John 6 51

John 6:51 kjv

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 6:51 nkjv

I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

John 6:51 niv

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

John 6:51 esv

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

John 6:51 nlt

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh."

John 6 verses

John 6 51 Meaning

Jesus declares that he is the living bread that descended from heaven. He offers himself as sustenance, and by partaking of this bread (himself), believers will live eternally. This bread is uniquely his flesh, which he will give for the life of the world.

John 6 51 Context

This verse is part of Jesus' discourse in the synagogue at Capernaum following the feeding of the five thousand. The crowd is seeking Jesus, not primarily for spiritual understanding, but for more physical sustenance. Jesus redirects their focus from earthly bread to Himself as the true, life-giving bread from heaven. He has just spoken of the perishable nature of the food that perishes and the importance of the food that endures to eternal life (John 6:27). He contrasts His bread with the manna their ancestors ate in the wilderness, which did not ultimately prevent death. This teaching, especially His emphasis on eating His flesh and drinking His blood, will prove challenging and lead many of His disciples to turn away from Him.

John 6 51 Word Analysis

• ego (ἐγώ) - "I." Emphasizes the personal declaration of Jesus.
• eimi (εἰμί) - "am." A strong statement of identity.
• ho (ὁ) - "the." The definite article emphasizes exclusivity.
• artos (ἄρτος) - "bread." A fundamental staple, representing sustenance.
• tes (τῆς) - "of."
• zoes (ζωῆς) - "life" (genitive singular). Specifically refers to the eternal, spiritual life that comes from God.
• tes (τῆς) - "of."
• ek (ἐκ) - "out of," "from." Indicates origin.
• tou (τοῦ) - "the."
• ouranou (οὐρανοῦ) - "heaven" (genitive singular). Points to a divine, supernatural source.
• katabas (καταβάς) - "having descended" (aorist active participle of katabaino - καταβαίνω). Highlights the act of coming down from heaven to earth.
• autos (αὐτός) - "He," "himself." Emphatic personal pronoun.
• dos (δός) - "give" (second aorist imperative active of didomi - δίδωμι). This is the command or solemn declaration about what He will do or is doing. Here, in a solemn declaration of divine purpose, it functions more declaratively than as a simple command to Himself.
• ten (τὴν) - "the."
• arkha (σαρκὰ) - "flesh" (accusative singular of sarx - σάρξ). This refers to His physical humanity, the very being of His embodied life, which will be given up in sacrifice. The word "sarx" often carries connotations of humanity’s mortality and frailty but here is the vehicle of divine life.
• mou (μου) - "my" (genitive singular of ego - ἐγώ). Indicates possession.
• hypè (ὑπὲρ) - "for," "on behalf of." Indicates purpose or substitution.
• tes (τῆς) - "the."
• tou (τοῦ) - "of."
• kosmou (κόσμου) - "world" (genitive singular of kosmos - κόσμος). Encompasses all of humanity, the sphere for which His sacrifice is made.
• tes (τῆς) - "the."
• zoes (ζωῆς) - "life" (genitive singular). Reinforces that the purpose is for the life of the world, the very life He possesses and dispenses.

Groups of words analysis:

• "I am the bread of life" (ego eimi ho artos tes zoes) - This is a profound identification of Jesus as the ultimate spiritual provision, fulfilling all human need for life. It parallels phrases like "I am the light of the world" and "I am the door."
• "that came down out of heaven" (ho ek tou ouranou katabas) - This phrase establishes His divine origin, differentiating Him from any earthly teacher or prophet. He is not merely of this world but transcendentally sent.
• "He himself gives" (autos dōsin) - "Autos" is emphatic. "Dosin" here is translated from the dative singular form of the future active participle of "didōmi." The manuscripts vary, with some having the indicative "dōsei" (He will give) or imperative "dos" (Give!). Most scholars lean towards a strong indicative sense here, or a statement of divinely intended action rather than a command to Himself. However, the future tense or even the declarative imperative points to the ultimate act of giving.
• "his flesh for the life of the world" (ten sarką mou hypèr tēs tou kosmou zoēs) - This explicitly connects His incarnate life and His sacrificial death. His physical humanity, offered to death, is the means by which universal, eternal life is imparted to the world.

John 6 51 Bonus Section

The statement "he himself gives his flesh" uses the verb form "dōsin," which appears to be a future participle used in a strong declarative sense or possibly an old future indicative form of the verb "didōmi" (to give). This is debated, but it conveys the certainty of His offering. The "bread" (artos) here is understood in Jewish tradition as a symbol of sustenance and life, with manna (the "bread of heaven") being the prime example from the Old Testament. However, Jesus declares Himself to be the true, superior "bread of life" that surpasses the temporary manna. The focus on "flesh" (sarx) and later "blood" in this discourse is startling to His listeners and emphasizes His literal humanity and sacrificial death as the means of salvation, a concept also deeply embedded in Old Testament sacrificial system symbolism (Leviticus 17:11). Scholars also note the dual nature of Jesus' discourse: it's about spiritual truth (He is the true bread) and also about a physical, tangible reality – His body and blood which are given. This anticipates the Lord's Supper instituted by Jesus later, which memorializes and makes accessible the efficacy of His sacrifice.

John 6 51 Commentary

Jesus is not speaking metaphorically in a way that allows for abstract interpretation; He is asserting a profound reality about His identity and mission. He is not just pointing to Himself as a source of spiritual nourishment, but as the exclusive source of true, everlasting life. This life is not merely biological continuation but an eternal, vibrant relationship with God. The "bread" represents His very being, His humanity, His incarnation, and crucially, His sacrificial death. Manna, while from heaven, was a temporary provision that couldn't overcome death. Jesus' flesh, given for the world, is the permanent, divinely appointed provision for overcoming sin and death, securing eternal life. This act of "giving His flesh" is directly linked to His impending crucifixion, where His physical body would be broken and His blood shed. Partaking of Him means entering into a living union with His atoning sacrifice.