John 6 58

John 6:58 kjv

This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

John 6:58 nkjv

This is the bread which came down from heaven?not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."

John 6:58 niv

This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."

John 6:58 esv

This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."

John 6:58 nlt

I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever."

John 6 verses

John 6 58 Meaning

John 6:58 concludes Jesus' "Bread of Life" discourse, presenting a decisive contrast between the physical manna eaten by the Israelites in the wilderness and His own person as the true, life-giving bread from heaven. It proclaims that while those who ate the manna eventually died, anyone who partakes of Jesus by faith will receive eternal life. This verse highlights Jesus' divine origin, His supremacy over Old Covenant provisions, and the eternal, transformative power of spiritual union with Him.

John 6 58 Context

John chapter 6 begins with Jesus miraculously feeding five thousand people with a few loaves and fish. This event sparks a worldly excitement among the crowd, who wish to make Him king (Jn 6:15). Perceiving their carnal desire for physical sustenance and political power, Jesus retreats. The discourse that follows, delivered in the synagogue at Capernaum (Jn 6:59), systematically elevates their understanding from physical bread to spiritual sustenance, culminating in His identity as "the Bread of Life."

Jesus consistently redirects the crowd from their pursuit of perishing food to seeking the food that endures to eternal life, which is Himself. He explains that God provides the true bread from heaven, not Moses. The contentious aspect arises as Jesus claims to be this "living bread" and later explicitly states the necessity of eating His flesh and drinking His blood to have life (Jn 6:53). This was profoundly offensive to many, who understood it literally, leading to widespread desertion among His followers (Jn 6:66). Verse 58 acts as a definitive summary, drawing a sharp distinction between the temporary life provided by manna in the wilderness—which did not prevent physical death—and the eternal life conferred by partaking of Jesus Christ. The underlying polemic challenges the Jewish reliance on their ancestral heritage and outward observance, redirecting them to inward faith in Christ alone for true, lasting life.

John 6 58 Word Analysis

• This is the bread (Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ἄρτος - Houtos estin ho artos):
  • Οὗτός (Houtos): "This." A strong demonstrative pronoun, pointing directly to Jesus as the referent, making an unequivocal declaration of identity. It reinforces His earlier claims "I am the bread of life" (Jn 6:35).
  • ἐστιν (estin): "is." The simple present tense of "to be," asserting a timeless, continuous reality.
  • ὁ ἄρτος (ho artos): "the bread." The definite article "the" highlights its uniqueness and singularity. It is the unique, divinely given sustenance, not merely "a" bread. This distinguishes Him from any other provision or teaching.
• which came down out of heaven (ὁ καταβάς ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ - ho katabas ek tou ouranou):
  • ὁ καταβάς (ho katabas): "the one who came down." A participle emphasizing the completed action of His divine descent. It affirms His pre-existence and divine origin, making His claims authoritative and unparalleled. This connects directly to Jesus' statements about Himself being from above (Jn 6:33, 6:41, 6:42, 6:51).
  • ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (ek tou ouranou): "out of heaven." Denotes the source and sphere of origin, affirming Jesus' celestial, supernatural identity and mission. It clearly differentiates Him from any earthly teacher or prophet, including Moses who facilitated the manna but did not himself descend from heaven.
• not as the fathers did eat (οὐ καθὼς ἔφαγον οἱ πατέρες - ou kathōs ephagon hoi pateres):
  • οὐ (ou): "not." A strong negative particle, creating a direct, explicit contrast.
  • καθὼς (kathōs): "as, just as." Introduces the point of comparison.
  • ἔφαγον (ephagon): "they did eat." Aorist tense, referring to a past, completed action of the ancestors.
  • οἱ πατέρες (hoi pateres): "the fathers/ancestors." Refers specifically to the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness and were fed manna. This highlights the Jewish audience's reverence for their heritage and traditions.
• and died (καὶ ἀπέθανον - kai apethanon):
  • καὶ (kai): "and." Connects the action of eating to its consequence.
  • ἀπέθανον (apethanon): "they died." Aorist tense, stating an undeniable historical fact. This emphasizes the ultimate failure of manna to grant eternal life; it only sustained physical existence for a time, ending in mortality. It underscores the temporal limitation of Old Covenant provisions.
• He that eateth (ὁ τρώγων - ho trōgōn):
  • ὁ τρώγων (ho trōgōn): "the one chewing/gnawing." This word, stronger than the usual Greek for "to eat" (φαγεῖν - phagein, used earlier in the discourse), signifies a prolonged, continuous, and habitual act of feeding or gnawing. It implies a personal, continuous assimilation, an active and persistent spiritual engagement with Christ, emphasizing deep appropriation rather than a casual consumption.
• of this bread (τούτου τοῦ ἄρτου - toutou tou artou):
  • τούτου (toutou): "of this." Points back unequivocally to Jesus Himself as "the bread which came down out of heaven."
  • τοῦ ἄρτου (tou artou): "the bread." Reiterates Jesus' identity.
• shall live for ever (ζήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα - zēsetai eis ton aiōna):
  • ζήσεται (zēsetai): "shall live." Future tense, a definitive promise. This "living" refers to spiritual and eternal life, not merely continued physical existence. It implies life in God's presence, freed from the power of sin and death.
  • εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα (eis ton aiōna): "into the age, forever, eternally." A strong phrase signifying unending, perpetual life. This stands in direct contrast to "and died," demonstrating the ultimate efficacy of Christ's provision.

• Word Group Analysis: "This is the bread... not as the fathers did eat and died" This passage directly establishes a stark, life-or-death contrast. It presents Jesus as the antitype to the Old Testament manna, elevating Him far above that historical provision. The manna, though miraculous, was temporary and did not prevent ultimate physical death, whereas the bread of life, Jesus, promises eternal existence. This comparison serves as a polemic against any notion that reliance on historical figures or a limited, physical understanding of divine provision could bring lasting salvation. It demands a shift from valuing temporal signs to embracing the eternal reality embodied in Christ.
• Word Group Analysis: "He that eateth of this bread shall live for ever" The phrase "He that eateth" (ὁ τρώγων) signifies a deep, personal, and continuous appropriation of Christ. It suggests not merely a single act of faith but a sustained reliance upon and drawing sustenance from Him. This is how eternal life is accessed and maintained—not as a one-time transaction but as an ongoing spiritual union. This eternal life is not just longevity but a qualitative participation in the life of God, distinct from mere temporal existence. It signifies the lasting union between the believer and Christ, securing a destiny beyond death's dominion.

John 6 58 Bonus section

The strong verb trōgō ("to chew" or "gnaw"), used repeatedly by Jesus in John 6 (verses 54, 56, 57, 58), goes beyond the more common Greek word phagō ("to eat"). Its choice likely intensifies the notion of intimate, thorough, and continual assimilation. Some scholars suggest it implies a deeply personal and almost physical identification with what is being consumed, thereby underscoring the necessity of a profound and ongoing spiritual appropriation of Jesus in all His salvific work (His incarnation, death, and resurrection). While this language later informed eucharistic theology, its primary meaning within the immediate context of John 6 refers to the act of believing in Christ as a complete, saving commitment. This ongoing faith is the "eating" and "drinking" that brings eternal life.

John 6 58 Commentary

John 6:58 serves as a pivotal conclusion to Jesus' discourse on Himself as the Bread of Life. It summarizes His argument by explicitly contrasting the temporary effect of the manna given to the ancestors with the eternal life bestowed by Him. The physical manna, while miraculously provided by God, only sustained the physical body for a time; those who ate it still eventually succumbed to death. In profound distinction, Jesus asserts that He is the heavenly bread, and continuous spiritual partaking of Him (represented by "eating" and "chewing" His flesh) results in unending, eternal life. This emphasizes the radical superiority of Christ over Old Covenant provisions and traditions, urging a shift from a reliance on the physical and temporal to a faith-based union with the spiritual and eternal. It signifies that true life is found exclusively in deep communion with Jesus Christ, making Him the ultimate source of all sustenance, both spiritual and eternal.