New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
John 6
1
Some time after this, Jesus crossed over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. It is also called the Sea of Tiberias.
Reference
📍 Sea of Tiberias
2
A large crowd of people followed him. They had seen the miraculous signs he had done on those who were sick.
5
Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him. So he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?"
7
Philip answered him, "Eight months' pay would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
Reference
8
Another of his disciples spoke up. It was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
9
He said, "Here is a boy with five small loaves of barley bread. He also has two small fish. But how far will that go in such a large crowd?"
Reference
10
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down. The number of men among them was about 5,000.
11
Then Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks. He handed out the bread to those who were seated. He gave them as much as they wanted. And he did the same with the fish.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 6:23
Matthew 15:36
Romans 14:6
Luke 24:30
Acts 27:35
1 Corinthians 10:31
1 Samuel 9:13
References Jesus
1 Thessalonians 5:18
12
When all of them had enough to eat, Jesus spoke to his disciples. "Gather the leftover pieces," he said. "Don't waste anything."
Reference
13
So they gathered what was left over from the five barley loaves. They filled 12 baskets with the pieces left by those who had eaten.
14
The people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did. Then they began to say, "This must be the Prophet who is supposed to come into the world."
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 11:3
Genesis 49:10
John 4:25
John 4:42
Prophecy
Matthew 21:11
Acts 7:37
John 1:21
John 7:40
John 4:19
Luke 24:19
15
But Jesus knew that they planned to come and force him to be their king. So he went away again to a mountain by himself.
Reference
16
When evening came, Jesus' disciples went down to the Sea of Galilee.
17
There they got into a boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. By now it was dark. Jesus had not yet joined them.
Reference
19
They rowed three or three and a half miles. Then they saw Jesus coming toward the boat. He was walking on the water. They were terrified.
Reference
21
Then they agreed to take him into the boat. Right away the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Reference
22
The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake realized something. They saw that only one boat had been there. They knew that Jesus had not gotten into it with his disciples. And they knew that the disciples had gone away alone.
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 6:45
23
Then some boats from Tiberias landed. It was near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks.
Reference
📍 Tiberias
Parallel theme
John 6:1
24
The crowd realized that Jesus and his disciples were not there. So they got into boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus.
Reference
References Jesus
John 6:17
25
They found him on the other side of the lake. They asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"
26
Jesus answered, "What I'm about to tell you is true. You are not looking for me because you saw miraculous signs. You are looking for me because you ate the loaves until you were full.
Reference
Parallel theme
Philippians 3:19
Ezekiel 33:31
1 Timothy 6:5
John 6:2
Psalm 78:37
References Jesus
Philippians 2:21
Romans 16:18
John 6:24
John 3:5
27
Do not work for food that spoils. Work for food that lasts forever. That is the food the Son of Man will give you. God the Father has put his seal of approval on him."
Reference
Eternal Life
John 6:54
John 6:40
Romans 6:23
John 10:28
Parallel theme
Colossians 3:2
Isaiah 55:2
John 6:51
Matthew 6:19
References God
2 Timothy 2:19
Acts 10:38
29
Jesus answered, "God's work is to believe in the One he has sent."
Reference
Faith
1 John 3:23
Acts 16:31
John 3:36
Mark 16:16
1 John 5:1
Psalm 2:12
Parallel theme
Hebrews 5:9
John 5:39
Matthew 17:5
30
So they asked him, "What miraculous sign will you give us? What will you do so we can see it and believe you?
Reference
31
Long ago our people ate the manna in the desert. It is written in Scripture, 'The Lord gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "--(Exodus 16:4; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:24,25)
Reference
32
Jesus said to them, "What I'm about to tell you is true. It is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven. It is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
Reference
35
Then Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever go hungry. And no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty.
Reference
37
Everyone the Father gives me will come to me. I will never send away anyone who comes to me.
Reference
38
"I have not come down from heaven to do what I want to do. I have come to do what the One who sent me wants me to do.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 5:30
John 4:34
Isaiah 53:10
John 3:31
John 3:13
John 6:33
Hebrews 5:8
Romans 15:3
Matthew 20:28
39
The One who sent me doesn't want me to lose anyone he has given me. He wants me to raise them up on the last day.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 17:12
John 18:9
John 6:37
Jude 1:1
Matthew 18:14
Luke 12:32
Resurrection
John 6:40
John 6:54
John 6:44
Romans 8:11
40
My Father wants all who look to the Son and believe in him to have eternal life. I will raise them up on the last day."
Reference
Eternal Life
Romans 6:23
John 4:14
John 6:27
Faith
John 5:24
John 11:25
Parallel theme
John 12:45
John 1:14
John 14:19
Luke 2:30
Resurrection
John 6:54
41
Then the Jews began to complain about Jesus. That was because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."
Reference
42
They said, "Isn't this Jesus, the son of Joseph? Don't we know his father and mother? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
Reference
44
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me brings him. Then I will raise him up on the last day.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 6:65
John 12:32
Matthew 16:17
John 6:45
Jeremiah 31:3
Hosea 11:4
Philippians 1:29
John 5:44
Resurrection
Colossians 2:12
45
"It is written in the Prophets, 'God will teach all of them.'--(Isaiah 54:13) Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 54:13
Hebrews 10:16
John 6:65
John 6:37
Matthew 17:5
John 10:27
References God
1 Thessalonians 4:9
Micah 4:2
Isaiah 2:3
Ephesians 1:17
46
"No one has seen the Father except the One who has come from God. Only he has seen the Father.
Reference
49
Long ago your people ate the manna in the desert, and they still died.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jude 1:5
51
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Everyone who eats some of this bread will live forever. The bread is my body. I will give it for the life of the world."
Reference
52
Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves. They said, "How can this man give us his body to eat?"
Reference
53
Jesus said to them, "What I'm about to tell you is true. You must eat the Son of Man's body and drink his blood. If you don't, you have no life in you.
Reference
Blood
John 6:55
Parallel theme
1 John 5:12
John 15:4
John 6:47
Revelation 2:17
John 3:36
Matthew 18:3
Luke 13:5
References Jesus
John 3:3
John 3:5
54
Anyone who eats my body and drinks my blood has eternal life. I will raise him up on the last day.
Reference
Eternal Life
John 6:47
John 4:14
John 6:27
Parallel theme
John 6:63
Galatians 2:20
Resurrection
Psalm 22:26
55
"My body is real food. My blood is real drink.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 15:1
John 8:31
John 8:36
John 1:9
John 1:47
Hebrews 8:2
John 6:32
Psalm 4:7
1 John 5:20
57
"The living Father sent me, and I live because of him. In the same way, those who feed on me will live because of me.
Reference
58
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Long ago your people ate manna and died. But those who feed on this bread will live forever."
Reference
59
He said this while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 6:24
60
Jesus' disciples heard this. Many of them said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
Reference
61
Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining about his teaching. So he said to them, "Does this upset you?
Reference
References Jesus
John 6:64
63
The Holy Spirit gives life. The body means nothing at all. The words I have spoken to you are from the Spirit. They give life.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 119:93
Deuteronomy 32:47
Spirit
Hebrews 4:12
Galatians 5:25
1 Corinthians 15:45
Word
John 6:68
1 Peter 1:23
Psalm 119:50
Psalm 119:130
Romans 10:17
64
But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe. And he had known who was going to hand him over to his enemies.
Reference
Faith
John 10:26
John 6:36
Parallel theme
Hebrews 4:13
Romans 8:29
John 5:42
2 Timothy 2:19
Acts 15:18
John 6:66
References Jesus
John 6:61
65
So he continued speaking. He said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father helps him."
Reference
Parallel theme
John 6:37
John 3:27
2 Timothy 2:25
1 Timothy 1:14
Philippians 1:29
Hebrews 12:2
John 10:16
67
"You don't want to leave also, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
Reference
References Jesus
John 6:70
68
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, who can we go to? You have the words of eternal life.
Reference
Eternal Life
John 6:40
Parallel theme
Psalm 73:25
Acts 4:12
Acts 7:38
References Peter
Matthew 16:16
Word
John 5:24
Acts 5:20
John 6:63
John 17:8
69
We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Reference
Faith
John 11:27
1 John 5:1
John 20:31
References Christ
Mark 8:29
Luke 9:20
1 John 5:20
Romans 1:3
Matthew 16:16
John 1:41
References God
Mark 1:24
70
Then Jesus replied, "Didn't I choose you, the 12 disciples? But one of you is a devil!"
Reference
Evil
John 13:2
1 John 3:8
John 8:44
Parallel theme
John 17:12
John 13:18
Acts 1:17
John 15:19
References Jesus
John 13:27
John 6:64
John 13:21
Chapter Summary
John 6 presents some of the most important signs and teachings in John's Gospel, beginning with the feeding of more than five thousand people, continuing with Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee, and reaching its central teaching in Jesus' declaration that He is the Bread of Life who gives eternal life to those who believe in Him.
Jesus crosses the Sea of Galilee, followed by a large crowd because people have seen His miracles of healing.
When Jesus sees that the crowd is hungry, He tests Philip by asking where they can buy enough bread to feed everyone.
Philip focuses on the enormous cost, while Andrew finds a boy with five barley loaves and two fish but recognizes that such a small amount seems completely inadequate.
Jesus takes the food, gives thanks, and distributes it to the crowd until everyone has eaten enough.
Afterward, the disciples collect twelve baskets of leftovers, demonstrating that Jesus has provided far more than was initially available.
The people recognize the miracle as a sign and begin thinking that Jesus may be the promised Prophet, but when Jesus realizes that they intend to make Him king by force, He withdraws alone.
Later that evening, the disciples cross the Sea of Galilee during a storm, and Jesus comes to them walking on the water, telling them not to be afraid.
The next day, the crowd searches for Jesus and eventually finds Him in Capernaum.
Jesus explains that they are looking for Him primarily because He gave them physical food, and He challenges them to seek the food that leads to eternal life.
When they ask what work God requires, Jesus answers that the work God desires is to believe in the One He has sent.
The people then refer to the manna that Israel received in the wilderness and ask Jesus for another sign.
Jesus explains that Moses did not ultimately give them the true bread from heaven; rather, the Father gives the true bread from heaven that gives life to the world.
Jesus then makes the central declaration of the chapter: He is the Bread of Life.
Those who come to Him will not remain spiritually hungry, and those who believe in Him will not remain spiritually thirsty.
Jesus explains that He came from heaven to do the Father's will and that everyone who truly comes to Him will be raised on the last day.
The discussion becomes increasingly difficult when Jesus says that the living bread is His flesh, given for the life of the world.
Many listeners take His words literally and become confused, but Jesus is pointing toward His sacrificial death and the necessity of completely depending upon Him for spiritual life.
He explains that His flesh is true food and His blood true drink, using powerful imagery to describe the believer's complete dependence upon Him and continuing relationship with Him.
The teaching causes many disciples to say that it is too difficult, and many stop following Jesus.
Jesus then asks the Twelve whether they also want to leave.
Peter responds that they have nowhere else to go because Jesus has the words of eternal life, and he confesses that they believe Jesus is the Holy One of God.
Yet Jesus reveals that even among the Twelve there is one who will betray Him, identifying the future betrayer as Judas Iscariot.
John 6 therefore moves from physical bread to spiritual bread, from temporary satisfaction to eternal life, and from miraculous signs to the deeper question of faith, showing that Jesus is not merely the One who provides food but the One who Himself is the source of life, the One who comes from heaven, gives Himself for the world, and calls people to trust Him even when His teaching is difficult to understand.
Jesus crosses the Sea of Galilee, followed by a large crowd because people have seen His miracles of healing.
When Jesus sees that the crowd is hungry, He tests Philip by asking where they can buy enough bread to feed everyone.
Philip focuses on the enormous cost, while Andrew finds a boy with five barley loaves and two fish but recognizes that such a small amount seems completely inadequate.
Jesus takes the food, gives thanks, and distributes it to the crowd until everyone has eaten enough.
Afterward, the disciples collect twelve baskets of leftovers, demonstrating that Jesus has provided far more than was initially available.
The people recognize the miracle as a sign and begin thinking that Jesus may be the promised Prophet, but when Jesus realizes that they intend to make Him king by force, He withdraws alone.
Later that evening, the disciples cross the Sea of Galilee during a storm, and Jesus comes to them walking on the water, telling them not to be afraid.
The next day, the crowd searches for Jesus and eventually finds Him in Capernaum.
Jesus explains that they are looking for Him primarily because He gave them physical food, and He challenges them to seek the food that leads to eternal life.
When they ask what work God requires, Jesus answers that the work God desires is to believe in the One He has sent.
The people then refer to the manna that Israel received in the wilderness and ask Jesus for another sign.
Jesus explains that Moses did not ultimately give them the true bread from heaven; rather, the Father gives the true bread from heaven that gives life to the world.
Jesus then makes the central declaration of the chapter: He is the Bread of Life.
Those who come to Him will not remain spiritually hungry, and those who believe in Him will not remain spiritually thirsty.
Jesus explains that He came from heaven to do the Father's will and that everyone who truly comes to Him will be raised on the last day.
The discussion becomes increasingly difficult when Jesus says that the living bread is His flesh, given for the life of the world.
Many listeners take His words literally and become confused, but Jesus is pointing toward His sacrificial death and the necessity of completely depending upon Him for spiritual life.
He explains that His flesh is true food and His blood true drink, using powerful imagery to describe the believer's complete dependence upon Him and continuing relationship with Him.
The teaching causes many disciples to say that it is too difficult, and many stop following Jesus.
Jesus then asks the Twelve whether they also want to leave.
Peter responds that they have nowhere else to go because Jesus has the words of eternal life, and he confesses that they believe Jesus is the Holy One of God.
Yet Jesus reveals that even among the Twelve there is one who will betray Him, identifying the future betrayer as Judas Iscariot.
John 6 therefore moves from physical bread to spiritual bread, from temporary satisfaction to eternal life, and from miraculous signs to the deeper question of faith, showing that Jesus is not merely the One who provides food but the One who Himself is the source of life, the One who comes from heaven, gives Himself for the world, and calls people to trust Him even when His teaching is difficult to understand.