Romans, Part 57

Posted on August 25, 2015 by admin

In this essay I’m looking at the aftermath of Jesus feeding five thousand plus people in the light of his assessment of the Jewish leaders (Ἰουδαῖοι, a form of Ἰουδαῖος)^[1] as an answer to how the Father seeking his own is not self-seeking. And ultimately it is a continuing part of my attempt to view—Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord^[2]—as a definition of love (ἀγάπη) rather than as rules. Matthew and Mark end this thread of their narratives focused on people who did not eat from the five loaves and two fish.

Matthew

Mark

After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the people there recognized him, they sent word into all the surrounding area, and they brought all their sick to him. They begged him if they could only touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Matthew 14:34-36 (NET)

After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored there. As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus. They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be. And wherever he would go – into villages, towns, or countryside – they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Mark 6:53-56 (NET)

John grappled with the more distressing story of many who did eat from the five loaves and two fish (John 6:22-24 NET).

The next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the lake realized that only one small boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. But some boats from Tiberias came to shore near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”^[3]

Jesus didn’t answer their question. Instead He said to those who were part of the crowd… following him because they were observing the miraculous signs he was performing on the sick,^[4] who saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, [and] began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world,”^[5] who were going to come and seize him by force to make him king:^[6] I tell you the solemn truth, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs (σημεῖα, a form of σημεῖον), but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted.^[7]

They didn’t argue with Him about it. In fact, they said something a bit later that confirms his assessment of their motives.^[8] And I’m reminded of Mark’s Gospel narrative, they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.^[9] Who and what did they believe instead of Jesus?

I’ll hazard a guess that they were afraid (ἐφοβοῦντο, a form of φοβέω) of the Jewish (Ἰουδαίους, a form of Ἰουδαῖος) religious leaders. For the Jewish leaders (Ἰουδαῖοι, another form of Ἰουδαῖος) had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.^[10] We are disciples of Moses, the Ἰουδαῖοι said. We know that God has spoken to Moses! We do not know where this man comes from!^[11]

Jesus didn’t walk into anyone’s place of employment, interrupt him and say, Do not work for the food that disappears. Instead, He said it to those who had spent their time, their effort and their money to follow Him not because [they] saw miraculous signs, but because [they] ate all the loaves of bread [they] wanted: Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life – the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.^[12]

I played the organ, and sometimes the piano, at a downtown mission the summer after I got my driver’s license. The man who ran the mission was a nice enough guy in everyday life but an angry^[13] preacher. I felt sorry for the homeless men, sometimes a few women, sitting through that angry tirade everyday for the free meal that followed. But as I look at it in this light, maybe they got what they paid for, indigestion.

Those who followed Jesus not because [they] saw miraculous signs, but because [they] ate all the loaves of bread [they] wanted seemed to grasp his meaning when He told them to work… for the food that remains to eternal life.

What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?^[14] they asked.

This is the deed God requires, Jesus answered, to believe in the one whom he sent.^[15]

They understood that Jesus claimed to be the one God sent: Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?^[16] Here they unmasked themselves, for they already had a sign in mind. Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’^[17] In other words, give us more free food and we’ll believe you.

I’m going to hazard another guess that what they really wanted wasn’t free food. What they really wanted was confirmation of their own goodness and acceptability in God’s sight (Deuteronomy 28:12, 13 NET):

The Lord will open for you his good treasure house, the heavens, to give you rain for the land in its season and to bless all you do; you will lend to many nations but you will not borrow from any. The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always end up at the top and not at the bottom, if you obey his commandments which I am urging you today to be careful to do.

Let me put this back in perspicuous form: If you obey his commandments, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail. If you obey his commandments, you will always end up at the top and not at the bottom. Those who followed Jesus not because [they] saw miraculous signs, but because [they] ate all the loaves of bread [they] wanted didn’t feel like they were the head, at the top, under Roman rule. It was a jarring, glaring, living example of denying the consequent, modus tollens, a deductively valid argument that they were not obeying the Lord’s commandments. And it wasn’t from a lack of trying. That needs to be clearly understood.

The Jewish Encyclopedia online defines Zealots (Hebrew, Ḳanna’im) as follows: “Zealous defenders of the Law and of the national life of the Jewish people; name of a party opposing with relentless rigor any attempt to bring Judea under the dominion of idolatrous Rome, and especially of the aggressive and fanatical war party from the time of Herod until the fall of Jerusalem and Masada. The members of this party bore also the name Sicarii, from their custom of going about with daggers (‘sicæ’) hidden beneath their cloaks, with which they would stab any one found committing a sacrilegious act or anything provoking anti-Jewish feeling.”^[18]

“This unfailing ‘zeal for the Law’ became the standard of piety in the days of the Maccabean struggle against the Hellenizers. Thus it is asserted that when Mattathias slew the Jew whom he saw sacrificing to an idol, ‘he dealt zealously for the law of God, as did Phinehas^[19] unto Zimri the son of Salu’; and Mattathias’ claim of descent from Phinehas implies that, like the latter, he obtained for his house the covenant of an everlasting priesthood (I Macc. ii. 24, 26, 54).”^[20]

“‘Ḳanna’im’ was the name for those zealous for the honor and sanctity of the Law as well as of the sanctuary, and for this reason they at first met with the support and encouragement of the people and of the Pharisaic leaders, particularly those of the rigid school of Shammai.^[21] It was only after they had been so carried away by their fanatic zeal as to become wanton destroyers of life and property throughout the land that they were denounced as heretic Galileans (Yad. iv. 8) and ‘murderers’ and that their principles were repudiated by the peace-loving Pharisees.”^[22]

Jesus’ disciples were steeped in this milieu. Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?^[23] This question was foremost in their minds moments before Jesus’ ascension. And Jesus’ response to his faithful followers was, You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…^[24]

So Jesus instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit, the source of the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control^[25] that is the fulfillment of the law.^[26] Jesus was focused on the work his Father had sent Him to accomplish (Matthew 5:17-20 NET):

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place. So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

So how did Jesus respond to those who followed Him not because [they] saw miraculous signs, but because [they] ate all the loaves of bread [they] wanted?

I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God (ἄρτος τοῦ θεοῦ) is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.^[27]

Give us today our daily bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος).^[28] I wouldn’t alter the translation but it’s important to realize that as I pray this I’m asking, Give us today our daily Jesus, the fruit of his Spirit. Sir (κύριε, a form of κύριος), give us this bread all the time,^[29] those who followed Jesus not because [they] saw miraculous signs, but because [they] ate all the loaves of bread [they] wanted said.

Outwardly, they appeared to be doing right, following Jesus. They said the right words: Sir (literally, Lord), give us this bread all the time. The note in the NET reads: “The Greek κύριος (kurios) means both ‘Sir’ and ‘Lord.’ In this passage it is not at all clear at this point that the crowd is acknowledging Jesus as Lord. More likely this is simply a form of polite address (‘sir’).” And I agree, for when Jesus clearly identified Himself as the ἄρτος τοῦ θεοῦ saying, I am the bread of life (ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς),^[30] they began complaining about him.^[31]

I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty. But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe. Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. Now this is the will of the one who sent me – that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father – for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.^[32]

Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus (Ἰουδαῖοι, a form of Ἰουδαῖος) began complaining about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven…”^[33] The note in the NET reads: “Grk ‘Then the Jews.’ In NT usage the term ᾿Ιουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) may refer to the entire Jewish people, the residents of Jerusalem and surrounding territory, the authorities in Jerusalem, or merely those who were hostile to Jesus…Here the translation restricts the phrase to those Jews who were hostile to Jesus (cf. BDAG 479 s.v. ᾿Ιουδαῖος 2.e.β), since the ‘crowd’ mentioned in 6:22-24 was almost all Jewish (as suggested by their addressing Jesus as ‘Rabbi’ (6:25). Likewise, the designation ‘Judeans’ does not fit here because the location is Galilee rather than Judea.”

Yes, I get it. The Jews who responded to Jesus this way were hostile or hardened. There were other Jews who were not so hostile, who had heard and learned from the Father.^[34] But I think another important point that John and the Holy Spirit have made here is that it was “Jewishness” that began complaining about him because he said… It was the religious mind, and the religious mind comes in many flavors, even scientific, even atheist, even Christian flavors.

Romans, Part 58

^[1] John 5:16-47 (NET) Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders (Ἰουδαῖοι) began persecuting him (verse 16).

^[2] Romans 12:11 (NET) Table

^[3] John 6:25 (NET)

^[4] John 6:2 (NET)

^[5] John 6:14 (NET)

^[6] John 6:15 (NET)

^[7] John 6:26 (NET)

^[8] John 6:31 (NET)

^[9] Mark 6:52 (NET)

^[10] John 9:22 (NET)

^[11] John 9:28b, 29 (NET)

^[12] John 6:27 (NET)

^[13] James 1:20; 3:17, 18 (NET)

^[14] John 6:28 (NET)

^[15] John 6:29 (NET)

^[16] John 6:30 (NET)

^[17] John 6:31 (NET)

^[18] Kaufmann Kohler, ZEALOTS, Jewish Encyclopedia

^[19] Numbers 25 (NET)

^[20] Kaufmann Kohler, ZEALOTS, Jewish Encyclopedia

^[21] An interesting insight on Paul: Paul: At the Feet of Gamaliel? In my zeal for God I persecuted the church (Philippians 3:6a NET).

^[22] Kaufmann Kohler, ZEALOTS, Jewish Encyclopedia

^[23] Acts 1:6 (NET) Table

^[24] Acts 1:7, 8a (NET) Table

^[25] Galatians 5:22, 23a (NET)

^[26] Romans 13:10b (NET)

^[27] John 6:32, 33 (NET)

^[28] Matthew 6:11 (NET)

^[29] John 6:34 (NET)

^[30] John 6:35a (NET)

^[31] John 6:41a (NET)

^[32] John 6:35-40 (NET)

^[33] John 6:41 (NET)

^[34] John 6:45

Romans, Part 56

Posted on August 18, 2015 by admin

Ezekiel prophesied: For this is what the sovereign (ʼădônây, אדני) Lord (y^ehôvih, יהוה) says: Look, I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will seek out my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy, dark day.^[1] I will seek the lost and bring back the strays; I will bandage the injured and strengthen the sick, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them – with judgment!^[2]

I will save my sheep; they will no longer be prey. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will set one shepherd over them, and he will feed them – namely, my servant David. He will feed them and will be their shepherd. I, the Lord (y^ehôvâh, יהוה), will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them; I, the Lord (y^ehôvâh, יהוה), have spoken!^[3]

This is a fitting introduction to this section of the story of Jesus feeding five thousand plus people in the light of his assessment of the Jewish leaders (Ἰουδαῖοι, a form of Ἰουδαῖος)^[4] as an answer to how the Father seeking his own is not self-seeking. And ultimately it is a continuing part of my attempt to view—Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord^[5]—as a definition of love (ἀγάπη) rather than as rules.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

And they said, “Should we go and buy bread for two hundred silver coins and give it to them to eat?” He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

Mark 6:37, 38a (NET)

They replied, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish – unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

Luke 9:13b (NET)

They said to him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” “Bring them here to me,” he replied.

Matthew 14:17, 18 (NET)

When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.”

Mark 6:38b (NET)

One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “Here is a^[6] boy who has^[7] five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?” [Table]

John 6:8, 9 (NET)

If I accept John’s contention that— Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?”^[8]—I get a slightly different picture of the situation. I suspect that while Jesus taught and healed the people his disciples, anticipating, were on the lookout for food. They didn’t really expect to spend two hundred silver coins, the amount Phillip assessed earlier that day: Philip replied, “Two hundred silver coins worth of bread would not be enough for them, for each one to get a little.”^[9]

Later that evening when they came to Jesus and said—This is an isolated place and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves^[10]—their compassion for the people was tinged by their perceived failure to find a sufficient supply of food. Mark captured their astonishment when Jesus replied—You give them something to eat—Should we go and buy bread for two hundred silver coins [recalling Philip’s earlier assessment] and give it to them to eat?^[11]

How many loaves do you have? Jesus asked. Go and see.^[12]

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?”^[13]

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Then he instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass.

Matthew 14:19a (NET)

Then he directed them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties.

Mark 6:39, 40 (NET)

Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” So they did as Jesus directed, and the people all sat down.

Luke 9:14b, 15 (NET)

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” (Now there was a lot of grass in that place.) So the men sat down…

John 6:10a (NET)

He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, twelve baskets full.

Matthew 14:19b, 20 (NET)

He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to his disciples to serve the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full.

Mark 6:41-43 (NET)

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up – twelve baskets of broken pieces.

Luke 9:16, 17 (NET)

Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were all satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces that are left over,^[14] so that nothing is wasted.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten [Table].

John 6:11-13 (NET)

Not counting women and children, there were about five thousand men who ate.

Matthew 14:21 (NET)

Now there were five thousand men who ate the bread.

Mark 6:44 (NET)

(Now about five thousand men were there.)

Luke 9:14a (NET)

… about five thousand in number.

John 6:10b (NET)

I have nothing to add to this scene except the words of y^ehôvih (יהוה) through the prophet Ezekiel: In a good pasture I will feed them; the mountain heights of Israel will be their pasture. There they will lie down in a lush pasture, and they will feed on rich grass on the mountains of Israel. I myself will feed my sheep and I myself will make them lie down, declares the sovereign (ʼădônây, אדני) Lord (y^ehôvih).^[15] Only John’s Gospel narrative picked up on this.

Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
			Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” John 6:14 (NET)
Immediately (εὐθέως) Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds [Table]. Matthew 14:22 (NET)	Immediately (εὐθὺς) Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd. Mark 6:45 (NET)
And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. Matthew 14:23a (NET)	After saying good-bye to them, he went to the mountain to pray. Mark 6:46 (NET)		Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone. John 6:15 (NET)

Luke’s Gospel abandoned this particular narrative thread.

Matthew

Mark

John

When evening came, [Jesus] was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it.

Matthew 14:23b, 24 (NET)

When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land. He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.

Mark 6:47, 48a (NET)

Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started to cross the lake to Capernaum. (It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.) By now a strong wind was blowing and the sea was getting rough.

John 6:16-18 (NET)

John’s Gospel narrative gives me the impression that Jesus’ disciples waited around for Him a bit longer than Matthew’s εὐθέως (translated, immediately NET or straightway KJV) or Mark’s εὐθὺς (translated, immediately NET or straightway KJV) led me at first to believe. As I look at it now I think εὐθέως and εὐθὺς spoke more to Jesus’ urgency dismissing his disciples because he knew [the people who saw the miraculous sign] were going to come and seize him by force to make him king.

Matthew

Mark

John

As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear. But immediately (εὐθὺς) Jesus spoke to them: “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Matthew 14:25-27 (NET)

As the night was ending, he came to them walking on the sea, for he wanted to pass by them. When they saw him walking on the water they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately (εὐθὺς) he spoke to them: “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Mark 6:48b-50 (NET)

Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they caught sight of Jesus walking on the lake, approaching the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”

John 6:19, 20 (NET)

Only Matthew recorded what happened next. I wonder if the tax collector’s prayer Jesus spoke^[16] about was Matthew’s (also known as Levi).^[17]

Matthew

Mark

John

Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus [Table]. But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately (εὐθέως) Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith (ὀλιγόπιστε, a form of ὀλιγόπιστος), why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:28-31 (NET)

I have written about this before.^[18]

Matthew

Mark

John

When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:32, 33 (NET)

Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished, because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Mark 6:51, 52 (NET)

Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately (εὐθέως) the boat came to the land where they had been heading.

John 6:21 (NET)

Matthew wrote, Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Mark wrote, They were completely astonished, because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. And John let both stand without comment. This was curious until I stepped back into the scene.

If I crawl into the boat and look first through Matthew’s eyes as he watched Peter get out of the boat at Jesus’ command and walk on the water toward Him, it’s immaterial to me that Peter began to flounder. Of course he did. What was astonishing was that he stood and walked at all! Truly, Jesus is the Son of God.

If, on the other hand, I get out of the boat with Peter (the presumed source of Mark’s Gospel narrative) and take those few tentative steps, see the wind whipping up the waves, fear and begin to sink… While it is not immaterial that Jesus reached out his hand and caught me, my focus is his question: why did you doubt? And until the Holy Spirit was given, truly, Peter’s heart was hardened, as were the hearts of all the rest of Jesus’ disciples and all Israel (Isaiah 6 NET): it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.^[19]

I’ll continue this thread in the next essay.

Romans, Part 57

^[1] Ezekiel 34:11, 12 (NET)

^[2] Ezekiel 34:16 (NET)

^[3] Ezekiel 34:22-24 (NET)

^[4] John 5:16-47 (NET) Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders (Ἰουδαῖοι) began persecuting him (verse 16).

^[5] Romans 12:11 (NET) Table

^[6] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

^[7] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὃς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο (KJV: which).

^[8] John 6:5 (NET)

^[9] John 6:7 (NET)

^[10] Matthew 14:15 (NET)

^[11] Mark 6:37 (NET)

^[12] Mark 6:38a (NET)

^[13] John 6:8, 9 (NET)

^[14] The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐπερίσσευσαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επερισσευσεν (KJV: remained over and above).

^[15] Ezekiel 34:14, 15 (NET)

^[16] Luke 18:9-14 (NET)

^[17] Compare: Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:14-17, Luke 5:27-32 (NET)

^[18] Romans, Part 17

^[19] Romans 9:16 (NET) Table

The Will of God – Jesus, Part 2

Posted on August 17, 2012 by admin

Jesus fed about five thousand men (Not counting women and children)¹ with five barley loaves and two fish.² After they gathered the leftovers and filled twelve baskets,³ they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”⁴ This was a reference to Moses’ prophesy, The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you – from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him.⁵

Immediately Jesus⁶ made the⁷ disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side (πέραν),⁸ while he dispersed the crowds.⁹ Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone.¹⁰ Once Jesus finished praying he walked across the water, apparently intending to pass his disciples by. But they saw him, thought he was a ghost, and were afraid. So Jesus got into the boat with them (Mark 6:45-51).

The next day the crowds followed him across the lake. “Rabbi, when did you get here?” they asked. “I tell you the solemn truth,” Jesus said, “you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted. Do not work (ἐργάζεσθε, a form of ἐργάζομαι) for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life – the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.”¹¹

They asked, “What must we do (ποιῶμεν, a form of ποιέω) to accomplish (ἐργαζώμεθα, another form of ἐργάζομαι) the deeds (ἔργα, a form of ἔργον) God requires?” Jesus replied, “This is the deed (ἔργον) God requires – to believe (πιστεύητε, a form of πιστεύω) in the one whom he sent.”¹² After a free lunch these same people called Jesus the prophesied prophet like Moses. They were ready to make him king. But when asked to believe in him, what He said about Himself? what He said about us? that we should think and do these things?—then the duplicity Jesus saw in them was revealed for all to see.

“Then what miraculous sign will you perform (ποιεῖς, another form of ποιέω), so that we may see (ἴδωμεν, a form of εἴδω) it and believe (πιστεύσωμεν, another form of πιστεύω) you?” they said. “What will you do (ἐργάζῃ, another form of ἐργάζομαι)?”¹³ Obviously, feeding five thousand plus people with fives loaves and two fish wasn’t enough. They required better proof than one free lunch if faith was on the table here. “Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) from heaven to eat.’”¹⁴ In other words, give us unlimited free lunches and we might have something to talk about.

According to a note in the NET the people quoted Psalm 78:24 to Jesus. It’s not a great quotation, more like a paraphrase, but here is the relevant portion of the Psalm, a Psalm of Asaph, one of David’s musicians (Psalm 78:18-32 NET).

They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite. They insulted God, saying, “Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness? Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out, streams gushed forth. But can he also give us food? Will he provide meat for his people?” When the Lord heard this, he was furious. A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel, because they did not have faith in God, and did not trust his ability to deliver them. He gave a command to the clouds above, and opened the doors in the sky. He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain (Septuagint: ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) of heaven. Man ate the food of the mighty ones. He sent them more than enough to eat. He brought the east wind through the sky, and by his strength led forth the south wind. He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores. He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp, all around their homes. They ate until they were stuffed; he gave them what they desired. They were not yet filled up, their food was still in their mouths, when the anger of God flared up against them. He killed some of the strongest of them; he brought the young men of Israel to their knees. Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.

“I tell you the solemn truth,” Jesus answered, “it is not Moses who has given you the bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) from heaven [Table]. For the bread (ἄρτος) of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir, give us this bread (ἄρτον, a form of ἄρτος) all the time!”¹⁵ they said.

“I am the bread (ἄρτος) of life,”¹⁶ Jesus said. This wasn’t a difficult figure of speech. It came from Moses, Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these forty years through the desert so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not. So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread (Septuagint: ἄρτῳ, another form of ἄρτος) alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord’s mouth.¹⁷

“The one who comes to me will never go hungry, Jesus continued, and the one who believes (πιστεύων, another form of πιστεύω) in me will never be thirsty [Table]. But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe (πιστεύετε, a form of πιστεύω). Everyone whom the Father gives (δίδωσιν, a form of δίδωμι) me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will (θέλημα) but the will (θέλημα) of the one who sent me. Now this is the will (θέλημα) of the one who sent me – that I should not lose one person of every one he has given (δέδωκεν, another form of δίδωμι) me, but raise them all up at the last day. For this is the will (θέλημα) of my Father – for everyone who looks (θεωρῶν, a form of θεωρέω) on the Son and believes (πιστεύων, another form of πιστεύω) in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day”¹⁸ [Table].

In my imagination I can see one person in that crowd nudge the fellow next to him and ask, “So, uh, does that mean he’s serving lunch, or not?” The actual text reads, Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began complaining about him because he said, “I am the bread (ἄρτος) that came down from heaven.”¹⁹

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He²⁰ called a child, had him stand among them, and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! Whoever then humbles²¹ himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”²² Then Jesus warned those who would become stumbling blocks (σκανδάλων, a form of σκάνδαλον) to one of these little ones who believe (πιστευόντων, another form of πιστεύω) in me [Table].²³ But after that He affirmed his own faithfulness to the will of God with a story about a shepherd (Matthew 18:12-14 NET).

If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing (θέλημα) that one of these little ones be lost [Table].

John began his Gospel account with this: [Jesus, the Word who was in the beginning with God, who was God]²⁴ was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. But to all who have received him – those who believe (πιστεύουσιν, another form of πιστεύω) in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children – children not born by human parents or by human desire (θελήματος, a form of θέλημα) or a husband’s decision (θελήματος, a form of θέλημα), but by God.²⁵

Addendum: January 31, 2021
As I made the tables for Psalm 78:18-32 it really struck home that neither miraculous signs nor punishment opened unregenerate eyes to see the kingdom of God: “I tell you the solemn truth,” Jesus told Nicodemus, “unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God”²⁶ [Table]. Was Jesus the only one who sang this psalm and understood that? Did all the others, with religious minds, blame their ancestors for being unregenerate human beings and resolve to do better in their own unregenerate strength (e.g., the weakness of their flesh)?

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 78:34 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:34 (NET)	Psalm 77:34 (NETS)	Psalm 77:34 (English Elpenor)
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.	When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.	When he was killing them, they would seek him out, and they would turn to God and be early.	When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.

I just assumed that they who sought him and them who were slain were two different but related groups. Now suddenly, I’m questioning whether that assumption was contradicted by Jesus and this Psalm, which says of those who were yet living in their flesh:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 78:32 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:32 (NET)	Psalm 77:32 (NETS)	Psalm 77:32 (English Elpenor)
For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.	Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.	Amidst all these things they still sinned, and they did not believe in his marvels.	In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles.

I’ll take a moment to at least consider the implications if they who sought him and them who were slain are one and the same (Luke 20:37, 38).

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 78:35-37 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:35-37 (NET)	Psalm 77:35-37 (NETS)	Psalm 77:35-37 (English Elpenor)
And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.	They remembered that God was their protector and that God Most High was their deliverer.	And they remembered that God was there helper and God the Most High was their redeemer.	And they remembered that God was their helper, and the most high God was their redeemer.
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.	But they deceived him with their words and lied to him.	And they deceived him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied to him.	And they deceived him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied to him.
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.	They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.	And their heart was not upright with him, nor were they true to his covenant.	For their heart [was] not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

The first implication would be that God did his diagnostic work (διαγνωσθῇ, a form of διαγινώσκω; Table below) on both sides of the grave. Second, being freed from sin and being raised (ἐγείρονται, a form of ἐγείρω) had no significant impact on the intrinsic weakness of human flesh. Jesus told a teacher of Israel: What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’²⁷

Tables comparing Deuteronomy 18:15; Psalm 78:18; 78:19; 78:20; 78:21; 78:22; 78:23; 78:24; 78:25; 78:26; 78:27; 78:28; 78:29; 78:30; 78:31; 78:32; Deuteronomy 8:2; 8:3; Psalm 78:34; 78:35; 78:36 and 78:37 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Deuteronomy 18:15; Psalm 78:18 (77:18); 78:19 (77:19); 78:20 (77:20); 78:21 (77:21); 78:22 (77:22); 78:23 (77:23); 78:24 (77:24); 78:25 (77:25); 78:26 (77:26); 78:27 (77:27); 78:28 (77:28); 78:29 (77:29); 78:30 (77:30); 78:31 (77:31); 78:32 (77:32); Deuteronomy 8:2; 8:3; Psalm 78:34 (77:34); 78:35 (77:35); 78:36 (77:36) and 78:37 (77:37) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing John 6:9; 6:13; Matthew 14:22; 18:2 and 18:4 in the NET and KJV follow.

Deuteronomy 18:15 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (NET)
A prophet will HaShem thy G-d raise up unto thee, from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;	The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;	The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you—from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him.

Deuteronomy 18:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
προφήτην ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου ὡς ἐμὲ ἀναστήσει σοι κύριος ὁ θεός σου αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε	προφήτην ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου ὡς ἐμὲ ἀναστήσει σοι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε
Deuteronomy 18:15 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 18:15 (English Elpenor)
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers; you shall hear him.	The Lord thy God shall raise up to thee a prophet of thy brethren, like me; him shall ye hear:

Psalm 78:18 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:18 (KJV)	Psalm 78:18 (NET)
And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.	And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.	They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.

Psalm 78:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐξεπείρασαν τὸν θεὸν ἐν ταῗς καρδίαις αὐτῶν τοῦ αἰτῆσαι βρώματα ταῗς ψυχαῗς αὐτῶν	καὶ ἐξεπείρασαν τὸν Θεὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, τοῦ αἰτῆσαι βρώματα ταῖς ψυχαῖς αὐτῶν
Psalm 77:18 (NETS)	Psalm 77:18 (English Elpenor)
And they tested God in their hearts by demanding food for their souls.	And they tempted God in their hearts, in asking meat for [the desire of] their souls.

Psalm 78:19 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:19 (KJV)	Psalm 78:19 (NET)
Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?	Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?	They insulted God, saying, “Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness?

Psalm 78:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ κατελάλησαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ εἶπαν μὴ δυνήσεται ὁ θεὸς ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν ἐν ἐρήμῳ	καὶ κατελάλησαν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ εἶπαν· μὴ δυνήσεται ὁ Θεὸς ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν ἐν ἐρήμῳ
Psalm 77:19 (NETS)	Psalm 77:19 (English Elpenor)
And they spoke against God and said, “Surely, God will not be able to spread a table in a wilderness?	They spoke also against God, and said, Will God be able to prepare a table in the wilderness?

Psalm 78:20 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:20 (KJV)	Psalm 78:20 (NET)
Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?	Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?	Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out; streams gushed forth. But can he also give us food? Will he provide meat for his people?”

Psalm 78:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐπεὶ ἐπάταξεν πέτραν καὶ ἐρρύησαν ὕδατα καὶ χείμαρροι κατεκλύσθησαν μὴ καὶ ἄρτον δύναται δοῦναι ἢ ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ	ἐπεὶ ἐπάταξε πέτραν καὶ ἐρρύησαν ὕδατα καὶ χείμαρροι κατεκλύσθησαν, μὴ καὶ ἄρτον δύναται δοῦναι ἢ ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ
Psalm 77:20 (NETS)	Psalm 77:20 (English Elpenor)
Even though he struck a rock and waters gushed out and wadis deluged, surely, he cannot also give bread or spread a table for his people?”	Forasmuch as he smote the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will he be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for his people?

Psalm 78:21 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:21 (KJV)	Psalm 78:21 (NET)
Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;	Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;	When the Lord heard this, he was furious. A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel,

Psalm 78:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διὰ τοῦτο ἤκουσεν κύριος καὶ ἀνεβάλετο καὶ πῦρ ἀνήφθη ἐν Ιακωβ καὶ ὀργὴ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸν Ισραηλ	διὰ τοῦτο ἤκουσε Κύριος καὶ ἀνεβάλετο, καὶ πῦρ ἀνήφθη ἐν ᾿Ιακώβ, καὶ ὀργὴ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ,
Psalm 77:21 (NETS)	Psalm 77:21 (English Elpenor)
Therefore the Lord heard and was put out, and a fire was kindled in Iakob, and anger mounted against Israel,	Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath went up against Israel.

Psalm 78:22 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:22 (KJV)	Psalm 78:22 (NET)
Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:	Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:	because they did not have faith in God and did not trust his ability to deliver them.

Psalm 78:22 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τῷ θεῷ οὐδὲ ἤλπισαν ἐπὶ τὸ σωτήριον αὐτοῦ	ὅτι οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τῷ Θεῷ οὐδὲ ἤλπισαν ἐπὶ τὸ σωτήριον αὐτοῦ
Psalm 77:22 (NETS)	Psalm 77:22 (English Elpenor)
because they had no faith in God nor did they hope in his saving power.	Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.

Psalm 78:23 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:23 (KJV)	Psalm 78:23 (NET)
Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,	Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,	He gave a command to the clouds above and opened the doors in the sky.

Psalm 78:23 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐνετείλατο νεφέλαις ὑπεράνωθεν καὶ θύρας οὐρανοῦ ἀνέῳξεν	καὶ ἐνετείλατο νεφέλαις ὑπεράνωθεν καὶ θύρας οὐρανοῦ ἀνέῳξε
Psalm 77:23 (NETS)	Psalm 77:23 (English Elpenor)
And he commanded clouds above and opened heaven’s doors,	Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.

Psalm 78:24 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:24 (KJV)	Psalm 78:24 (NET)
And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.	And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.	He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain of heaven.

Psalm 78:24 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔβρεξεν αὐτοῗς μαννα φαγεῗν καὶ ἄρτον οὐρανοῦ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῗς	καὶ ἔβρεξεν αὐτοῖς μάννα φαγεῖν καὶ ἄρτον οὐρανοῦ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς
Psalm 77:24 (NETS)	Psalm 77:24 (English Elpenor)
and he rained down manna for them to eat, and heaven’s bread he gave them.	and rained upon them manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven.

Psalm 78:25 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:25 (KJV)	Psalm 78:25 (NET)
Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.	Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.	Man ate the food of the mighty ones. He sent them more than enough to eat.

Psalm 78:25 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἄρτον ἀγγέλων ἔφαγεν ἄνθρωπος ἐπισιτισμὸν ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοῗς εἰς πλησμονήν	ἄρτον ἀγγέλων ἔφαγεν ἄνθρωπος, ἐπισιτισμὸν ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοῖς εἰς πλησμονήν
Psalm 77:25 (NETS)	Psalm 77:25 (English Elpenor)
Bread of angels man ate; provisions he sent them in abundance.	Man ate angels’ bread; he sent them provision to the full.

Psalm 78:26 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:26 (KJV)	Psalm 78:26 (NET)
He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.	He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.	He brought the east wind through the sky and by his strength led forth the south wind.

Psalm 78:26 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀπῆρεν νότον ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἐπήγαγεν ἐν τῇ δυναστείᾳ αὐτοῦ λίβα	ἀπῇρε Νότον ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἐπήγαγεν ἐν τῇ δυνάμει αὐτοῦ Λίβα
Psalm 77:26 (NETS)	Psalm 77:26 (English Elpenor)
He removed a south wind from heaven, and he led on, by his dominance, a southwest wind,	He removed the south wind from heaven; and by his might he brought in the south-west wind.

Psalm 78:27 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:27 (KJV)	Psalm 78:27 (NET)
He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:	He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:	He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.

Psalm 78:27 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔβρεξεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ὡσεὶ χοῦν σάρκας καὶ ὡσεὶ ἄμμον θαλασσῶν πετεινὰ πτερωτά	καὶ ἔβρεξεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ὡσεὶ χοῦν σάρκας καὶ ὡσεὶ ἄμμον θαλασσῶν πετεινὰ πτερωτά
Psalm 77:27 (NETS)	Psalm 77:27 (English Elpenor)
and he rained upon them flesh like dust and winged birds like the sand of seas,	And he rained upon them flesh like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the seas.

Psalm 78:28 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:28 (KJV)	Psalm 78:28 (NET)
And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.	And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.	He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp, all around their homes.

Psalm 78:28 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐπέπεσον εἰς μέσον τῆς παρεμβολῆς αὐτῶν κύκλῳ τῶν σκηνωμάτων αὐτῶν	καὶ ἐπέπεσον ἐν μέσῳ παρεμβολῆς αὐτῶν κύκλῳ τῶν σκηνωμάτων αὐτῶν
Psalm 77:28 (NETS)	Psalm 77:28 (English Elpenor)
and they fell in the midst of their camp, all around their coverts.	And they fell into the midst of their camp, round about their tents.

Psalm 78:29 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:29 (KJV)	Psalm 78:29 (NET)
So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;	So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;	They ate until they were beyond full; he gave them what they desired.

Psalm 78:29 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐφάγοσαν καὶ ἐνεπλήσθησαν σφόδρα καὶ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν ἤνεγκεν αὐτοῗς	καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ ἐνεπλήσθησαν σφόδρα, καὶ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν αὐτῶν ἤνεγκεν αὐτοῖς
Psalm 77:29 (NETS)	Psalm 77:29 (English Elpenor)
And they ate and were well filled, and what they craved he brought them;	So they ate, and were completely filled; and he gave them their desire.

Psalm 78:30 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:30 (KJV)	Psalm 78:30 (NET)
They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,	They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,	They were not yet filled up; their food was still in their mouths

Psalm 78:30 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:30 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐκ ἐστερήθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῶν ἔτι τῆς βρώσεως αὐτῶν οὔσης ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν	οὐκ ἐστερήθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῶν. ἔτι τῆς βρώσεως οὔσης ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν,
Psalm 77:30 (NETS)	Psalm 77:30 (English Elpenor)
they were not deprived of what they craved. While their food was still in their mouth,	They were not disappointed of their desire: [but] when their food was yet in their mouth,

Psalm 78:31 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:31 (KJV)	Psalm 78:31 (NET)
The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.	The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.	when the anger of God flared up against them. He killed some of the strongest of them; he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.

Psalm 78:31 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἀνέβη ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν ἐν τοῗς πίοσιν αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς τοῦ Ισραηλ συνεπόδισεν	καὶ ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀνέβη ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς, καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν ἐν τοῖς πλείοσιν αὐτῶν, καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς τοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ συνεπόδισεν
Psalm 77:31 (NETS)	Psalm 77:31 (English Elpenor)
God’s wrath also rose against them, and he killed among their sleek ones, and the select of Israel he shackled.	then the indignation of God rose up against them, and slew the fattest of them, and overthrew the choice men of Israel.

Psalm 78:32 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:32 (KJV)	Psalm 78:32 (NET)
For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.	For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.	Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.

Psalm 78:32 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:32 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν πᾶσιν τούτοις ἥμαρτον ἔτι καὶ οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τοῗς θαυμασίοις αὐτοῦ	ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις ἥμαρτον ἔτι καὶ οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν ἐν τοῖς θαυμασίοις αὐτοῦ
Psalm 77:32 (NETS)	Psalm 77:32 (English Elpenor)
Amidst all these things they still sinned, and they did not believe in his marvels.	In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles.

Deuteronomy 8:2 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 8:2 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 8:2 (NET)
And thou shalt remember all the way which HaShem thy G-d hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that He might afflict thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.	And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.	Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these 40 years through the wilderness so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not.

Deuteronomy 8:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 8:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ μνησθήσῃ πᾶσαν τὴν ὁδόν ἣν ἤγαγέν σε κύριος ὁ θεός σου ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ὅπως ἂν κακώσῃ σε καὶ ἐκπειράσῃ σε καὶ διαγνωσθῇ τὰ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου εἰ φυλάξῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ἢ οὔ	καὶ μνησθήσῃ πᾶσαν τὴν ὁδόν, ἣν ἤγαγέ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ὅπως ἂν κακώσῃ σε καὶ πειράσῃ σε καὶ διαγνωσθῇ τὰ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, εἰ φυλάξῃ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ἢ οὔ
Deuteronomy 8:2 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 8:2 (English Elpenor)
And you shall remember all the way that the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness so that he might distress you in the wilderness so that he might distress you and test you and discern the things in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.	And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee in the wilderness, that he might afflict thee, and try thee, and that the things in thine heart might be made manifest, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.

Deuteronomy 8:3 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 8:3 (NET)
And He afflicted thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every thing that proceedeth out of the mouth of HaShem doth man live.	And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.	So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord’s mouth.

Deuteronomy 8:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 8:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐκάκωσέν σε καὶ ἐλιμαγχόνησέν σε καὶ ἐψώμισέν σε τὸ μαννα ὃ οὐκ εἴδησαν οἱ πατέρες σου ἵνα ἀναγγείλῃ σοι ὅτι οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ παντὶ ῥήματι τῷ ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος θεοῦ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος	καὶ ἐκάκωσέ σε καὶ ἐλιμαγχόνησέ σε καὶ ἐψώμισέ σε τὸ μάννα, ὃ οὐκ ᾔδεισαν οἱ πατέρες σου, ἵνα ἀναγγείλῃ σοι, ὅτι οὐκ ἐπ᾿ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ παντὶ ῥήματι τῷ ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος Θεοῦ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος
Deuteronomy 8:3 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 8:3 (English Elpenor)
And he distressed you and let you hunger and fed you with manna with which your fathers were not acquainted in order to announce to you that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that goes out through the mouth of God man shall live.	And he afflicted thee and straitened thee with hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thy fathers knew not; that he might teach thee that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God shall man live.

Psalm 78:34 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:34 (KJV)	Psalm 78:34 (NET)
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.	When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.	When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.

Psalm 78:34 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:34 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅταν ἀπέκτεννεν αὐτούς ἐξεζήτουν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπέστρεφον καὶ ὤρθριζον πρὸς τὸν θεὸν	ὅταν ἀπέκτειναν αὐτούς, τότε ἐξεζήτουν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπέστρεφον καὶ ὤρθριζον πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν
Psalm 77:34 (NETS)	Psalm 77:34 (English Elpenor)
When he was killing them, they would seek him out, and they would turn to God and be early.	When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.

Psalm 78:35 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:35 (KJV)	Psalm 78:35 (NET)
And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.	And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.	They remembered that God was their protector and that God Most High was their deliverer.

Psalm 78:35 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:35 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ὁ θεὸς βοηθὸς αὐτῶν ἐστιν καὶ ὁ θεὸς ὁ ὕψιστος λυτρωτὴς αὐτῶν ἐστιν	καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς βοηθὸς αὐτῶν ἐστι καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ῞Υψιστος λυτρωτὴς αὐτῶν ἐστι
Psalm 77:35 (NETS)	Psalm 77:35 (English Elpenor)
And they remembered that God was there helper and God the Most High was their redeemer.	And they remembered that God was their helper, and the most high God was their redeemer.

Psalm 78:36 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:36 (KJV)	Psalm 78:36 (NET)
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.	Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.	But they deceived him with their words and lied to him.

Psalm 78:36 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:36 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἠπάτησαν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῶν ἐψεύσαντο αὐτῷ	καὶ ἠγάπησαν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῶν ἐψεύσαντο αὐτῷ
Psalm 77:36 (NETS)	Psalm 77:36 (English Elpenor)
And they deceived him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied to him.	Yet they loved him [only] with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.

Psalm 78:37 (Tanakh)	Psalm 78:37 (KJV)	Psalm 78:37 (NET)
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.	For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.	They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.

Psalm 78:37 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 77:37 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν οὐκ εὐθεῗα μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ ἐπιστώθησαν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ αὐτοῦ	ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν οὐκ εὐθεῖα μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ ἐπιστώθησαν ἐν τῇ διαθήκῃ αὐτοῦ
Psalm 77:37 (NETS)	Psalm 77:37 (English Elpenor)
And their heart was not upright with him, nor were they true to his covenant.	For their heart [was] not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

John 6:9 (NET)	John 6:9 (KJV)
“Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?”	There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ἔστιν παιδάριον ὧδε ὃς ἔχει πέντε ἄρτους κριθίνους καὶ δύο ὀψάρια· ἀλλὰ ταῦτα τί ἐστιν εἰς τοσούτους	εστιν παιδαριον εν ωδε ο εχει πεντε αρτους κριθινους και δυο οψαρια αλλα ταυτα τι εστιν εις τοσουτους	εστιν παιδαριον εν ωδε ο εχει πεντε αρτους κριθινους και δυο οψαρια αλλα ταυτα τι εστιν εις τοσουτους

John 6:13 (NET)	John 6:13 (KJV)
So they gathered them up and filled 12 baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten.	Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
συνήγαγον οὖν καὶ ἐγέμισαν δώδεκα κοφίνους κλασμάτων ἐκ τῶν πέντε ἄρτων τῶν κριθίνων ἃ ἐπερίσσευσαν τοῖς βεβρωκόσιν	συνηγαγον ουν και εγεμισαν δωδεκα κοφινους κλασματων εκ των πεντε αρτων των κριθινων α επερισσευσεν τοις βεβρωκοσιν	συνηγαγον ουν και εγεμισαν δωδεκα κοφινους κλασματων εκ των πεντε αρτων των κριθινων α επερισσευσεν τοις βεβρωκοσιν

Matthew 14:22 (NET)	Matthew 14:22 (KJV)
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds.	And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Καὶ \|εὐθέως\| ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς μαθητὰς ἐμβῆναι εἰς \|τὸ\| πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους	και ευθεως ηναγκασεν ο ιησους τους μαθητας αυτου εμβηναι εις το πλοιον και προαγειν αυτον εις το περαν εως ου απολυση τους οχλους	και ευθεως ηναγκασεν ο ιησους τους μαθητας εμβηναι εις το πλοιον και προαγειν αυτον εις το περαν εως ου απολυση τους οχλους

Matthew 18:2 (NET)	Matthew 18:2 (KJV)
He called a child, had him stand among them,	And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος παιδίον ἔστησεν αὐτὸ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν	και προσκαλεσαμενος ο ιησους παιδιον εστησεν αυτο εν μεσω αυτων	και προσκαλεσαμενος ο ιησους παιδιον εστησεν αυτο εν μεσω αυτων

Matthew 18:4 (NET)	Matthew 18:4 (KJV)
Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.	Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
ὅστις οὖν ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ὡς τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο, οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ μείζων ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν	οστις ουν ταπεινωση εαυτον ως το παιδιον τουτο ουτος εστιν ο μειζων εν τη βασιλεια των ουρανων	οστις ουν ταπεινωσει εαυτον ως το παιδιον τουτο ουτος εστιν ο μειζων εν τη βασιλεια των ουρανων