Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 15:36

"and he took the seven loaves and the fishes; and he gave thanks and brake, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes." — Matthew 15:36 (ASV)

If the number of baskets of leftovers in 14:20 is symbolic, it is hard to see why the seven baskets here (v.37) are not symbolic. The number seven may be significant because it is not twelve and therefore not allusive to the twelve apostles or twelve tribes. As before, “those who ate” are all satisfied, and the men only are numbered. The whole crowd may have exceeded ten thousand.