Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 9:13

"But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy food for all this people." — Luke 9:13 (ASV)

Each of the Synoptics records both the disciples’ unimaginative suggestion that the crowds be sent away to find their own food and Jesus’ response, “You give them something to eat,” putting the responsibility back on them. The loaves were a basic food, often eaten with fish from the Sea of Galilee.