John6
English Standard Version
1 away to the side of the of , which is the Sea of .
2 a was , they the was the .
3 the , he down .
4 the , the of the , at .
5 up his , , a was , , are we to , that people may ?
6 this to , he .
7 , Two worth of would be of to .
8 , , , to ,
9There , so ?
10 , the down. there the . the , in .
11 the , when he had , he them to those who were . , as as they .
12 they had eaten their , he , up the , may be .
13 they them and with the by those who had .
14 the the had , they , the who is to the !
15 they about to and by , the by .
16 , down to the ,
17 a , and the . , had yet .
18 because a was .
19 they had , they the the , they were .
20 he to , It ; do be .
21 they were to the , the the to they were .
22On the day the on the other of the there had , and that had the , had gone .
23 the they had the after the had .
24 the , , themselves into the , .
25 they on the other of the , they to , , did you ?
26 , , , I to , you are , you , you of the .
27Do for the , for the , the of will to . on the has set his .
28 they , must we , be the of ?
29 , the of , you he has .
30 they to , do , we may ? work do you ?
31 the the ; it , He to .
32 to , , , I to , it was who the , the .
33 the of is down to the .
34 , , .
35 to , the of ; whoever shall , whoever shall .
36 I to you have yet do .
37 the will , whoever I will .
38 I have down , own the of him who .
39 the of him , I should of he has , up the .
40 the of my , on the should , will up on the .
41 the , he , the down .
42 , , the of , ? does he , I have down ?
43 , Do .
44No the . And will up on the .
45It the , they be by . who has the —
46 has the he from ; has the .
47 , , I to , whoever .
48 the of .
49 the the , they .
50 the down , that may .
51 the down . , he will . the will for the of the .
52The , , this his to ?
53 said to , , , I to , you the of the of and , you .
54 on , and will up on the .
55 , .
56 on , and .
57 the , and of the , on , also will of .
58 the down , the bread the , . on will .
59Jesus things the , as he .
60 it, they , a ; to ?
61 , were , to , Do take at ?
62 what you were to the of to he ?
63It the who ; the is at . The have to and .
64 there do . (For the those who did , .)
65 he , is why I one it the .
66 of no .
67 to the , Do you away as ?
68 , , shall we ? You the of ,
69 have , and have come to , the of .
70 , Did , the ? yet a .
71 of the son of , , the , was to .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Five thousand miraculously fed. (1–14). Jesus walks on the sea. (15–21). He directs to spiritual food. (22–27). His discourse with the multitude. (28–65). Many of disciples go back. (66–71).
vv1-14
John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.
vv15-21
Here were Christ's disciples in the way of duty, and Christ was praying for them; yet they were in distress. There may be perils and afflictions of this present time, where there is an interest in Christ. Clouds and darkness often surround the children of the light and of the day. They see Jesus walking on the sea. Even the approaches of comfort and deliverance often are so mistaken, as to become the occasions of fear. Nothing is more powerful to convince sinners than that word, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest;” nothing more powerful to comfort saints than this, “I am Jesus whom thou lovest.” If we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, though the night be dark, and the wind high, yet we may comfort ourselves, we shall be at the shore before long.
vv22-27
Instead of answering the inquiry how he came there, Jesus blamed their asking. The utmost earnestness should be employed in seeking salvation, in the use of appointed means; yet it is to be sought only as the gift of the Son of man. Him the Father has sealed, proved to be God. He declared the Son of man to be the Son of God with power.
Key Words
μετά (metá): properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 (ἀπό) or G1537 (ἐκ) and G1519 (εἰς) or G4314 (πρός); less intimate than G1722 (ἐν) and less close than G4862 (σύν))
ταῦτα (taûta): these things
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
ἀπέρχομαι (apérchomai): to go off (i.e. depart), aside (i.e. apart) or behind (i.e. follow), literally or figuratively
πέραν (péran): through (as adverb or preposition), i.e. across
θάλασσα (thálassa): the sea (genitive case or specially)
Γαλιλαία (Galilaía): Galilæa (i.e. the heathen circle), a region of Palestine
Τιβεριάς (Tiberiás): Tiberias, the name of a town and a lake in Palestine
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
πολύς (polýs): (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely
Cross References
John 6The crowd recognizes Jesus as 'that prophet' promised by Moses in Deuteronomy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The Old Testament text explicitly quoted by the crowd regarding the giving of manna.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Direct quotation from the prophets identifying that all God's children will be taught directly by Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Peter's confession here parallels his landmark declaration of Jesus as the Christ, Son of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Elisha's miraculous feeding of one hundred men with twenty barley loaves prefigures Christ's greater miracle.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Job attributes treading the waves of the sea uniquely to God; Jesus does so in flesh.
Supported by JFB
The historical account of the manna, which Jesus contrasts with Himself as the true Bread.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Fulfills Christ's declaration that He will lose nothing of what the Father has given Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Illuminates the concept of being divine 'drawn' to God by His lovingkindness and grace.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Confirms that only the unique Son has seen the Father, acting as the sole direct revealer.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explains Christ's preexistence and ascension as the Son of man descending from and returning to heaven.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Direct theological parallel: the letter/flesh profiteth nothing, but the Spirit gives life.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Explicitly confirms Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him, specifically Judas.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Synoptic parallel account of the feeding of the five thousand with identical details.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Synoptic parallel of the feeding, noted by commentators for harmonizing differing details.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Luke's parallel account of the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallel account of Jesus walking on water and retiring to pray.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Illuminates the miraculous, immediate arrival of the disciples' ship to their destination.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The Messianic resolution to do God's will, perfectly matched by Christ's statement of purpose.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallels the promise of ultimate security for those given to the Son by the Father.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Jesus restates this exact sovereign drawing principle to explain the defection of many disciples.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
The Old Testament type of manna, contrasted with Christ as the true living Bread.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Develops the mutual indwelling motif ('abide in me, and I in you') established in the bread discourse.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Connects Jesus' source of life in the Father to the believer's source of life in Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Directly links to Jesus' earlier statement that no one can come unless the Father draws him.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Jesus describes Judas as the son of perdition, lost despite being chosen among the twelve.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Contrast between Jesus choosing His true disciples and choosing the twelve, which included Judas.
Supported by John Calvin
Moses' doubt about feeding a large multitude echoes Philip's calculation of insufficient bread.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus rejects an earthly kingship by force because His kingdom is not of this world.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The prophetic invitation to come, eat, and drink without money, satisfying hunger and thirst.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Expands on the divine drawing required for anyone to come to Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Connects the Father's sovereign gift of believers to the Son with the execution of eternal life.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Demonstrates Christ's supreme dedication to doing the Father's will rather than His own.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallel account showing the crowd's offense at His ordinary origins: 'Is not this Joseph's son?'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Synoptic parallel showing that only the Son knows and can reveal the Father.
Supported by John Calvin
Joshua's choice to Israel parallels Jesus' testing question to the twelve, 'will ye also go away?'
Supported by Matthew Henry