! It is I [I am, the self-existent One]. Do not [lest] be afraid [fear, have reverence for].” word study 28 “Lord [Master, God, the supreme authority], if [in the event that, if it be the case] it is You [really you, truly yourself],” Peter [the rock, a disciple of Jesus] replied, “command [order, bid] me [I, the speaker] to come [to go, to walk] to You [toward you, in your direction] on [upon, over] the water [the sea, the lake].” word study 29 “Come [to follow, approach],” said Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation]. Then Peter [the rock, a disciple] got down out of the boat [ship, vessel], walked [stepped, proceeded] on the water [sea, liquid], and came [approached, drew near] toward Jesus [the Savior, Christ]. word study 30 But when he saw [perceived with his eyes, took notice of] the strength [might, power] of the wind [strong gusts, violent blasts], he was afraid [filled with fear, terrified], and beginning [commencing, starting] to sink [go down, drown], cried out [shouted loudly, called for help], “Lord [Master, God], save [rescue, deliver] me [from this danger, from sinking]!” word study 31 Immediately [at once, without delay] Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] reached out His hand [in power and assistance] and took hold of Peter [to grasp and support]. “You of [having] little faith [oligo pistis, trust in God],” He said, “why did you doubt [waver in confidence, question God’s power]?” word study 32 And when they had climbed [gone up, stepped into] back into the boat [ship, vessel], the wind [air in motion, breeze] died down [ceased, lulled, abated]. word study 33 Then [at that moment, afterwards] those who were in the boat [ship, vessel] worshiped [bowed down, showed reverence to] Him, saying, “Truly [of a truth, surely] You are the Son [Child, offspring] of God [the Almighty, divine Creator]!” word study 34 When they had crossed over [gone across, passed to the other side], they landed [came into, arrived at] at [in the region of, toward] Gennesaret [a town near the Sea of Galilee, a plain in Palestine]. word study 35 And when the men [people, inhabitants] of that place [region, area] recognized [came to know, acknowledged] Jesus, they sent word [message, news] to all [the whole, entire] the surrounding region [area, country]. People brought [led, carried] all [every, each] the sick [diseased, ill] to Him [to Jesus, the Healer] word study 36 and begged [pleaded with, besought] Him just to let them touch [attach themselves to, make contact with] the fringe [edge, hem, border] of His cloak [garment, clothing]. And all who touched [made physical contact with, came into contact with] Him were healed [made whole, restored to health, saved]. word study