What Does Matthew 15:37 Mean in the King James?
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The broken pieces are not evidence that provision failed; they are the measurable remainder after everyone is full.
THE MEANING
This scene speaks of provision that reaches everyone: all eat, and all are filled. Even what remains broken is gathered into seven baskets, so the fullness includes a visible surplus after the meal is complete.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that sharing a provision widely must leave someone hungry: everyone is filled, and seven baskets remain.
THE ROOT
ἐχορτάσθησαν
echortasthēsan
GROWS FROM
χορτ-
chort-
Grass or fodder; by extension, to feed until satisfied.
“were filled” in this verse is echortasthēsan. The Greek says that everyone is fed to satisfaction, not merely handed food. Its word family carries the image of fodder becoming nourishment, so “filled” names a state reached through being fed.
ALSO GROWS
chortos: Grass, herbage, or fodder.
χόρτος
This noun shares the word family’s feeding image: fullness comes through receiving nourishment.
chortazō: To feed, satisfy, or fill.
χορτάζω
The same verb appears in Matthew 5:6, where those who hunger and thirst are promised they will be filled.
κλασμάτων
klasmatōn
GROWS FROM
κλάω
klaō
To break or break off.
“broken meat” in this verse is klasmatōn. The Greek names broken-off portions, from the same word family as the act of breaking bread. The fragments remain visibly broken, yet they are gathered, counted, and abundant.
ALSO GROWS
klaō: To break; to break bread.
κλάω
The root keeps the act of breaking present in the leftover pieces that are gathered.
klasis: Breaking; the act of breaking bread.
κλάσις
This related form appears in “the breaking of bread” in Luke 24:35, linking broken portions with bread shared and recognized.
THE PATTERN
Provision meets real need and exceeds the measure first brought to receive it.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,THE THREAD
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.“Shall be filled” uses the same Greek verb as “were filled” in this meal. The shared word joins bodily satisfaction here with the promise that those who hunger and thirst for alignment will be satisfied.
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