John 6 4

John 6:4 kjv

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

John 6:4 nkjv

Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.

John 6:4 niv

The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

John 6:4 esv

Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.

John 6:4 nlt

(It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.)

John 6 verses

John 6 4 Meaning

John 6:4 concisely sets the stage for a pivotal period in Jesus' ministry. It marks the chronological timing, noting the approaching Passover festival, a significant annual event for the Jewish people. This immediate temporal context primes the audience for the miraculous feeding of the five thousand and the subsequent "Bread of Life" discourse, connecting these events intrinsically with the Passover themes of divine deliverance, covenant sustenance, and spiritual freedom, subtly indicating Jesus as their ultimate fulfillment.

John 6 4 Context

John 6:4 is crucial for understanding the chronological and theological unfolding of events in this chapter. It directly follows Jesus' ministry in Galilee, which included the healing of the royal official's son (Jn 4) and various healings and teachings in Jerusalem (Jn 5). The verse signals the approaching Passover, the second such festival explicitly mentioned in John's Gospel, indicating a significant passage of time in Jesus' public ministry—approximately a year after the Passover in John 2. This timing places the feeding of the five thousand and the "Bread of Life" discourse, which immediately follow, within the framework of Jewish festival life, particularly the Passover, which commemorated God's miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egypt and their sustenance in the wilderness through manna. Historically and culturally, the Passover was the most important Jewish festival, profoundly shaping national identity and expectations of messianic deliverance, making its proximity highly significant for Jesus' claims of providing spiritual nourishment and freedom.

John 6 4 Word analysis

• Now (δὲ, de): This conjunction serves as a transitional particle, often indicating a shift in narrative or emphasis, sometimes simply meaning "but" or "and." Here, it marks a subtle, yet significant, movement in the timeline of Jesus' public ministry as the narrative progresses.
• the Passover (τὸ πάσχα, to pascha): Refers to the annual Jewish festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt and the divine sparing of Israel's firstborn through the blood of the lamb. It is rich with themes of liberation, sacrifice, and covenant renewal. John uses this specific definite article ("the") to denote the well-known and specific festival, highlighting its immediate relevance. Theologically, it sets up Jesus as the fulfillment of the Passover lamb (1 Cor 5:7) and the ultimate act of liberation from sin and death.
• a feast (ἡ ἑορτὴ, he heorte): Emphasizes that Passover was a major religious festival, a sacred assembly marked by specific rituals and pilgrimages to Jerusalem (Deut 16:16). The designation clarifies its status, differentiating it from an ordinary observance. In John's Gospel, Jesus frequently confronts or reinterprets Jewish feasts (e.g., Tabernacles, Dedication), demonstrating his sovereignty and that He is the new meaning and purpose behind these Old Covenant institutions.
• of the Jews (τῶν Ἰουδαίων, tōn Ioudaiōn): This Johannine phrase can identify the ethnic and religious group generally, but often carries a polemical tone in this Gospel, especially when contrasting those who believe in Jesus with the broader Jewish leadership or those who reject Him. Here, it underlines that Passover, while foundational, is the observance of "the Jews" (the Old Covenant adherents), creating a subtle theological tension that Jesus is about to resolve through his teaching on the true bread from heaven, which will supersede mere physical ritual.
• was near (ἦν ἐγγὺς, ēn enggys): Indicates that the festival was imminent, making its themes and the spiritual expectations associated with it immediate and present. This proximity underscores the intentional timing of Jesus' subsequent signs and discourse, showing them to be deliberately situated to address and reinterpret the Passover's profound meaning through His person and work. It emphasizes preparation, both for the physical observance and, more importantly, for the spiritual revelation Jesus is about to unfold.
• the Passover, a feast of the Jews: This phrase groups two crucial identifiers together. By linking "Passover" with "a feast," it reinforces its religious significance. Adding "of the Jews" emphasizes its distinct identity within a specific cultural and religious context, setting the stage for how Jesus, through the subsequent discourse, will transcend this particularistic understanding and offer universal spiritual bread.

John 6 4 Bonus section

The specific mention of Passover in John's Gospel also functions as a chronological marker for Jesus' ministry. John mentions three Passovers (Jn 2:13; Jn 6:4; Jn 11:55, 12:1), leading scholars to infer that Jesus' public ministry spanned approximately three and a half years. John 6:4, therefore, suggests we are roughly midway through Jesus' active teaching and miracle-working period. The Evangelist's repeated emphasis on Jewish festivals—Passover, Sukkot (Tabernacles), Hanukkah (Dedication), and unnamed "feasts"—often serves to frame Jesus' revelation of Himself as the true and ultimate fulfillment of all these Old Testament observances. Each festival becomes a platform for Jesus to demonstrate His messianic identity and challenge the limited understanding of the religious authorities, setting the stage for their escalating opposition.

John 6 4 Commentary

John 6:4 serves as an intentional literary device, anchoring the events of John chapter 6 to the rich theological and historical framework of the Passover. By stating the festival's imminent arrival, John primes his audience to consider the miraculous feeding of the five thousand and Jesus' subsequent "Bread of Life" discourse through the lens of divine provision, liberation from bondage, and God's covenant sustenance, which are core themes of the Exodus and Passover narrative. This timing invites a comparison between the physical bread that fed the multitude and the manna given to Israel in the wilderness—a memory vividly recalled during Passover—with Jesus' offer of Himself as the ultimate spiritual bread that grants eternal life. The mention of it as "a feast of the Jews" highlights its existing Old Covenant context, subtly implying that Jesus is about to reveal a New Covenant reality that fulfills and supersedes it. The stage is perfectly set for Jesus to proclaim Himself as the true sustenance from heaven, offering a greater deliverance than that remembered in the Passover, from the slavery of sin into everlasting life.