John 6:36 kjv
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
John 6:36 nkjv
But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
John 6:36 niv
But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.
John 6:36 esv
But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
John 6:36 nlt
But you haven't believed in me even though you have seen me.
John 6 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 12:37 | But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him... | Unbelief despite witnessing many signs. |
| Jn 20:29 | Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are they who have not seen and yet have believed.” | Contrasting blessed faith without physical sight. |
| Mt 11:20 | Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. | Condemnation of cities with evidence but no repentance. |
| Lk 16:31 | But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ | Unbelief stems from heart, not lack of evidence. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive... lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand... and be healed.’” | Prophetic insight into spiritual blindness and hardness of heart. |
| Mk 8:17-18 | Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Do you have eyes and fail to see, and ears and fail to hear? | Disciples' struggle with spiritual perception despite proximity. |
| Jn 3:18 | He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already... | Consequences of believing vs. not believing. |
| Jn 5:40 | ...yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. | Rejection due to unwillingness, not ignorance. |
| Rom 10:16 | But they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” | General lament over lack of faith despite the gospel. |
| 2 Cor 4:3-4 | And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving... | Satan's role in blinding the minds of unbelievers. |
| Heb 3:12 | Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. | Warning against an unbelieving heart. |
| Jn 14:9 | Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father..." | Spiritual understanding of Jesus leads to knowing the Father. |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him... | Inability of natural man to grasp spiritual truths. |
| Jer 5:21 | ‘Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but do not see; who have ears, but do not hear.' | Old Testament parallel to spiritual insensitivity. |
| Jn 6:26 | Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” | Highlights worldly motivation behind their following Jesus. |
| Jn 6:30 | So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?” | Continued demand for signs despite ample evidence, signifying unbelief. |
| Jn 6:40 | For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life... | The desired outcome: beholding (spiritually) and believing for life. |
| Jn 6:44 | No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. | Divine initiative in drawing people to believe. |
| Eph 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. | Faith itself is a divine gift, reinforcing the contrast with those who "do not believe." |
| Tit 1:16 | They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him... | Discrepancy between profession and true belief/action. |
John 6 verses
John 6 36 Meaning
John 6:36 asserts that despite having witnessed Jesus' physical presence and powerful works, the specific individuals He addressed did not genuinely believe in Him as the Messiah and Son of God. This verse highlights the paradox of extensive exposure to truth not leading to faith, underscoring spiritual blindness and persistent unbelief in the face of compelling evidence.
John 6 36 Context
John 6 records a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand and His walking on water. The preceding verses reveal a crowd primarily interested in earthly sustenance and sensational signs (Jn 6:26-27, 30-31), rather than the spiritual truth Jesus offers. Jesus begins His discourse on the "Bread of Life" (Jn 6:35), presenting Himself as the spiritual nourishment essential for eternal life. The immediate context of John 6:36, therefore, contrasts Jesus' divine offer and self-revelation with the audience's carnal understanding and persistent spiritual blindness. He laments their unbelief despite having had overwhelming visible proof of His identity and power. This sets the stage for His profound statements about the Father's drawing and divine election in subsequent verses (Jn 6:37, 44). Historically, this reflects the common Jewish expectation of a political Messiah rather than a spiritual savior, leading many to reject Jesus because He did not fit their pre-conceived notions.
John 6 36 Word analysis
- But: Greek: alla (
ἀλλά). This strong conjunction introduces a contrast. It marks a decisive shift or opposition between what Jesus just stated (that He satisfies, and those who come to Him will not hunger or thirst, vv. 35) and the stark reality of their unbelief. - I said to you: Jesus personally addresses the audience directly. It highlights His previous direct teachings and self-revelations. This is not new information, but a lament about their continued rejection despite clear pronouncements.
- that you: Specifies the direct object of His statement, identifying them as those who have seen Him.
- have seen me: Greek: heōrakate me (
ἑωράκατέ με). Heōrakate is the perfect tense of horaō (ὁράω), meaning "to see," "to perceive," or "to observe." The perfect tense signifies an action completed in the past with ongoing results or a continuous state. This means they had not just caught a fleeting glimpse but had repeatedly observed Jesus, His person, and His works (like the miracles of feeding and healing). This "seeing" refers to physical, visual perception. Yet, this physical seeing did not translate into spiritual understanding or acceptance. - and yet: Greek: kai ou (
καὶ οὐ). This combination expresses a paradoxical contradiction. It connects the "seeing" with the "not believing," emphasizing the unfulfilled expectation or logical disconnect. Despite the compelling evidence presented by sight, a contrary reality persists. - do not believe: Greek: ou pisteuete (
οὐ πιστεύετε). Pisteuete is the present tense of pisteuō (πιστεύω), meaning "to believe," "to trust," or "to have faith." The present tense indicates a continuous state or ongoing action. It is not a temporary doubt, but a settled and persistent condition of unbelief. They continue not to believe. This points to a deeper issue than lack of evidence; it points to a refusal or inability to embrace spiritual truth. - Words-group: "have seen me and yet do not believe": This phrase encapsulates the central tragedy of John 6. It presents a dichotomy between outward perception and inward conviction. They saw the "sign," but missed the "Sign-Giver." They beheld the manifestation of God in the flesh, His miraculous power, and His gracious words, yet their hearts remained hardened and unyielding to spiritual truth. This demonstrates that intellectual assent or exposure to signs is insufficient for saving faith, which requires a divine work of conviction and reception of the Spirit. It underscores human responsibility in responding to divine revelation, while also subtly hinting at the spiritual enablement necessary for true belief, which is discussed later in the chapter (e.g., v. 44).
John 6 36 Bonus section
The profound spiritual insight embedded in John 6:36 connects with the larger theme in John's Gospel regarding genuine spiritual perception versus superficial understanding. True belief (faith) is contrasted not with ignorance, but with the failure to correctly interpret abundant divine evidence due to a darkened spiritual condition (Jn 12:40, Mt 13:13). This unbelief, even in the face of witnessing divinity, is presented as inexcusable. The immediate sequence to this verse (Jn 6:37ff) clarifies that those whom the Father gives will come and believe, setting up a tension between human culpability (highlighted in v. 36) and divine initiative/sovereignty (elaborated on in later verses). Therefore, John 6:36 is both a lament over their culpability and a subtle precursor to the deeper theological discussion on the Father's divine drawing and gifting.
John 6 36 Commentary
John 6:36 is a stark declaration by Jesus revealing the deep-seated spiritual blindness and stubborn unbelief of many in His audience. Despite His undeniable presence and the display of His divine power through miracles and profound teachings, they refused to embrace Him as the Son of God and the Messiah. Their "seeing" was limited to physical sight; they beheld His human form and perceived His outward actions, but failed to grasp His divine nature or the spiritual significance of His ministry. This was not a passive inability but an active "do not believe," reflecting a resistance of will stemming from hearts unwilling to acknowledge His claims or surrender to His Lordship. Their focus on earthly bread over the true Bread of Life ultimately rendered their physical sight ineffective for spiritual apprehension. This verse serves as a crucial theological point, illustrating that salvation is not merely a matter of observation or intellect, but a transformative act of faith, often requiring a divine drawing and willingness of heart.
Practical examples:
- A person attending church regularly and knowing Bible stories, yet never personally trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior.
- Someone observing remarkable transformations in believers' lives but remaining cynical and unwilling to commit to Christ.