John 6 57

John 6:57 kjv

As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

John 6:57 nkjv

As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

John 6:57 niv

Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.

John 6:57 esv

As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.

John 6:57 nlt

I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.

John 6 verses

John 6 57 Meaning

This verse encapsulates the profound dependency of the believer on Jesus, mirroring Jesus' own dependency on the Father. It draws a divine parallel: just as the Father, who is inherently the source of all life, sustains and is the very reason for Jesus' life, so too will those who spiritually "eat" of Jesus receive and sustain their own life through Him. It emphasizes a continuous, vital union where Christ is the ultimate source of eternal and spiritual existence for His followers.

John 6 57 Context

John chapter 6 presents Jesus' profound discourse on being the "Bread of Life," delivered primarily in the synagogue at Capernaum. This discourse immediately follows the miraculous feeding of the five thousand and Jesus walking on water. The crowd, having been miraculously fed physical bread, pursues Jesus, hoping for more material sustenance. Jesus, however, challenges them to seek a deeper, spiritual bread that provides eternal life, contrasting it with the manna their ancestors ate in the wilderness. He repeatedly identifies Himself as this true bread from heaven. Verse 57 comes amidst Jesus' most challenging statements where He insists that true life comes from "eating His flesh and drinking His blood," causing many to grumble and even turn away because they understood His words literally. Historically, for a Jewish audience, the concepts of a "living God," "sending" prophets, and dependence on God for life were familiar. However, the idea of "eating flesh" would have been shocking and potentially blasphemous, particularly given Levitical laws regarding blood and dietary purity. Jesus' words were polemic against a superficial understanding of God's provision (like manna) and a literal, physical expectation of Messiah's benefits, guiding them instead to a spiritual union with Him as the ultimate source of life.

John 6 57 Word analysis

• As (καθώς, kathōs): This Greek particle introduces a precise comparison, establishing an analogy. It signifies "just as," setting up a parallel between the divine relationship of the Father and the Son, and the spiritual relationship of the Son and the believer. It suggests a direct correlation and an operative principle.
• the living (ὁ ζῶν, ho zōn): Emphasizes God the Father's intrinsic nature as eternally existing and being the active source, sustainer, and giver of all life. It distinguishes Him from lifeless idols and any finite created being. This highlights His unique, inherent life-giving power.
• Father (Πατήρ, Patēr): Refers to God in His paternal relationship with Jesus. This term underlines the intimate, divine relationship within the Godhead, and specifically indicates the source of Jesus' being, mission, and life.
• sent (ἀπέστειλεν, apesteilen): Denotes divine commission, authority, and purpose. It is a recurring Johannine theme signifying Jesus' mission is from God the Father, underscoring His unique role as the divinely appointed Messenger and Savior.
• me (με, me): Refers to Jesus, highlighting His personal identity as the uniquely appointed Son.
• and (καὶ, kai): A conjunction that here introduces a consequence or explanatory phrase: "because of this sending, I live."
• I live (κἀγὼ ζῶ, kagō zō): "I also live." This affirms Jesus' own life and existence. The "I also" implies His life is patterned after a divine source. It points to both His continuous spiritual life and His earthly, incarnate existence, both flowing from the Father.
• because of the Father (διὰ τὸν Πατέρα, dia ton Patera): The preposition "dia" with the accusative here expresses the ultimate cause or reason. Jesus' life is not independent, but is completely sourced from and sustained by the Father, revealing profound inter-Trinitarian unity and dynamic.
• so also (καὶ ὁ, kai ho): Continues the established parallelism. The consequence of the initial divine pattern is applied to believers.
• the one who eats me (ὁ τρώγων με, ho trōgōn me): "Trōgō" (to chew, to gnaw) implies a more vigorous, continuous, and personal act of consumption than "phagō" (to eat). This is metaphorical, signifying a deep, continuous spiritual assimilation of Christ's person and work into one's being, resulting in intimate communion and appropriation of Him. It denotes belief, trust, and intimate spiritual union.
• will live (ζήσει, zēsei): Future tense, assuring eternal and spiritual life as a certain outcome for those who "eat" of Him. It encompasses not just an everlasting future, but a vibrant spiritual existence in the present.
• because of me (δι' ἐμέ, di' eme): The ultimate cause or source of the believer's spiritual and eternal life is Christ Himself. This emphasizes Jesus' indispensability as the life-giver, mirroring His own dependence on the Father.

• "As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father": This phrase sets up the divine paradigm. It establishes Jesus' origin and sustenance. His entire being and mission flow directly from the inherent life-giving power and purpose of the Father. This reveals the foundational dependency of the Son on the Father within the Godhead, presenting a perfect model of life-derivation.
• "so also the one who eats me will live because of me": This applies the divine paradigm to the human-Christ relationship. The spiritual "eating" of Jesus is the means by which believers intimately appropriate His life. Just as the Father is the life-source for Jesus, Jesus is the life-source for the believer. It is a radical statement of mutual indwelling and life-sharing, where the believer’s spiritual life is continuously sustained by communion with Christ.

John 6 57 Bonus section

This verse implies a divine metabolism of life. The Father's life animates Jesus, and Jesus' life animates the believer. It reveals a foundational pattern for all Christian living: just as Christ lived in complete dependence on and submission to the Father, so the Christian must live in complete dependence on and submission to Christ. The profound "as… so also" structure emphasizes that the believer’s life in Christ is a participation in the very life that Jesus shares with the Father. This spiritual reality transcends mere intellectual assent, demanding a vital, life-sustaining relationship. It implicitly addresses Jewish polemic against a superficial understanding of God's provision by stressing an infinitely superior, spiritual, and personal provision through Christ Himself, the true "Bread from heaven."

John 6 57 Commentary

John 6:57 serves as a climactic summary of the "Bread of Life" discourse, presenting a profound analogy between the life-flow within the Trinity and the spiritual life of believers. It highlights that Jesus' existence is inherently sourced from the "living Father" through a constant, dynamic relationship. In turn, He offers the same dynamic, life-giving union to humanity. The act of "eating" Jesus is not physical, but represents a deep, personal, and continuous appropriation of Him through faith and communion—a reception that fundamentally sustains one's spiritual life. This verse underscores Jesus' absolute essentiality for eternal life, positioning Him as the unique conduit through whom the life of God flows to humanity. It means to continually absorb His teachings, character, and sacrifice, allowing Him to be the core of one's being, just as food becomes part of the body. For example, trusting in His completed work for salvation, abiding in His words for spiritual sustenance, and constantly relying on His presence in one's daily walk are all ways one "eats" of Him to live.