59These things he said in the synagogue as he was teaching in Capernaum. [6:60] Many therefore of his disciples, hearing this, said, "This is a harsh saying — who can listen to it?" [6:61] But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble and fall away? [6:62] Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? [6:63] The Spirit is the one who gives life — the flesh profits nothing. The declarations I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. [6:64] But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who were those not believing and who was the one who would betray him. [6:65] And he said, "Because of this I have told you that no one is able to come to me unless it has been given to him from the Father." [6:66] From this time many of his disciples withdrew and were no longer walking with him.
JHN 6:59-66
Many Disciples Turn Back
In the world it was spoken into
In the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus’ teaching provoked a crisis among his disciples. Synagogues were communal spaces where Jewish identity and Torah interpretation were central, and Jesus’ words here challenged conventional expectations. His claim that his ‘words are spirit and life’ would have been jarring, as Torah was understood as the ultimate source of life. The disciples’ murmuring echoes the Israelites’ discontent in the wilderness, a motif familiar to Jewish listeners. Jesus’ reference to the Son of Man ascending to where he was before invoked apocalyptic imagery, suggesting divine authority beyond human comprehension. The disciples’ struggle with his ‘hard’ teaching reflects the tension between Jesus’ radical claims and traditional Jewish expectations. The mention of the Spirit giving life while the flesh profits nothing likely contrasted spiritual reality with physical limitations, a theme resonant in both Jewish and Greco-Roman thought. For many, this teaching became a stumbling block , leading them to turn away.
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How other translations render this
JHN 6:59
- KJV
- These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
- BSB
- Jesus said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
- Koinōnos
- These things he said in the synagogue as he was teaching in Capernaum.
JHN 6:60
- KJV
- Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
- BSB
- On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”
- Koinōnos
- Many therefore of his disciples, hearing this, said, "This is a harsh saying — who can listen to it?
JHN 6:61
- KJV
- When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
- BSB
- Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?
- Koinōnos
- But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble and fall away?
JHN 6:62
- KJV
- What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
- BSB
- Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?
- Koinōnos
- Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
JHN 6:63
- KJV
- It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
- BSB
- The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
- Koinōnos
- The Spirit is the one who gives life — the flesh profits nothing. The declarations I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
JHN 6:64
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)
- Koinōnos
- But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who were those not believing and who was the one who would betray him.
JHN 6:65
- KJV
- And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
- BSB
- Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”
- Koinōnos
- And he said, "Because of this I have told you that no one is able to come to me unless it has been given to him from the Father.
JHN 6:66
- KJV
- From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
- BSB
- From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.
- Koinōnos
- From this time many of his disciples withdrew and were no longer walking with him.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
JHN 6:60
- Difficult:The word translated 'difficult' here implies something harsh, unyielding, or even offensive to the senses, not merely intellectually challenging.
JHN 6:61
- are grumbling:The word translated 'are grumbling' describes a low, murmuring sound of discontent, often done in secret or under one's breath, indicating dissatisfaction or complaint.
- does offend?:The word translated 'does offend' carries the idea of causing someone to stumble or fall away, often by setting a trap or an obstacle that leads to moral or spiritual failure.
JHN 6:63
- declarations:The word translated 'declarations' refers to spoken words or utterances, emphasizing the act of speaking and the content of what is said, rather than a formal proclamation.