John 6 50

John 6:50 kjv

This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

John 6:50 nkjv

This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.

John 6:50 niv

But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.

John 6:50 esv

This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.

John 6:50 nlt

Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die.

John 6 verses

John 6 50 Meaning

John 6:50 declares Jesus Christ as the supreme spiritual sustenance, the true "bread" sent from heaven. This verse directly contrasts Him with the physical manna provided in the wilderness, which merely sustained earthly life and did not prevent death. The purpose of this heavenly bread, Jesus Himself, is to grant eternal life to all who spiritually "eat" or receive Him by faith, thus freeing them from spiritual death.

John 6 50 Context

The immediate context of John 6:50 is part of Jesus' profound "Bread of Life" discourse, initiated after He miraculously fed over five thousand people with physical loaves and fish (Jn 6:1-14). The crowds, witnessing this, sought Him again primarily for more physical food (Jn 6:26). Jesus then steers the conversation from perishing food to "food that endures to eternal life" (Jn 6:27). The discourse evolves into Jesus directly identifying Himself as the "bread of life" (Jn 6:35, 48), distinguishing Himself from the manna that the ancestors ate, which ultimately did not prevent death (Jn 6:49). Verse 50, therefore, is a pivotal statement reinforcing the superiority and life-giving power of Christ over any temporary, earthly provision.

Historically, the Jewish people cherished the memory of manna as a direct divine provision during the Exodus, symbolizing God's faithfulness and anticipating a new "manna" or similar great sign with the coming of the Messiah. Jesus' discourse challenges their limited, often material, expectations. He contrasts the temporary, physical manna that fed the body but did not avert death, with His own spiritual being which grants eternal life. This served as a polemic against the popular belief that merely external signs or physical provision constituted God's ultimate blessing, compelling the audience to look beyond physical needs to the deeper, spiritual reality found in Him.

John 6 50 Word analysis

• This (οὗτος, houtos): A demonstrative pronoun that emphatically points to Jesus Himself as the embodiment of the spiritual bread. It highlights His identity and unique nature, connecting to previous declarations such as "I am the bread of life."
• is (ἐστιν, estin): The verb "to be" in the present tense, indicative mood. It conveys a factual declaration, not a metaphor or comparison. Jesus is definitively the bread, not merely like bread.
• the bread (ἄρτος, artos): A common word for bread. Here, its meaning transcends ordinary sustenance, now laden with theological significance as it comes "from heaven" and brings eternal life. It implies the unique and singular source of spiritual nourishment.
• that comes down (ὁ καταβαίνων, ho katabainōn): A present participle, emphasizing a continuous state or ongoing reality of descending. Jesus is not just one who came down, but the very One whose existence is from above, eternally connected to heaven. This underscores His divine origin.
• from heaven (ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ek tou ouranou): Specifies the divine, supernatural source. This authenticity ensures its life-giving power, setting it apart from all earthly provisions. It's a key contrast to the earthly origin of other food.
• so that (ἵνα, hina): A purpose clause, revealing God's intention and the divine outcome. The descent of this bread is not arbitrary but for a specific, transformative result for humanity.
• one may eat (φάγῃ, phagē): An aorist subjunctive, indicating a definitive, volitional act. "Eating" is symbolic here of believing, receiving, internalizing, and appropriating Christ and His truth into one's innermost being through faith. It signifies a personal embrace of Him.
• of it (αὐτοῦ, autou): Refers directly to "the bread," meaning Jesus Himself.
• and not die (καὶ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ, kai mē apothanē): A negative aorist subjunctive, articulating the extraordinary and ultimate outcome. Unlike physical death that affects all who ate manna (Jn 6:49), this refers to spiritual and eternal death—separation from God. Receiving this bread guarantees everlasting spiritual vitality and fellowship with God.

Words-group analysis:

• "This is the bread that comes down from heaven": This powerful statement establishes Jesus' unique identity as the ultimate, divinely sourced spiritual provision. It contrasts Him sharply with the temporal, earthly nature of the manna given during the Exodus, signifying His inherent superiority and celestial origin.
• "so that one may eat of it": This phrase highlights the necessary personal engagement with Christ. The provision from heaven is not passively received but requires an active decision of faith—symbolically "eating"—which means believing in Him and receiving His truth into one's life. It emphasizes human response to divine grace.
• "and not die": This defines the profound and enduring consequence of receiving the heavenly bread. It points to eternal life, a spiritual reality beyond physical death. This is the crucial distinction from the manna, which merely prolonged earthly existence, emphasizing that union with Christ guarantees freedom from eternal separation from God.

John 6 50 Bonus section

• The emphasis on "coming down from heaven" (καταβαίνων ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ) throughout John 6 is not merely about location but about Christ's divine nature and pre-existence, asserting His authority and unique qualification to offer eternal life.
• The repeated motif of "bread" in John 6 culminates in this verse and others, illustrating the concept that spiritual nourishment is as essential, if not more so, than physical food for human flourishing.
• While later Christian tradition connects "eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood" with the sacrament of communion, in John 6:50, "eating" is primarily understood as a spiritual reception of Jesus by faith, prior to and encompassing later ritualistic meanings.
• This verse refutes the notion of life originating solely from human effort or natural means, consistently pointing back to God's direct, supernatural intervention in providing His Son as the source of life.

John 6 50 Commentary

John 6:50 serves as a succinct declaration of Jesus' central role as the ultimate, life-sustaining provision from God. In this verse, Jesus sharpens the distinction between Himself, the "true bread from heaven," and the manna given to the Israelites in the desert. While manna provided temporary physical sustenance and its eaters eventually died, Jesus offers an unending spiritual life. "Eating" this bread is a profound metaphor for placing one's faith in Him—personally receiving and assimilating His words and His very person into one's being. The promise that one "may eat of it and not die" transcends physical existence, guaranteeing freedom from spiritual death and a share in eternal life, an unending fellowship with God. This verse underscores that true life and lasting satisfaction are found not in earthly provisions or transient experiences, but exclusively in Jesus Christ and genuine faith in Him. For practical understanding, it means moving beyond seeking physical comforts or fleeting desires to earnestly pursuing a spiritual relationship with Christ, recognizing Him as the ultimate source of meaning and life that overcomes the inevitability of decay and spiritual demise.