John 6 - New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand^(A)

6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ² and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs^(B) he had performed by healing the sick. ³ Then Jesus went up on a mountainside^(C) and sat down with his disciples. ⁴ The Jewish Passover Festival^(D) was near.

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,^(E) “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

⁷ Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages^[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

⁸ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,^(F) spoke up, ⁹ “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”^(G)

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,^(H) and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ After the people saw the sign^(I) Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”^{(J) 15} Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king^(K) by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.^(L)

Jesus Walks on the Water^(M)

¹⁶ When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, ¹⁷ where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. ¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. ¹⁹ When they had rowed about three or four miles,^[b] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water;^(N) and they were frightened. ²⁰ But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”^{(O) 21} Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

²² The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake^(P) realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.^{(Q) 23} Then some boats from Tiberias^(R) landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.^{(S) 24} Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Jesus the Bread of Life

²⁵ When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi,^(T) when did you get here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,^(U) not because you saw the signs^(V) I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. ²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures^(W) to eternal life,^(X) which the Son of Man^(Y) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal^(Z) of approval.”

²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe^(AA) in the one he has sent.”^(AB)

³⁰ So they asked him, “What sign^(AC) then will you give that we may see it and believe you?^(AD) What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna^(AE) in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’^[c]”^(AF)

³² Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven^(AG) and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”^(AH)

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am^(AI) the bread of life.^(AJ) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes^(AK) in me will never be thirsty.^{(AL) 36} But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me^(AM) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven^(AN) not to do my will but to do the will^(AO) of him who sent me.^{(AP) 39} And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,^(AQ) but raise them up at the last day.^{(AR) 40} For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son^(AS) and believes in him shall have eternal life,^(AT) and I will raise them up at the last day.”

⁴¹ At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” ⁴² They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph,^(AU) whose father and mother we know?^(AV) How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”^(AW)

⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. ⁴⁴ “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,^(AX) and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’^[d](AY) Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. ⁴⁶ No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God;^(AZ) only he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.^{(BA) 48} I am the bread of life.^{(BB) 49} Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.^{(BC) 50} But here is the bread that comes down from heaven,^(BD) which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread^(BE) that came down from heaven.^(BF) Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”^(BG)

⁵² Then the Jews^(BH) began to argue sharply among themselves,^(BI) “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh^(BJ) of the Son of Man^(BK) and drink his blood,^(BL) you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.^{(BM) 55} For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.^{(BN) 57} Just as the living Father sent me^(BO) and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”^{(BP) 59} He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

⁶⁰ On hearing it, many of his disciples^(BQ) said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”^(BR)

⁶¹ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?^{(BS) 62} Then what if you see the Son of Man^(BT) ascend to where he was before!^{(BU) 63} The Spirit gives life;^(BV) the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit^[e] and life. ⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known^(BW) from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.^{(BX) 65} He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”^(BY)

⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples^(BZ) turned back and no longer followed him.

⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.^(CA)

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him,^(CB) “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.^{(CC) 69} We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”^(CD)

⁷⁰ Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you,^(CE) the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”^{(CF) 71} (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot,^(CG) who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)^(CH)

Footnotes

1. John 6:7 Greek take two hundred denarii
2. John 6:19 Or about 5 or 6 kilometers
3. John 6:31 Exodus 16:4; Neh. 9:15; Psalm 78:24,25
4. John 6:45 Isaiah 54:13
5. John 6:63 Or are Spirit; or are spirit

Cross references

1. John 6:1 : 6:1-13pp — Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:32-44; Lk 9:10-17
2. John 6:2 : S Jn 2:11
3. John 6:3 : ver 15
4. John 6:4 : S Jn 11:55
5. John 6:5 : S Jn 1:43
6. John 6:8 : Jn 1:40
7. John 6:9 : 2Ki 4:43
8. John 6:11 : ver 23; S Mt 14:19
9. John 6:14 : S Jn 2:11
10. John 6:14 : Dt 18:15, 18; Mt 11:3; S 21:11
11. John 6:15 : Jn 18:36
12. John 6:15 : Mt 14:23; Mk 6:46
13. John 6:16 : 6:16-21pp — Mt 14:22-33; Mk 6:47-51
14. John 6:19 : Job 9:8
15. John 6:20 : S Mt 14:27
16. John 6:22 : ver 2
17. John 6:22 : ver 15-21
18. John 6:23 : ver 1
19. John 6:23 : ver 11
20. John 6:25 : S Mt 23:7
21. John 6:26 : ver 24
22. John 6:26 : ver 30; S Jn 2:11
23. John 6:27 : Isa 55:2
24. John 6:27 : ver 54; S Mt 25:46
25. John 6:27 : S Mt 8:20
26. John 6:27 : Ro 4:11; 1Co 9:2; 2Co 1:22; Eph 1:13; 4:30; 2Ti 2:19; Rev 7:3
27. John 6:29 : 1Jn 3:23
28. John 6:29 : S Jn 3:17
29. John 6:30 : S Jn 2:11
30. John 6:30 : S Mt 12:38
31. John 6:31 : Nu 11:7-9
32. John 6:31 : Ex 16:4, 15; Ne 9:15; Ps 78:24; 105:40
33. John 6:33 : ver 50; Jn 3:13, 31
34. John 6:34 : Jn 4:15
35. John 6:35 : Ex 3:14; Jn 8:12; 10:7, 11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1
36. John 6:35 : ver 48, 51
37. John 6:35 : S Jn 3:15
38. John 6:35 : Jn 4:14
39. John 6:37 : ver 39; Jn 17:2, 6, 9, 24
40. John 6:38 : Jn 3:13, 31
41. John 6:38 : S Mt 26:39
42. John 6:38 : S Jn 3:17
43. John 6:39 : Isa 27:3; Jer 23:4; Jn 10:28; 17:12; 18:9
44. John 6:39 : ver 40, 44, 54
45. John 6:40 : Jn 12:45
46. John 6:40 : S Mt 25:46
47. John 6:42 : Lk 4:22
48. John 6:42 : Jn 7:27, 28
49. John 6:42 : ver 38, 62
50. John 6:44 : ver 65; Jer 31:3; Jn 12:32
51. John 6:45 : Isa 54:13; Jer 31:33, 34; 1Co 2:13; 1Th 4:9; Heb 8:10, 11; 10:16; 1Jn 2:27
52. John 6:46 : S Jn 1:18; 5:37; 7:29
53. John 6:47 : S Mt 25:46
54. John 6:48 : ver 35, 51
55. John 6:49 : ver 31, 58
56. John 6:50 : ver 33
57. John 6:51 : ver 35, 48
58. John 6:51 : ver 41, 58
59. John 6:51 : Heb 10:10
60. John 6:52 : S Jn 1:19
61. John 6:52 : Jn 7:43; 9:16; 10:19
62. John 6:53 : Mt 26:26
63. John 6:53 : S Mt 8:20
64. John 6:53 : Mt 26:28
65. John 6:54 : ver 39
66. John 6:56 : Jn 15:4-7; 1Jn 2:24; 3:24; 4:15
67. John 6:57 : S Jn 3:17
68. John 6:58 : ver 49-51; Jn 3:36; 5:24
69. John 6:60 : ver 66
70. John 6:60 : ver 52
71. John 6:61 : Mt 13:57
72. John 6:62 : S Mt 8:20
73. John 6:62 : S Mk 16:19; S Jn 3:13; 17:5
74. John 6:63 : 2Co 3:6
75. John 6:64 : S Jn 2:25
76. John 6:64 : S Mt 10:4
77. John 6:65 : ver 37, 44; S Mt 13:11
78. John 6:66 : ver 60
79. John 6:67 : Mt 10:2
80. John 6:68 : Mt 16:16
81. John 6:68 : ver 63; S Mt 25:46
82. John 6:69 : S Mk 1:24; 8:29; Lk 9:20
83. John 6:70 : Jn 15:16, 19
84. John 6:70 : Jn 13:27; 17:12
85. John 6:71 : S Mt 26:14
86. John 6:71 : S Mt 10:4