Get ready for some surprising prophetic understandings from one of the most well-known stories about Yeshua—the feeding of the 5000 with five loaves and two fishes.
The corollary passage to Mark 8:1–10 is Matthew 14:13–21, which we will explore below.
First you might want to review Matthew 14:13–21.
This account appears to be an allegory pertaining to end-time events—specifically, the regathering of the Israelite exiles, and is another allusion to the final redemption.
John the Immerser (Baptist), who came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Messiah, had just been killed by the politico-religious system of his day. (Similarly, it is interesting to note that the two end time witnesses or prophets who will come in the spirit of Elijah will be martyred in Jerusalem just prior to the return of Yeshua [Rev 11:1–13].) In response to John’s murder at the hands of Herod, Yeshua and his disciples left the area to escape any possible backlash of the wrath of Herod (who allegorically represents the devil). This seems to be a picture of what is prophesied to occur to the bride (the saints) of Messiah during the great tribulation just prior to the return of Yeshua (Rev 12:12–17). The boat seems to metaphorically represent the eagle’s wings of Revelation 12:14 that carried the woman into the wilderness, which is a place of protection and safety during the great tribulation.
Once in the wilderness, “when the day was far spent … and now the time is far passed” (a prophetic reference to the end of the age just prior to the return of Yeshua), Yeshua fed the multitude five loaves and two fishes provided by a young boy. The five loaves speak of the five books of YHVH’s Torah (since the number five alludes to Torah in Hebraic thought and bread or manna is symbolic of the Word of Elohim [Matt 4:4]. This points to Yeshua who, spiritually speaking, is the Bread of Life and Torah-Word of Elohim made flesh [John 1:1, 14; 6:32–58]). The two fish could either refer to the two houses of Israel (the houses of Judah and Ephraim) or to Ephraim and Manasseh (the two dominate tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel) who are likened to fish of the sea in Genesis 48:16 (and who would “proliferate abundantly like fish,” according to The ArtScroll Stone Edition Tanach translation). The fact that a lad provided the makings for the dinner shows us that the Torah-Word of Elohim is neither too difficult for YHVH’s people to understand nor to obey (Deut 30:11–14), for even a child is able to provide this food. Elsewhere Yeshua taught that we must become humble, simple and teachable as little children if we are to enter his spiritual kingdom (Matt 18:2–5).
Yeshua was moved with compassion toward the multitude because they were as sheep without a shepherd. In Ezekiel 34, YHVH rebukes the spiritual shepherds of Israel (i.e., the religious leaders) for not feeding his spiritual sheep,130 and for not gathering his scattered and lost sheep, and for not healing the wounded and sick. This was the spiritual condition of lost (Ezek 34:16) and scattered (Ezek 34:5) Israel, but YHVH, the Good Shepherd, promised to feed his sheep upon the mountains of Israel (Ezek 34:13–14), even as Yeshua fed the multitudes in the wilderness upon the mountains of Israel by the Sea of Galilee in the historic land of the house of Israel (northern kingdom). He not only fed the multitude, but healed their sick. This he also promised to do to the returning sheep of Israel in Ezekiel 34:4 and 16.
Yeshua would not permit the multitudes to return to the villages (symbolic of the churches or religious institutions of the Babylonian world system—out of which YHVH commands his people to come, Rev 18:4) to procure food even though it was becoming evening (or prophetically a reference to the end of the age—a time of spiritual darkness). After all, Yeshua is the Bread of Life (John 6:48–58) and he, as a faithful shepherd, will feed his sheep provender (Ps 23:1–2). He promises to nourish his people in the wilderness during the dark times of the great tribulation just prior to his second coming (Rev 12:14) by feeding Israel from his Torah (pictured by the five loaves).
It is not until one comes away from the villages (a metaphor for the churches or religious systems of this world, which the Scriptures call Babylon or “confusion” [Rev 18:4]) that one becomes truly satisfied and fulfilled with the spiritual nourishment of both the Written Torah-Word and Yeshua the Living Torah-Word of Elohim. In fact, there was such an abundance of food in the wilderness by the hand of Yeshua that twelve baskets of bread were left over.
Twelve speaks of the twelve tribes of Israel who Yeshua the Good Shepherd will feed once he gathers all his scattered sheep together (Ezek 34:5,11–16). Twelve also speaks of perfect government. For example, in YHVH’s kingdom the twelve apostles will sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt 19:28). Eventually, only redeemed and glorified Israelites will inhabit the New Heaven and a New Earth within the New Jerusalem, which has twelve gates named after the twelve tribes of Israel. There will be no gate labelled “Gentile” (Rev 21:12)! This will be the perfect governmental system of YHVH eternal kingdom.
What is the message for you in this story?
Have you left, or are you in the process of leaving Babylonian religious systems, which contain a mixture of biblical truth and pagan and humanistic teachings? Yeshua is calling his people out of Babylon and promises to feed and care for them in the wilderness, even as YHVH led the children of Israel out of Egypt and cared for them in the wilderness and prepared them for going into the Promised Land.
In Hebrew, the word wilderness is midbar, which, interestingly, is the Hebrew name for the fourth book of the Bible, the Book of Numbers, which is B’midbar, meaning “in the wilderness.” This word contains the Hebrew word d’bar or debar/devar, which literally means “word” as in “the word of Elohim.” In fact, the name of the fifth book of the Bible is Deuteronomy is also related to this word. It is the Hebrew word devarim (literally meaning words [of Elohim], which is the plural of debar/devar. Finally, the most set-apart place (or the holy of holies) in the Tabernacle of Moses was alternately called the deveer, which is Hebrew for oracle. It was called this because it was there that Moses went to talk with YHVH.
What is the point of this quick word study? Simply this. The Hebrew word for wilderness is related to the Hebrew word as in word of Elohim. What can we learn from this as related to Yeshua feeding the multitudes in the wilderness away from the cities? Sometimes YHVH’s people have to leave the non or quasi-religious (Babylonian) systems of men, and go into the spiritual wilderness to hear the pure and undiluted word of Elohim. This is not easy for many people to do, but in the end times, YHVH is calling more of his people to do that so that he can prepare and train them for their future destiny as leaders in his millennial kingdom in the spiritual Promised Land.
Wow! I am speechless (in a good way) after reading this lesson. I mentioned a few weeks ago (“Your Advice Please” post) that we had left a “church” fellowship due to HUGE unbiblical teaching, and we’ve been studying Torah and truly changing our entire lifestyle to match the word of Elohim and follow his commandments. I admit, though, there is still a nagging feeling that “We need to go the church on Sunday” that comes from the habit of doing that for so long. Your post is a timely reminder to us of what we need to do now.
As an aside, this will be our first year celebrating Chanukah! I cannot express how excited we are to celebrate, and how stress-free it has been! December was always so stressful to me with christmas and I never enjoyed it. And in my mind, I had further confirmation that Chanukah is the correct celebration: I had chosen 8 different scriptures emphasizing light, then discovered (when looking for recipes), that you had in your Messianic Candle pdf a scripture for each night. All but 1 was the same that I had chosen!
Shalom!
Wow! Thanks for sharing what YHVH is doing for you!
With regard to the five loaves and two fishes teaching, this is one of 60 some teachings from the life of Yeshua that I have written in a yet un-published book, which is a commentary on the Gospels. All of these were downloaded to me by the Holy Spirit in a six-week period to time a few years ago. May YHVH Elohim receive all the glory!
Who knows, I might be inspired from time to time to pull out a few more of these nuggets the Holy Spirit has given me to share with you guys.
Yeshua be praised!
I’m really blessed this is indeed a depth inside of the word
You might be inspired to share more. Well if you know the parable of the talents, there should be no “I might”. It should be I can’t wait to share what YHWH has shown me. Just my opinion. Shalom!
YHVH gave me the revelation, and he will tell me when it’s time to share the whole thing. It’s not up to me to decide. That’s how it works in the realm the Spirit of Elohim. Blessings!
Shabbat Shalom,
Wow! So YHWH communitcates that specifically with you to include dates for release. Wow! All I can say is wow! Why would you keep something more presious that glod all to your self? Its amazing how evryone thinks they know how God works yet this world confirms otherwise.
You mention revelations. Has He told you when the 1st seal was opened? If He ahs bot told you when do you think the 1st seal was opened? Just curious.
Shabbat Shalom
Steve, YHVH speaking to me is not some mysterious thing that makes me special or puts one on a spiritual pedestal. Yeshua said that all YHVH’s sheep should be able to hear the voice of Elohim (John 10:3). As we grow and mature in Yeshua, and in being led by the Spirit, we will know what to do and when, for YHVH leads us. A video I made on the subject of hearing the voice of YHVH might be a blessing to you. You can access at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JDBJCoLYgA. This will teach one how they too can hear the voice of Elohim. Blessings to you in Yeshua
No worries. Just speaking from my experience. When YHWH speaks to me or He speaks to me through someone else. Once I discern it to be of YHWH I spread it like there is no 2mro because for some there actually might not be a 2mro. As with your article on the feeding of the 5000. After reading a praying. YHWH told me this is truth so I posted it so all my friends could see and possible learn. Have shared it through e-mails and will continue to share it until the whole world hears. You do understand where i am coming from concerning the parable of the talents?
Thanks for let us little guys in on this one!
Shalom my brother.
You bring an interesting interpretation of the five loaves and 2 fishes. I agree with your interpretation of the five loaves as being the TORAH. But I believe that you have missed the meaning of the two fishes. One of the clues is that Jesus directed the multitude to sit down (in Mark, the word was “Commanded”). Jesus is telling us that the law of GOD (the TORAH) and the commandments of Jesus (two of them) will someday feed the world.
I could be wrong, but it makes sense to me, as it follows the rest of the BIBLE in theme and character.
The commandments of Yeshua and the Torah are two sides of the same coin and are thus, in essence, the same thing. Yeshua’s words do not contradict the Torah, but expand on it. In other words, Yeshua’s expansion of the Torah are simply elucidations of the basic principles already laid out in the Torah. Cite me any command that Yeshua gave and I will take it back to the Torah. This is because Yeshua is the Living Torah Word incarnate (John 1:1, 14). He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
John deals with this issue in his first epistle. There he states on several occasions that you have heard a new commandment, but it is the old one that you’ve heard from the beginning.
This idea that the words and commands of Yeshua are somehow different than the Torah is not supported by the apostolic writers; it is a church idea rooted in the notion that somehow the words of Yeshua are superior to and better than the Torah. This heresy is rooted in the pagan philosophy of Greek dualism as filtered through the Christian gnostics like Marcion, and cults like the Manicheans, and the Paulicians. Some of these ideas (especially from Marcion) worked their way into the early church and remain with us today. The main idea of it is that the God of the OT (i.e. Jehovah) is bad and mean and so are his laws, and the God of the NT (Jesus) is loving and gracious. What they failed to realize is that Yeshua is the “God” of the OT. Anyway, this is a whole other discussion. I know that this is not what you’re suggesting or even implying by your comments, but I wanted to show the folks the heretical roots of some of these false dichotomies that we have inadvertently sucked up from Christianity.
If I missed the mark of the intent of your comment, please forgive me. I saw this as a teaching moment and wanted to take advantage of the situation, so I went for it.
Blessings!
I also thought it missed the meaning of the fish. In my quiet time this morning and thinking on this very thing, the 5 loaves were the 5 Books Torah and the fish were the Nefilim, and Ketuvim, the Prophets and Writings that make up the complete TaNaK.
But with things like this maybe there are different meanings or applications.
Jesus did this miracle when was preaching to the Jews
The five loaves represents the five senses of the body and two fishes represents the soul and spirit. And Yeshua said to them, “Come after me, and I shall make you to become fishers of men.” (MAT 4.19). Jesus Christ gave to us his body and blood as real food and drink. Means 100% sacrifice for the humanity.
we supposed to offer ourselves to the priest as an offering thru Jesus christ to Our heavenly father (Body, soul and Spirit). God will transform you and fill you with 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit (charity, generosity, joy, gentleness, peace, faithfulness,Patience, modesty, kindness,self-control,goodness,chastity. (12 baskets of bread)
Multiplication of 7 loaves and 2 fishes when he was preaching to Non Jews
7 loaves represent seven vices of the body ( Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride) . their souls and spirit is marred because of the sins ( that is the reason it says fishes).
again after offering to Heavenly father thru Jesus who is our high priest will transform the
body, soul and spirit of a person and fill with heavenly 7 virtues Chastity, Abstinence, Liberality, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, Humility.
in both feeding story to help us to understand and live as much as holy to enter into heaven.
i have lot to write but i do not know
Interesting and amazing that my prayer and meditation this morning was prompted with the story of the loaves and fish. I don’t even know why I was thinking on that except for the Ruach Ha Kodesh HIS Spirit. I have never heard the 5 loaves described as 5 Books of Torah, so that had to be again the Almighty’s Spirit. I was curious to look it up and see if there was anyone else who thought this, and find this article.
All i can say more please excellent teaching Thanks
Grateful I found this info.
Interesting views, intriguing thoughts! Love to dig deep into the Word of God for spiritual meanings and significance. However, one comment describes the 5 loaves as the 5 senses and 7 loaves as 7 vices. But find it hard to understand why Yeshua would multiply and distribute the 5 senses/7 vices to the multitude. What nourishment can one receive from such spiritual food?
Five senses and seven vices? What is the scriptural basis for this understanding? If there is none, then I am disinclined to accept the five loaves and two fishes as a biblical metaphor for these two things. We must let the Bible interpret the Bible if we are to properly understand it.
Awesome word never heard like this before. I love study the word and when I read studies like this I’m over joyed. Thank you so much.
God is love. God made you to allow Him to love you. Not for you to love Him. He is love. He wants you like Christ. Your made in the image of God. Your made in love that He is.
Huh??? If Elohim is not for us to love, then why does Christ tell us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength in Mark 12:29?