John 6 · KJV
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John 6

Feeding five thousand

After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

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? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 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. 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. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 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. 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.

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.

Near the Sea of Galilee, with Passover approaching, a large crowd follows Jesus. With five barley loaves and two fish from a boy, Jesus feeds about five thousand men, and twelve baskets of leftovers are collected. The crowd hails him as "the prophet" and Jesus withdraws when he sees they mean to make him king by force.

What does this mean?

"Pennyworth" (KJV) and "denarii" (WEB) refer to the denarius, a Roman silver coin roughly equal to a labourer's day's wage, so two hundred was a large sum. "Sea of Tiberias" is another name for the Sea of Galilee.

Historical context

Barley bread was the cheaper bread of the poor. Herod Antipas founded the city of Tiberias on the lake around AD 20, naming it after the emperor Tiberius. Popular expectation of a Messiah was often political: a king who would free Israel from Roman rule.

Why does it matter?

The feeding is the only miracle of Jesus' ministry recorded in all four Gospels. In John it sets up a long discourse on Jesus as "the bread of life". Many readers also note the echo of Moses and the manna that fed Israel in the wilderness, which the crowd itself raises in verse 31.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Told in all four Gospels

How John tells it

Only John says the loaves were barley and came from a boy, and names Philip and Andrew in the exchange. Here Jesus raises the problem himself rather than the disciples. John notes that Passover was near, and alone reports that the crowd hailed Jesus as "the prophet" and wanted to make him king by force, so he withdrew.

Jesus walks on the water

And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. 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. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

That evening the disciples set out by boat across the lake toward Capernaum without Jesus, and a strong wind stirs the sea. After rowing some distance they see Jesus walking on the water toward them and are afraid, but he tells them not to fear. They take him into the boat, and at once it reaches the shore.

What does this mean?

Twenty-five or thirty "stadia" (KJV "furlongs") is about five kilometres (three miles). Jesus' words "It is I" are in Greek simply "I am", the same phrase behind his "I am" sayings elsewhere in John.

Historical context

The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake about 21 km (13 miles) long, surrounded by hills, and sudden strong winds are a known hazard. In the Old Testament God alone is described as treading on the sea and ruling the waters, for example in Job 9:8 and Psalm 77:19.

Why does it matter?

Many interpreters read "I am" here as more than self-identification, linking it to God's self-description and to Jesus' later "I am" statements. The episode sits between the feeding and the discourse it prompts.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Told in three Gospels

How John tells it

John's account is the briefest. There is no Peter walking on the water, as in Matthew, no mention of Jesus intending to pass by, as in Mark, and no explicit calming of the wind. John gives the distance the disciples had rowed and ends with the boat immediately reaching land.

The bread of life

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; (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 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. 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. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 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. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 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. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 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. 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.

The crowd tracks Jesus down in Capernaum. He tells them they are seeking him for the food, not the sign, and urges them to work for food that lasts. When they ask for a sign like the manna Moses gave, Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life," and says whoever comes to him will never hunger.

  • Scripture connection · Quotation

    John 6:31 quotes Exodus 16:4 · Psalm 78:24

    Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
    Exodus 16:4 · KJV
    And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
    Psalm 78:24 · KJV

    The crowd recalls the manna in the wilderness; Jesus answers that he himself is the bread from heaven.

What does this mean?

Manna was the food Israel ate in the wilderness after leaving Egypt (Exodus 16). "Sealed" means marked with approval, as with a seal. "The last day" means the final day of judgment and resurrection.

Historical context

Some Jewish writings from around this period express the hope that manna would fall again when the Messiah came, so the crowd's request is not random. Bread was the staple food, and "bread" could stand for food in general.

Why does it matter?

This is the first of seven "I am" sayings in John that use an image: bread, light, door, good shepherd, resurrection and life, the way, and the vine. The pattern of misunderstanding, as people hear physical food when Jesus means life from God, is typical of the Gospel.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Eating the flesh of the Son of Man

The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 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? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 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. 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. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 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. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 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. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 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. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

The listeners grumble that Jesus, whose parents they know, claims to have come down from heaven. Jesus presses further: the bread he will give is his flesh, and whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood has eternal life. John notes this teaching took place in the synagogue at Capernaum.

  • Scripture connection · Quotation

    John 6:45 quotes Isaiah 54:13

    And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
    Isaiah 54:13 · KJV

    Isaiah promised that God's restored people would all be taught by God.

What does this mean?

"Murmured" means grumbled or complained, the same word used of Israel grumbling in the wilderness. "Strove" (KJV) or "contended" (WEB) means argued sharply. "Indeed" means truly or real.

Historical context

The idea of eating someone's flesh and, especially, drinking blood would have shocked Jewish hearers, since the law forbade consuming blood (Leviticus 17). The remains of a later synagogue stand at Capernaum, built over what many archaeologists think are the foundations of an earlier one.

Why does it matter?

John does not record Jesus giving bread and wine at the Last Supper, as the other Gospels do. Many Christians, from early centuries onward, have read this passage as referring to the Lord's Supper (Communion or the Eucharist), though traditions differ on how. Others read it primarily as a vivid picture of believing in Jesus and sharing his life.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Many turn away; Peter stays

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 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. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Many of Jesus' disciples find his teaching too hard and stop following him. When Jesus asks the Twelve whether they also want to leave, Peter answers that there is nowhere else to go, since Jesus has the words of eternal life. Jesus replies that one of the Twelve is a devil, meaning Judas.

What does this mean?

"Offend" (KJV) means to cause to stumble, to trip someone up in their faith. "The flesh profiteth nothing" contrasts merely human, physical understanding with the life-giving Spirit. "The Twelve" is the inner circle of disciples.

Historical context

"Disciples" here is broader than the Twelve; it includes a wider group of followers, many of whom now leave. Judas' surname Iscariot is often explained as "man of Kerioth", a town, though other explanations have been proposed.

Why does it matter?

Peter's confession is often compared with the scene in the other Gospels where Peter declares Jesus the Christ. John repeatedly notes ahead of time that Jesus knew who would betray him, a theme that returns at the Last Supper in chapter 13.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

Chapters

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  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21

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Reading

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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