The Meaning of Matthew 15:30 Explained

Matthew 15:30

KJV: And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:

YLT: and there came to him great multitudes, having with them lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they did cast them at the feet of Jesus, and he healed them,

Darby: and great crowds came to him, having with them lame, blind, dumb, crippled, and many others, and they cast them at his feet, and he healed them:

ASV: And there came unto him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they cast them down at this feet; and he healed them:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  great  multitudes  came  unto him,  having  with  them [those that were]  lame,  blind,  dumb,  maimed,  and  many  others,  and  cast  them  down  at  Jesus'  feet;  and  he healed  them: 

What does Matthew 15:30 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 15:29-39 - Ministering To The Multitudes
Our Lord's mission of grace and truth was at its height. His help was sought with the utmost eagerness. Large numbers of sick were cast at His feet in hot haste. The crumb was given to the woman of Canaan, but whole loaves were distributed to the crowds of Jews, because it was befitting that they should have a full chance to appreciate and accept Christ. For a brief moment they glorified the God of Israel, but the spasm of gratitude was transient. "His own" rejected Jesus. They would have His miracles, but would not own His claims. Take care that you do not become content with getting His help; love Him for Himself.
Do not suppose that these miracles were confined to His earthly life. He is still the great storehouse of divine and healing energy. He is still moved with compassion, and longs to help each weary and sin-sick soul. His thought still is lest they faint by the way. The wilderness can place no bar on "the saving strength of His right hand." Disciples especially are meant to be intermediaries and mediators. They take and give. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 15

1  Jesus reproves the Scribes and Pharisees
7  for transgressing God's commandments through their own traditions;
10  teaches how that which goes into the mouth does not defile a man
21  He heals the daughter of the woman of Canaan,
29  and other great multitudes;
32  and with seven loaves and a few small fish feeds four thousand men

Greek Commentary for Matthew 15:30

And they cast them down at his feet [και εριπσαν αυτους παρα τους ποδας αυτου]
A very strong word, flung them down, “not carelessly, but in haste, because so many were coming on the same errand” (Vincent). It was a great day for “they glorified the God of Israel.” [source]
Cast them down [ἔῤῥιψαν]
Very graphic. Lit., flung them down; not carelessly, but in haste, because so many were coming on the same errand. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 15:30 mean?

And came to Him crowds great having with them lame crippled blind mute others many they placed them at the feet of Him He healed them
καὶ προσῆλθον αὐτῷ ὄχλοι πολλοὶ ἔχοντες μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν χωλούς κυλλούς τυφλούς κωφούς ἑτέρους πολλούς ἔρριψαν αὐτοὺς παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ἐθεράπευσεν αὐτούς

προσῆλθον  came 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: προσέρχομαι  
Sense: to come to, approach.
αὐτῷ  to  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ὄχλοι  crowds 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὄχλος  
Sense: a crowd.
πολλοὶ  great 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
χωλούς  lame 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: χωλός  
Sense: lame.
κυλλούς  crippled 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: κυλλός  
Sense: crooked.
τυφλούς  blind 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: τυφλός  
Sense: blind.
κωφούς  mute 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: κωφός  
Sense: blunted, dull.
ἑτέρους  others 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλοιόω 
Sense: the other, another, other.
πολλούς  many 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
ἔρριψαν  they  placed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ῥίπτω  
Sense: to cast, throw.
παρὰ  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: παρά  
Sense: from, of at, by, besides, near.
πόδας  feet 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πούς  
Sense: a foot, both of men or beast.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἐθεράπευσεν  He  healed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: θεραπεύω  
Sense: to serve, do service.