John 6 15

John 6:15 kjv

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.

John 6:15 nkjv

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.

John 6:15 niv

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

John 6:15 esv

Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

John 6:15 nlt

When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

John 6 verses

John 6 15 Meaning

John 6:15 reveals Jesus' divine foreknowledge as He discerns the crowd's intention to forcefully seize Him and make Him an earthly, political king following the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. Recognizing their profound misunderstanding of His true mission and the nature of His kingdom, Jesus deliberately withdraws from them to a solitary mountain, affirming His rejection of popular human efforts to define or co-opt His messianic identity and purpose.

John 6 15 Context

This verse is situated immediately after Jesus miraculously feeds five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fish (John 6:1-14). This extraordinary display of power and provision deeply impressed the multitude. They recalled prophecies and historical figures like Moses, who fed Israel with manna, and they likely viewed Jesus as "the Prophet" (Deut 18:15-18) and a potential new, mighty deliverer for Israel. At this time, Israel was under Roman occupation, longing for a political Messiah who would overthrow foreign rule and establish a powerful, earthly kingdom, reminiscent of David's glory. The crowd's reaction in John 6:14, proclaiming Him "the Prophet who is to come into the world," quickly escalates to a desire to crown Him king by force, believing He would be the political liberator they yearned for. Jesus' response in verse 15—perceiving their intent and withdrawing—marks a critical juncture, showing His clear refusal to conform to these popular, yet misguided, messianic expectations. He sought to separate Himself from their carnal and worldly agenda.

John 6 15 Word analysis

• So when Jesus perceived (Greek: Ἰησοῦς οὖν γνοὺς, Iēsous oun gnous):
  • perceived (gnous from ginōskō): Not merely seeing or hearing, but a deep, intuitive, divine understanding. It implies absolute, divine foreknowledge of their inner thoughts and intentions, a common theme highlighting Jesus' supernatural insight in John's Gospel. He comprehends their carnal motives.
• that they were about to come (Greek: ὅτι μέλλουσιν ἔρχεσθαι, hoti mellousin erchesthai):
  • about to come (mellousin erchesthai): Denotes immediate intention and readiness for action. The crowd wasn't just thinking about it; they were on the verge of acting, having gathered strength and resolve.
• and take Him by force (Greek: καὶ ἁρπάζειν αὐτόν, kai harpazein auton):
  • take... by force (harpazein): A very strong verb, meaning "to snatch away, seize, carry off by force." It indicates a violent, non-consensual act. They intended a forceful acclamation or even a literal abduction, compelling Him against His will to assume a throne they had conceived for Him. It reveals their desperate and misguided zeal.
• to make Him king (Greek: ποιῆσαι βασιλέα, poiēsai basilea):
  • to make Him king (poiēsai basilea): The focus here is on them actively creating a king. This signifies a human attempt to initiate a political coup and elevate Jesus to a worldly position based on their expectations, directly counter to God's sovereign plan for His kingship, which is spiritual and heavenly. It underscores their misconception of the Messiah's role.
• He departed again (Greek: ἀνεχώρησεν πάλιν, anechōrēsen palin):
  • departed (anechōrēsen): A decisive act of withdrawal, often implying a retreat from danger or undesirable situations.
  • again (palin): Highlights that this was not an isolated incident but a characteristic pattern for Jesus to withdraw from misunderstanding, opposition, or attempts to divert Him from His divine mission (cf. Mt 12:15; John 4:1-3).
• to the mountain (Greek: εἰς τὸ ὄρος, eis to oros):
  • the mountain (to oros): Often a place of solitude, prayer, and communion with God in biblical narratives (e.g., Jesus' temptations, transfiguration, Gethsemane). By withdrawing to it, Jesus seeks heavenly guidance and reinforces His independence from worldly influence.
• by Himself alone (Greek: μόνος αὐτός, monos autos):
  • by Himself alone (monos autos): Emphasizes His isolation and deliberate separation from the crowd's carnal agenda. This act underscores His complete autonomy from human will and His singular focus on His Father's will and purpose for His life and ministry. It highlights the divine, singular nature of His mission, uncorrupted by popular demands.

John 6 15 Bonus section

• The immediate physical miracle of feeding the multitudes leads to a carnal desire for a worldly deliverer, missing the deeper spiritual meaning Jesus intended for the "bread of life."
• This verse prefigures Jesus' later interaction with Pilate where His statement, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36), fully clarifies the distinction between His divine kingship and human perceptions of power.
• Jesus' ability to "perceive" (foreknow) the crowd's intentions highlights His divinity and omnipotence, showcasing that He is not merely a charismatic leader but the Son of God, fully aware of human hearts and minds.
• The incident illustrates the continuous struggle throughout Jesus' ministry where His identity and mission were misunderstood, often interpreted through a lens of nationalistic aspirations rather than spiritual transformation.
• His withdrawal serves as a powerful model of leadership: rejecting popularity when it conflicts with divine purpose, and seeking solitude and communion with God in moments of profound pressure.

John 6 15 Commentary

John 6:15 is a potent revelation of Jesus' identity and mission, contrasting divine purpose with human ambition. Following the breathtaking miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, the crowd, operating under a materialistic and politically-driven messianic expectation, resolved to forcefully install Jesus as an earthly king. They envisioned a liberator who would overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel's national glory, possibly perceiving Him as a "new Moses" who could provide manna and military leadership. However, Jesus, by His divine foreknowledge (egnō), pierced through their outward zeal to discern their true, worldly motives – they sought a king on their terms, one who served their temporal desires. His swift and decisive withdrawal (anechōrēsen) from the tumultuous crowd to a solitary mountain, to be by Himself alone (monos autos), unequivocally rejected any attempt to co-opt His mission or transform His spiritual kingship into a political dominion. This act underscores a fundamental truth about His kingdom: it "is not of this world" (John 18:36), cannot be established by human force, and will not conform to human expectations of power or glory. It emphasizes His supreme obedience to the Father's will and His resolute commitment to a spiritual kingdom attained through suffering, not earthly triumph. This refusal to become a populist king marks a significant moment, preparing the way for His subsequent discourse on the "Bread of Life" which would further clarify the spiritual nature of salvation, a message that many would find difficult to accept.