John 6 24

John 6:24 kjv

When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

John 6:24 nkjv

when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

John 6:24 niv

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.

John 6:24 esv

So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

John 6:24 nlt

So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.

John 6 verses

John 6 24 Meaning

John 6:24 describes the intense, yet misdirected, physical pursuit of the crowd for Jesus. After realizing both Jesus and His disciples were no longer at the miracle site, the crowds proactively sought boats and traveled to Capernaum, intent on finding Him. This search was largely motivated by their desire for further physical provisions, reflecting a fundamental misunderstanding of Jesus' identity and mission, thus setting the stage for the profound "Bread of Life" discourse that follows.

John 6 24 Context

John 6:24 takes place immediately following two monumental events: the miraculous feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-15) and Jesus' solitary walking on water to join His disciples (John 6:16-21). After providing physical sustenance for a massive crowd, Jesus withdrew from them to avoid being forcibly made king due to their worldly expectations. His disciples, meanwhile, had departed by boat across the Sea of Galilee towards Capernaum. The crowd, awakening to find both Jesus and His disciples gone, logically deduced their likely destination—Capernaum, which served as Jesus' primary base of operations and teaching. This verse acts as the crucial transition, setting the scene for Jesus' ensuing "Bread of Life" discourse (John 6:25-71), where He challenges the crowd's temporal motivations for seeking Him and redirects them towards eternal, spiritual truth.

John 6 24 Word analysis

• When the crowd (ὄχλος, ochlos): Refers to the large multitude that had witnessed the feeding miracle. In John, the "crowd" often represents a mass of people, impressionable and seeking material or physical benefit, rarely grasping deeper spiritual truths. Their motives are typically superficial or self-serving, highlighting the contrast with true faith.
• saw (εἶδον, eidon): Signifies physical perception. They could see Jesus' absence. This contrasts with a deeper spiritual "seeing" or understanding that Jesus desires.
• that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there: The realization of absence. Jesus had miraculously left, and the disciples had departed earlier by boat. The crowd's limited perspective prevents them from understanding how Jesus departed. Their focus remains on the visible, the tangible absence.
• they themselves (καὶ αὐτοί, kai autoi): Emphasizes their self-initiated action. They weren't summoned; they took the initiative to pursue Him. This shows their strong motivation, albeit for the wrong reasons.
• got into the boats (ἐνέβησαν εἰς τὰ πλοιάρια, enebēsan eis ta ploiaria): Refers to small fishing boats. These were available from the shore where the crowd was gathered (perhaps those left behind by the initial groups, or simply part of the local fishing economy). It implies a determined and active search, physically covering distance to find Him.
• and went to Capernaum (καὶ ἦλθον εἰς Καπερναοῦμ, kai ēlthon eis Kaperanaoum): Capernaum (Kaperanaoum) was a significant town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus' adopted hometown for His ministry. It was a bustling fishing and trade center, representing the hub of His Galilean work, making it the logical place for the crowd to seek Him.
• seeking (ζητοῦντες, zētoūntes): The participle here indicates their ongoing action and purpose. While "seeking" can imply a genuine spiritual quest elsewhere in scripture, here it is immediately challenged by Jesus in the subsequent verse (Jn 6:26), revealing it to be a self-interested pursuit of physical satisfaction or worldly kingship.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there": This phrase highlights the crowd's limited perception. They perceived physical absence but had no grasp of the miraculous means of His departure. Their world operates on the visible and the logical, foreshadowing their inability to grasp spiritual truths later.
• "they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum": This shows their industrious and self-directed action. Their motivation was strong enough to organize transport and travel, demonstrating their dedication to finding the one who could provide physical needs, contrasting with a later reluctance to follow His harder spiritual teachings.
• "seeking Jesus": This culmination reveals their singular focus. The verb "seeking" here is crucial. While commendable in isolation, the context and Jesus' subsequent response expose their underlying materialistic desires, demonstrating that the object of seeking is less important than the reason for seeking it. They sought a benefactor, not a Savior.

John 6 24 Bonus section

The seemingly innocent act of "seeking Jesus" in this verse, when viewed in the context of the entire John 6 discourse, takes on a rather negative connotation. This immediate "seeking" by the crowd sets up a Johannine irony: they diligently seek His physical presence for temporal gain, yet later stumble over His profound spiritual teachings and abandon Him (Jn 6:66). The crowd's determination here contrasts sharply with their spiritual blindness. Their ability to acquire boats and travel implies some financial means and community organization, indicating a strong communal desire for what Jesus gives (materially) rather than for who He is (thematically contrasting earthly bread with heavenly manna).

John 6 24 Commentary

John 6:24 acts as a critical pivot, seamlessly transitioning from the spectacle of Jesus' miracles to the depth of His theological discourse. The verse succinctly captures the crowd's carnal-mindedness. Having experienced abundant physical provision, they saw Jesus as a source for more food and potentially political power (Jn 6:15), not as the "Bread of Life" (Jn 6:35). Their physical pursuit to Capernaum—by boats, demonstrating effort and resolve—underscores their earthly desires. Jesus allows this diligent search for Him in the flesh only to expose their superficial motives (Jn 6:26) and redirect them towards eternal nourishment. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that outward religious fervor or diligent seeking means little without pure, spiritual motives rooted in genuine faith in Christ's divine person and salvific work. It illustrates the common human tendency to value what God provides over God Himself.