A.T. Robertson Commentary Matthew 14:21

"And they that did eat were about five thousand men, besides women and children." — Matthew 14:21 (ASV)

Beside women and children (χωρις γυναικων κα παιδιων). Perhaps on this occasion there were not so many as usual because of the rush of the crowd around the head of the lake. Matthew adds this item and does not mean that the women and children were not fed, but simply that "the eaters" (ο εσθιοντες) included five thousand men (ανδρες) besides the women and children.