John6
New King James Version
1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.
3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.
4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.
5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”
6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,
9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people 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 them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”
13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.
19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.
20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone—
23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks—
24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?
31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
41 The Jews then complained about 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 says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves.
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.
47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
48 I am the bread of life.
49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?
62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
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.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
People in this chapter — 8
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John 6Public-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.
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