John 6 22

John 6:22 kjv

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;

John 6:22 nkjv

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone?

John 6:22 niv

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake 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.

John 6:22 esv

On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.

John 6:22 nlt

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them.

John 6 verses

John 6 22 Meaning

John 6:22 details the scene the day after Jesus miraculously fed the five thousand and walked on water. The verse describes the observation of the crowd who had remained on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. They noted that only one small boat had been present the previous evening, and that Jesus had not entered it with His disciples; rather, His disciples had departed alone. This observation establishes the puzzle for the crowd concerning Jesus' mysterious disappearance, prompting their search for Him on the other side.

John 6 22 Context

This verse is critical for understanding the flow of events in John chapter 6, which emphasizes Jesus as the "Bread of Life." It immediately follows two miraculous events: the feeding of the five thousand (Jn 6:1-14) and Jesus walking on water (Jn 6:16-21). The crowd had been fed and then dispersed, with some remaining on the eastern side. Unbeknownst to them, after sending His disciples ahead in a boat, Jesus had walked across the sea to meet them.

The historical context includes Jewish messianic expectations, particularly concerning a leader who would provide for them, reminiscent of Moses and the manna in the wilderness. The region around the Sea of Galilee was bustling with fishing and trade. The crowd's desire for Jesus was initially fueled by His miraculous power to provide physical sustenance (Jn 6:26), leading them to misunderstand His true mission and identity. This verse sets up the crowd's determined search for Jesus and their subsequent interaction with Him, culminating in the "Bread of Life" discourse, where Jesus challenges their motives and calls them to seek spiritual, not just physical, nourishment.

John 6 22 Word analysis

• The next day (τῇ ἐπαύριον, tē epaurion): A specific temporal marker, directly connecting the current scene to the preceding evening's events, which included the feeding miracle and the departure of Jesus' disciples. It signifies a transition and continued narrative thread.
• the crowd (ὁ ὄχλος, ho ochlos): Refers to the large group of people, many of whom had just been fed by Jesus (John 6:10). This multitude is seeking Jesus primarily for material benefit. Their perspective in this verse highlights their natural human understanding versus divine intervention.
• that stood on the other side of the sea: The eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, where the feeding miracle had occurred. Their continued presence there shows their expectation or searching.
• saw (εἶδεν, eiden): Refers to direct observation, establishing what the crowd physically perceived. This empirical observation becomes the basis of their logical, yet incomplete, conclusion.
• that there had been only one boat there (ὅτι πλοιάριον ἓν ἦν ἐκεῖ, hoti ploiarion hen ēn ekei): A crucial detail for the crowd's reasoning. Their premise is that travel across the sea required a boat. The singular "one boat" is key to their developing conundrum regarding Jesus' absence.
• and that Jesus had not entered it (καὶ ὅτι οὐκ ἐνῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς): The second critical observation. The crowd definitively noted that Jesus did not board this lone vessel with His disciples. This rules out the obvious explanation for His movement.
• with his disciples (σὺν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ, syn tois mathētais autou): Emphasizes that both Jesus and the disciples were expected to use the boat if departing together, highlighting their customary association.
• but that his disciples had gone away alone (ἀλλὰ μόνοι οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἀπῆλθον, alla monoi hoi mathētai autou apēlthon): The third and final observation. This confirms the disciples left without Jesus, intensifying the mystery of Jesus' whereabouts. The word "alone" (μόνοι, monoi) is emphatic.
• words-group: "saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone": This sequence of observations encapsulates the crowd's naturalistic understanding of events. They are piecing together logical deductions based on limited human sight and experience, creating a narrative gap. This gap, understood by the reader (who knows Jesus walked on water), creates narrative tension and underscores the crowd's spiritual blindness. They are looking for logical explanations when divine power transcends logic. The passage functions as an antithesis between earthly logic and divine reality, setting the stage for Jesus' later teaching on discernment.

John 6 22 Bonus section

The seemingly mundane details about the "one boat" and the disciples' solo departure are essential to John's narrative strategy. They underscore the verifiable facts known to the crowd, which, when juxtaposed with Jesus' unobserved, miraculous arrival (John 6:21), amplify the mystery and the ensuing wonder. This careful construction by the Evangelist is not merely reportage; it builds dramatic tension and prepares the audience for Jesus' revelation of a truth that transcends physical laws and human logic. The crowd is meticulously led to a point of wonder that can only be resolved by divine action, setting up their eventual direct question to Jesus about His mysterious journey (John 6:25).

John 6 22 Commentary

John 6:22 serves as a pivotal narrative transition, marking the immediate aftermath of astounding miracles and the beginning of profound theological discourse. The crowd's observations – limited to what they could humanly see and logically deduce – reveal their astonishment at Jesus' mysterious disappearance. Their factual understanding, based on the presence of only one boat and the departure of the disciples without Jesus, directly leads them to seek Him out, initially unaware of His miraculous walk on water.

This verse effectively creates a tension between the earthly perception of the crowd and the divine reality already experienced by the disciples (and known to the reader). It highlights humanity's natural inclination to rationalize and limit God's power to their understanding. The crowd is focused on the means of travel, while Jesus operates beyond such constraints. This sets the stage for the coming "Bread of Life" discourse, where Jesus challenges them to move beyond seeking physical signs and bread for their stomachs, towards understanding Him as the spiritual sustenance for eternal life. The pursuit described in this verse is primarily driven by an unspiritual curiosity and a desire for more earthly provision, rather than a genuine search for God Himself.