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John 6

John6

King James Version · Public Domain

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1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13 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.

14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

48 I am that bread of life.

49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

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John 6

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 6. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

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.

Cross References

John 6
v14Deuteronomy 18:15-18fulfillment

The crowd recognizes Jesus as 'that prophet' promised by Moses in Deuteronomy.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v31Psalms 78:24quotation

The Old Testament text explicitly quoted by the crowd regarding the giving of manna.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v45Isaiah 54:13quotation

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

v69Matthew 16:16thematic

Peter's confession here parallels his landmark declaration of Jesus as the Christ, Son of God.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v92 Kings 4:42-44typology

Elisha's miraculous feeding of one hundred men with twenty barley loaves prefigures Christ's greater miracle.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v19Job 9:8thematic

Job attributes treading the waves of the sea uniquely to God; Jesus does so in flesh.

Supported by JFB

v31Exodus 16:4-15typology

The historical account of the manna, which Jesus contrasts with Himself as the true Bread.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v39John 17:12thematic

Fulfills Christ's declaration that He will lose nothing of what the Father has given Him.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v44Jeremiah 31:3thematic

Illuminates the concept of being divine 'drawn' to God by His lovingkindness and grace.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v46John 1:18thematic

Confirms that only the unique Son has seen the Father, acting as the sole direct revealer.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v62John 3:13thematic

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

v64John 13:11thematic

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

v5Mark 6:35-44thematic

Synoptic parallel of the feeding, noted by commentators for harmonizing differing details.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v5Luke 9:12-17thematic

Luke's parallel account of the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v15Mark 6:45-52thematic

Parallel account of Jesus walking on water and retiring to pray.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v21Psalms 107:30fulfillment

Illuminates the miraculous, immediate arrival of the disciples' ship to their destination.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v38Psalms 40:8thematic

The Messianic resolution to do God's will, perfectly matched by Christ's statement of purpose.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v39John 10:27-30thematic

Parallels the promise of ultimate security for those given to the Son by the Father.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v44John 6:65thematic

Jesus restates this exact sovereign drawing principle to explain the defection of many disciples.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v49Exodus 16:15typology

The Old Testament type of manna, contrasted with Christ as the true living Bread.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v56John 15:4thematic

Develops the mutual indwelling motif ('abide in me, and I in you') established in the bread discourse.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v57John 5:26thematic

Connects Jesus' source of life in the Father to the believer's source of life in Jesus.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v65John 6:44thematic

Directly links to Jesus' earlier statement that no one can come unless the Father draws him.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v70John 17:12thematic

Jesus describes Judas as the son of perdition, lost despite being chosen among the twelve.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v70John 15:16thematic

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

v15John 18:36contrast

Jesus rejects an earthly kingship by force because His kingdom is not of this world.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v35Isaiah 55:1-3allusion

The prophetic invitation to come, eat, and drink without money, satisfying hunger and thirst.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v37John 6:44thematic

Expands on the divine drawing required for anyone to come to Christ.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v37John 17:2thematic

Connects the Father's sovereign gift of believers to the Son with the execution of eternal life.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v38Matthew 26:39-42thematic

Demonstrates Christ's supreme dedication to doing the Father's will rather than His own.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v42Luke 4:22thematic

Parallel account showing the crowd's offense at His ordinary origins: 'Is not this Joseph's son?'

Supported by Matthew Poole

v46Matthew 11:27thematic

Synoptic parallel showing that only the Son knows and can reveal the Father.

Supported by John Calvin

v67Joshua 24:15-22thematic

Joshua's choice to Israel parallels Jesus' testing question to the twelve, 'will ye also go away?'

Supported by Matthew Henry