Loaves and Fish: Decoding the Multiplication and Other Symbols

Last weekend, as I pondered and visualized the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish (Mark chapters 6 and 8), the Lord drew my attention to the grass and other secret symbols in leaven and the Passover.

Green grass. It was a strange clue, but such is the parabolic language of the Holy Spirit. First the grass, then the groupings, and unexpectedly, the message behind the mystery! In the post, we discuss:

• Five Loaves and Two Fish
• Seven Loaves and a Few Fish
• The Secret Message of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish
• The Mystery of Leaven, The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod
• The Secret Message of the Leaven
• Two versus A Few Fish in the Loaves and Fish
• Unleavened Bread and the Blood
• The Message in the Body and the Blood of Christ

Five Loaves and Two Fish

Five Barley Loaves fed Five Thousand (Mark 6: 30-43, NKJV)

In a sunny, grassy, deserted place near the Sea of Galilee, five barley loaves were blessed to feed 5,000. Since the barley harvest was in March around Passover, it was the beginning of Spring. 

Then He [Jesus] commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties (vs. 39-40).

Symbols and Analysis

Green = life, growth, prosperity. Springtime= fruitfulness and growth. Bread (The loaves) = The Word. Five (5) = Grace. Twelve (12) = the divine Government of God, apostolic authority, the Kingdom of God. Fifty (50) = Jubilee, a celebration of liberty, releasing debt, and returning property to original owners.

Altogether, these elements paint a perfect picture of Redemption. He makes me to lie down in green pastures (Psalm 23: 2). 

One Hundred = a generation (see Genesis 15: 13,16).  Generation can also refer to a collective group of people (Mark 8:12).

The 5,000 people sat in groups of 100s and 50s. Five Thousand (5,000) = 100 x 50 = the generation of the Redeemed.

Parabolic Meaning of Five Loaves and Two Fish

“God’s Word of Grace brings Kingdom authority to the Redeemed!”

Seven Loaves and a Few Fish

Seven Loaves Fed Four Thousand (Mark 8: 1-9 NKJV)

It was a barren wilderness place, (no grass is mentioned), and the people sat on the ground).

(Jesus said) “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” So, He commanded the multitude to sit on the ground.” (vs. 2-6a).

The people stayed in the wilderness with Jesus for three days! Often a barren area or symbolic of a season of transition, the wilderness is where God makes provision for His people, as discussed in my post Wilderness Wanderers.

In Exodus 16:32 Moses said, referring to the manna that God fed to Israel in the wilderness,

“This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Fill an omer with it, to be kept for your generations, that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”

Symbols and Analysis

Three (3) = a perfect number, the perfect witness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Seven (7) = covenant, perfection, completion. Forty (40) = the wilderness, a place of testing (to determine if we will continue with the Lord or quit) or a place of transition from bondage (Egypt) to the Promises of God.

Four Thousand (4000) = 40 x 100 = the Wilderness Generation (those under covenant but not yet walking in the promise). 

God’s covenant word (7 loaves) and a few fish fed 4,000 (the wilderness generation) who tarried with the Lord, and 7 baskets (perfection/completion) remained. 

Parabolic Meaning of Seven Loaves and a Few Fish

“God’s Covenant Word brings perfection or completion (an end to the process) to those in the ‘wilderness’ who continue with the Lord for three days.“

The Secret Message of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish

These amazing miracles demonstrate the power of God’s Word. Whether we find ourselves in a fruitful place (grassy slopes) or a barren wilderness awaiting the fulfilment of God’s promises for our lives, God’s Word will sustain, protect, perfect us, and increase our spiritual authority.

The Mystery of Leaven

Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. Then He (Jesus) charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.” (Mark 8: 14-16)

Leaven is the hidden ingredient that makes the dough in bread, cakes, and biscuits rise. In reminding His disciples about the multiplication of the loaves and fish, Jesus made it clear that He spoke of a different kind of leaven: spiritual leaven (the Holy Spirit).

Jesus said in John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” (Matthew 13:33)

The Leaven of the Pharisees

What was the “leaven of the Pharisees”? After Jesus had ministered to the people, the Pharisees came to fuss with Him at Dalmanutha, insisting that He give them a sign to validate Himself. They presented themselves as experts on religious matters and promoted the “traditions of men” yet failed to recognize the Son of God standing right in front of them. Jesus sighed. No sign would be given to “this generation” (their religious population) (Mark 7:1-13, 8:11-12).

The “leaven of the Pharisees” may have been a religious spirit. (II Timothy 3:5a refers to having a form of godliness but denying its power.) This kind of spirit frequents churches and religious gatherings, hence its name. Not to mention, it does not quit challenging and testing and can cause weariness. Jesus left Dalmanutha again because of the Pharisees!

The Leaven of Herod

What was “the leaven of Herod”? Herod is a title, not the name of one individual. We see in Mark chapter 6 that Herod had married his brother’s wife (not widow), an adulterous act under the Law. He also idolized his niece (his stepdaughter) and killed John the Baptist to satisfy a prideful vow. The earlier King Herod had murdered all baby boys in Bethlehem aged two and younger because he was jealous of the newborn King. What a “killer” resumé!

Herod’s spirit appears to be a corrupt and idolatrous authority that works to destroy anyone it views as a threat with little consideration of the collateral damage. Without a doubt, this kind of spirit operates through oppressive leaders or governments. 

The Secret Message of the Leaven

WARNING! Jesus gave a warning about a tag team of evil –namely, the religious spirit and King Herod’s spirit that opposed Jesus and, later, His Disciples. Throughout Scripture, we see how this evil tag team of governmental leaders and the religious elite worked against God’s servants – John the Baptist, Jeremiah, Micaiah (1 Kings 22), Daniel, Elijah, and many others. These two spirits continue even to this day to oppose the Holy Spirit and the Lord’s prophets!

Two vs a Few Fish in the Loaves and Fish

“By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” (2 Corinthians 13:1).

Fish symbolize souls and evangelism since Jesus introduced the concept of “fishers of men.” Both the loaves and fish were multiplied.

Jesus sent his Disciples out in teams of two (two fish) to proclaim the Kingdom, heal, cleanse, deliver from demons, and resurrect the dead. Likewise, only two fish with five loaves were necessary to feed 5,000 (the generation of the redeemed). In contrast, a few fish were needed in the wilderness.

Perhaps more evangelism (a few fish) is needed in the wilderness because of spiritual warfare (there live the wild beasts) (Isaiah 34:14, Mark 1:13). However, Jesus has demonstrated, through His own wilderness experience, that we may overcome the schemes of Satan and his surrogates by declaring the Word of God! GRACE! GRACE! The Word of Grace will reach more people by the Spirit than by effort.

Unleavened Bread and the Blood

During Passover week, we remember how Israel ate unleavened bread in haste to prepare to leave Egypt (bondage).  They sprinkled blood from unblemished lambs on the lintels and doorposts of their homes.

We have passed from death to life, and our sins are forgiven by our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the Apostle Paul reminds us that unleavened bread symbolizes our separation from sin.

Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (1 Cor 5: 6b- 7)

The Message in the Body and the Blood of Christ

We are cleansed, healed and delivered by the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. As we consider the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God whose Body secured our healing and whose Blood paid for the sins of the whole world, we are thankful for His suffering, death, and intercession. Perhaps there is no better time than the present to ask the Lord to rid us from every “old” leaven, worldly spirit, or “traditions of men” that oppose the Holy Spirit!

Dear friends, thanks for joining me on this journey of discovery. Have a Blessed Pesach and Easter weekend!

^{Editor’s note: Published 4/2/2021 and updated 2/19/2024}