John 6 23

John 6:23 kjv

(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

John 6:23 nkjv

however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks?

John 6:23 niv

Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

John 6:23 esv

Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

John 6:23 nlt

Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten.

John 6 verses

John 6 23 Meaning

John 6:23 functions as a transitional verse, explaining how a significant portion of the crowd found Jesus after the feeding of the five thousand. It details that "other boats from Tiberias" arrived at the precise location where the miraculous feeding had occurred the previous day, implicitly drawn there by the news or by following clues to Jesus' whereabouts. The verse highlights the crowd's focus on the site of the miracle—specifically, where the bread had been multiplied "after the Lord had given thanks"—setting the stage for their encounter with Jesus and His subsequent "Bread of Life" discourse.

John 6 23 Context

John 6:23 is positioned after the miraculous feeding of the five thousand (Jn 6:1-14) and Jesus's walking on water (Jn 6:15-21). Following these events, the disciples had crossed to Capernaum while Jesus, after dismissing the crowds, rejoined them miraculously. Verse 22 notes that the crowd realized Jesus and His disciples had departed without a second boat. Verse 23 then explains how additional people arrived at the feeding site, from Tiberias, setting the stage for the dramatic encounter where the crowd, seeking more physical bread, confronts Jesus in Capernaum (Jn 6:24-25). This leads directly into Jesus' profound "Bread of Life" discourse, where He corrects their earthly motivations and reveals Himself as the true spiritual nourishment (Jn 6:26-59). Historically, Tiberias was a significant Roman-built city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, a center of commerce and administration. Its inhabitants coming by boat highlights the widespread attention Jesus garnered and the growing eagerness (though misdirected) of people seeking His signs.

John 6 23 Word analysis

• However (ἀλλὰ, alla): This Greek conjunction means "but" or "however," introducing a new piece of information that contrasts or adds to the preceding statements. It signifies a transition in the narrative, explaining how a new group of people arrived, distinct from the immediate crowd mentioned in verse 22.
• other boats (ἄλλα πλοιάρια, alla ploaria): "Other" indicates boats different from the single one the disciples had taken. Ploiaria (plural of ploiarion) refers to small boats or skiffs, commonly used on the Sea of Galilee. Their arrival highlights a deliberate effort by these new arrivals to locate Jesus, using the known site of the miracle as their destination.
• from Tiberias (ἐκ Τιβεριάδος, ek Tiberiados): "From Tiberias." Tiberias was a major Roman-founded city on the southwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Its mention highlights the geographic reach of Jesus's fame and implies that the crowd's search for Him was not just local but extended to more significant urban centers. It also subtly notes the diverse origins of those following Jesus.
• landed near the place (ἤλθον ἐγγὺς τοῦ τόπου, elthon engys tou topou): "Came near the place." This signifies their successful arrival. "The place" points specifically to the rural, grassy area on the east side of the Sea of Galilee where the miracle of the loaves had occurred. The specificity anchors the scene to the previous day's miraculous event.
• where the people had eaten the bread (ὅπου ἔφαγον τὸν ἄρτον, hopou ephagon ton arton): "Where they ate the bread." This phrase unequivocally connects the newly arrived boats to the recent miracle. "The bread" (τὸν ἄρτον) uses the definite article, emphasizing the specific, miraculously multiplied bread from the day before. This clearly shows the motivation of these people: they are drawn by the extraordinary physical provision.
• after the Lord had given thanks (εὐχαριστήσαντος τοῦ κυρίου, eucharistēsantos tou kyriou): This is a key phrase. Eucharistēsantos is the genitive aorist participle of eucharisteo, meaning "to give thanks" or "to bless." It directly recalls Jesus's action in John 6:11. The use of "the Lord" (τοῦ κυρίου, tou kyriou) is significant. John primarily uses "Jesus" (Ἰησοῦς, Iesous). The shift to "the Lord" indicates a recognition of Jesus's authority, sovereignty, and perhaps his divine nature, especially in the context of His powerful acts. It prefigures the solemn significance that will be attached to "giving thanks" in the Lord's Supper, highlighting that Jesus's acts of provision are not mere humanitarian efforts but divinely significant.

• "However, other boats from Tiberias": This phrase establishes a new influx of people, independent of the initial crowd who witnessed the miracle. It shows that news of Jesus's deeds and the location of the feeding had spread, prompting others from a significant regional city like Tiberias to seek Him out, emphasizing the widespread impact of His ministry.
• "landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread": This emphasizes the precise destination and motivation of these boats. They did not arrive randomly; they were seeking the specific site of the recent miraculous provision, driven by the desire for more of the same, linking their arrival directly to the physical benefit of the sign rather than its spiritual meaning.
• "after the Lord had given thanks": This critical clause goes beyond mere chronology. It subtly yet profoundly connects the physical miracle of the feeding to Jesus's sacred act of blessing, echoing the language used for the Eucharist (giving thanks). It emphasizes Jesus's identity as "the Lord" (a title of increasing theological weight in John's Gospel) as the provider, transforming a simple meal into an act deeply connected to His divine nature and foreshadowing the deeper spiritual bread He will soon offer. It highlights that the act of "giving thanks" (εὐχαριστέω) is intrinsically linked to His identity and divine provision, drawing a connection to the future communal thanksgiving meal for believers.

John 6 23 Bonus section

The mention of "Tiberias" is particularly insightful. Tiberias was a Hellenistic city founded by Herod Antipas, populated largely by non-Jews or assimilated Jews, and often avoided by more devout Jews due to its association with Roman authority and possible pagan influences. The arrival of boats from Tiberias indicates that Jesus's fame and the desire for His miraculous provisions had reached a diverse population beyond traditional Jewish areas, hinting at the universal scope of His ministry, even if the initial motivations were earthly. This verse serves as a dramatic setup for Jesus's challenge to the crowd's materialistic motivations, contrasting their pursuit of physical bread with His offer of life-giving spiritual bread.

John 6 23 Commentary

John 6:23 is more than a simple narrative detail; it's a critical narrative link preparing the reader for Jesus's "Bread of Life" discourse. By clarifying how a fresh influx of seekers, specifically from Tiberias, arrived at the miracle site, it underscores the intensity and breadth of the public's pursuit of Jesus. This pursuit, however, is deeply rooted in physical desire—a longing for more miraculous bread—rather than spiritual insight, which Jesus will address directly. The detail "after the Lord had given thanks" is crucial; it links the miraculous provision of bread to Jesus's divine authority (the title "Lord") and foreshadows the profound theological meaning He will later unveil concerning Himself as the "true bread" for the world, mirroring the act of thanksgiving central to the Christian communion. The scene thus illustrates the common human tendency to seek immediate, material benefits from divine intervention, while Jesus consistently guides them towards deeper spiritual truths.