John 6 27

John 6:27 kjv

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

John 6:27 nkjv

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

John 6:27 niv

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

John 6:27 esv

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."

John 6:27 nlt

But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval."

John 6 verses

John 6 27 Meaning

This verse directs the listener away from seeking temporary material sustenance, symbolized by physical food that perishes, towards pursuing spiritual nourishment that leads to eternal life. This spiritual life is freely given by the Son of Man, Jesus, whose unique authority and identity as the giver of this life are definitively validated and attested by God the Father Himself through His divine seal of approval. It emphasizes the priority of eternal spiritual reality over transient worldly concerns and underscores the divine authority of Jesus as the means to access this life.

John 6 27 Context

John 6:27 is part of Jesus' profound "Bread of Life" discourse, which immediately follows two significant miraculous events: the feeding of the five thousand and Jesus walking on water. The people had just experienced the abundance of physical bread miraculously provided by Jesus and, sensing His ability to offer more material benefits, had diligently followed Him across the Sea of Galilee. Their primary motivation was seeking another meal (Jn 6:26), a misunderstanding Jesus immediately addresses.

Jesus redirects their focus from perishable bread that satisfies only for a moment to the enduring "food" that grants eternal life. This verse serves as a pivotal point, challenging their earthly perspective and inviting them to grasp a deeper, spiritual reality concerning His identity and mission. It confronts the common Jewish expectation of a Messiah who would provide earthly blessings and political liberation, akin to how Moses provided manna in the wilderness. Jesus reveals Himself not just as a temporary provider, but as the ultimate, divine sustainer of spiritual life, authenticated by the Father.

John 6 27 Word analysis

• Do not work (μὴ ἐργάζεσθε - mē ergazesthe): This is a negative command in the imperative mood. It prohibits the pursuit of or intense effort toward something. It emphasizes not that work is inherently bad, but that the object of the work is misdirected or temporary.
• for food that spoils (τὴν βρῶσιν τὴν ἀπολλυμένην - tēn brōsin tēn apollymenēn):
  • food (brōsin): Refers generally to physical sustenance, what is eaten.
  • spoils (apollymenēn): From apollymi, meaning to perish, decay, be destroyed. It highlights the temporal and ephemeral nature of physical things, including material possessions and physical life itself. This directly contrasts with "eternal life" and "enduring."
• but for food that endures (ἀλλὰ τὴν βρῶσιν τὴν μένουσαν - alla tēn brōsin tēn menousan):
  • but (alla): A strong contrastive conjunction, marking a sharp opposition.
  • endures (menousan): From menō, meaning to remain, abide, endure, last. It signifies permanence, stability, and immortality. This spiritual "food" has eternal significance.
• to eternal life (εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον - eis zōēn aiōnion):
  • eternal life (zōēn aiōnion): This is not merely an endless duration of existence, but a specific quality of life—God's life, characterized by knowing Him (Jn 17:3), having fellowship with Him, and being transformed into His likeness. It is a present possession for believers (Jn 5:24) with future consummation.
• which the Son of Man will give you (ἣν ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὑμῖν δώσει - hēn ho Huios tou anthrōpou hymin dōsei):
  • Son of Man (ho Huios tou anthrōpou): Jesus' self-designation, combining His full humanity with His divine, Messianic identity and judicial authority, drawing from Dan 7:13. It speaks to His authority to act on God's behalf and His universal mission.
  • will give (dōsei): Future tense, emphasizing a unilateral act of giving, not something earned or achieved through human effort. Salvation is a gift.
• For on him (τοῦτον γὰρ - touton gar):
  • For (gar): A conjunction introducing a reason or explanation for the preceding statement. It connects the "giving" of life to the Father's validation of Jesus.
  • on him (touton): Refers directly back to the "Son of Man," indicating Jesus as the recipient of the Father's authentication.
• God the Father (ὁ Πατήρ - ho Patēr): Explicitly identifies the source of authority. This underscores the Trinitarian unity in the plan of salvation and establishes Jesus' authority as divine in origin.
• has placed his seal of approval (ἐσφράγισεν - esphragisen): From sphragizō, meaning to seal, mark with a seal, attest, confirm, set a seal upon.
  • In ancient times, a seal indicated ownership, authentication, approval, and protection.
  • Here, it signifies that God the Father has officially marked, authorized, and endorsed Jesus as the unique agent capable of bestowing eternal life. It speaks to Jesus' divine commission and validated authority. The aorist tense (completed action) emphasizes the definitive nature of this divine act.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life": This contrasts two kinds of "work" or human effort. The first is unproductive, leading to only temporary satisfaction. The second is the true objective, aimed at an imperishable spiritual reality. This shifts the very paradigm of human striving from the material to the spiritual. It is not about earning salvation through works, but about prioritizing the spiritual life Jesus gives.
• "which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval": This crucial linkage clarifies that eternal life is a divine gift delivered through Jesus. The Father's "seal" serves as a direct, undeniable testimony to Jesus' unparalleled authority and divine authorization. It confirms Jesus' unique relationship with the Father and His ability to fulfill what He promises. It answers the implicit question of "how can He give such a thing?" with a direct affirmation of His divine commission.

John 6 27 Bonus section

The "seal of approval" imagery points to an irreversible and permanent divine endorsement. This concept echoes the ancient practice of monarchs sealing documents or decrees to confer unchallengeable authority, or of marking goods to signify their origin and authenticity. Thus, God's "seal" on Jesus is a divine credential, confirming His Messianic claim and unique relationship as the Father's chosen agent. This divine authentication is crucial, as the Jewish audience would have been highly attuned to discerning true prophets and Messiahs from false ones. The Father's testimony renders Jesus' claims indisputable and authoritative.

John 6 27 Commentary

John 6:27 represents Jesus' immediate correction of His followers' shallow motivation following the miraculous feeding. He draws a clear distinction between transient physical nourishment and the enduring spiritual life He offers. The call to "not work for food that spoils" is not a prohibition against physical labor itself, but rather a warning against misdirected spiritual effort that seeks temporary blessings above eternal ones. Instead, people are urged to prioritize the "food that endures," which is characterized as leading to eternal life. This enduring food, Jesus explains, is something only the "Son of Man" can give, emphasizing it as a grace-gift, not something achievable through human merit. The subsequent explanation, "For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval," unequivocally validates Jesus' authority to bestow such a profound gift. The divine "seal" indicates a definitive act of authentication and ownership by God, affirming Jesus' identity, message, and unique role as the ultimate Giver of spiritual sustenance leading to eternal life. The verse, therefore, redirects human pursuit, reveals divine provision, and authenticates the provider.