John 6 61

John 6:61 kjv

When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

John 6:61 nkjv

When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?

John 6:61 niv

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?

John 6:61 esv

But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?

John 6:61 nlt

Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does this offend you?

John 6 verses

John 6 61 Meaning

John 6:61 reveals Jesus' divine omniscience and His direct confrontation with the growing skepticism among His followers. Aware of the murmuring and internal dissent prompted by His profound "Bread of Life" discourse, Jesus probes the heart of their struggle by asking if His words cause them to stumble. This verse highlights Jesus' awareness of internal spiritual states, His willingness to address hidden rebellion, and the challenging nature of His truth which sifts genuine faith from superficial adherence.

John 6 61 Context

John 6:61 follows immediately after Jesus' profound and challenging discourse in the synagogue at Capernaum (John 6:59). In this sermon, Jesus proclaimed Himself as the "Bread of Life" (John 6:35) and explicitly stated that believers must "eat His flesh and drink His blood" (John 6:53-56) to have eternal life. This was an exceptionally difficult teaching for His audience, including many of His "disciples," to grasp, both literally and figuratively. From a Jewish historical and cultural perspective, consuming blood was strictly forbidden by Mosaic Law (Lev 17:10-14), making Jesus' words deeply shocking and seemingly blasphemous if taken literally. Furthermore, the idea of eating flesh could evoke pagan rituals. The preceding verse, John 6:60, notes that "many of His disciples" found this a "hard saying" (σκληρός – sklēros), meaning harsh, difficult, or even offensive, leading them to question its possibility and understandability. Jesus, knowing their internal consternation without being told, then directly addresses their grumbling in verse 61, confronting the very root of their disbelief. This passage is a pivotal moment in John's Gospel, where many initial followers choose to depart from Jesus, unable to accept His divine claims and spiritual truths.

John 6 61 Word analysis

• When Jesus knew (ἔγνω οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς - egnō oun ho Iēsous): This highlights Jesus' divine omniscience. He possessed intrinsic, perfect knowledge of their internal thoughts and feelings, not derived from external observation. This knowing signifies His divine nature, a consistent theme in John (e.g., John 2:25; 6:64; 16:30).
• in himself (ἐν ἑαυτῷ - en heautō): This phrase emphatically states the self-originating nature of Jesus' knowledge. It was an inherent, internal understanding, distinguishing His divine perception from human speculation or reported information.
• that his disciples (ὅτι ... οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ - hoti...hoi mathētai autou): These were not just the general crowd, but individuals who had made a commitment, however superficial, to follow Jesus. Their murmuring reveals a deep-seated spiritual conflict within His immediate circle of followers.
• murmured (γογγύζω - gongyzō): This Greek term literally means to grumble or mutter discontentedly. It carries strong Old Testament echoes of Israel's rebellious complaints against God and Moses in the wilderness (e.g., Exod 16; Num 14), signifying a rejection of divine authority and a lack of faith, often covertly.
• at it (περὶ τούτου - peri toutou): This refers directly to the contentious teaching of Jesus mentioned in John 6:53-58 and characterized as a "hard saying" in John 6:60—His declaration that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life.
• he said unto them (εἶπεν αὐτοῖς - eipen autois): Jesus' direct address demonstrates His sovereign authority and His intent to challenge their internal rebellion openly. He doesn't let their murmuring remain hidden, but forces them to confront their doubts.
• Doth this offend you? (Τοῦτο ὑμᾶς σκανδαλίζει; - Touto hymas skandalizei?):
  • offend (σκανδαλίζω - skandalizō): The core meaning is to cause to stumble, to trip up, or to cause to fall morally or spiritually. In a deeper sense, it means to lead someone into sin or to abandon their faith. Jesus uses this word to ask if His teaching acts as a spiritual stumbling block, leading them towards apostasy.
  • you (ὑμᾶς - hymas): The plural form directly addresses the group of disciples who were murmuring, personalizing the challenge. The question is rhetorical, designed not for information but for conviction and to force a choice.

• "When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it": This phrase highlights Jesus' divine insight penetrating their concealed dissent. He doesn't react based on external cues alone but from an internal, inherent knowledge, underscoring the spiritual nature of their unbelief which He immediately discerns.
• "he said unto them, Doth this offend you?": This pairing illustrates Jesus' strategy: omniscient perception followed by a direct, probing question. The question serves to bring their internal, covert discontent into the open and challenges them to consider the spiritual implications of their reaction, acting as a crucial test of their allegiance and understanding.

John 6 61 Bonus section

This verse is critical because it reveals that the challenge in discipleship often arises not from a lack of information, but from a resistance to spiritual truth that clashes with human reason or expectation. The murmuring reflects a deeper spiritual malaise—an inability or unwillingness to move beyond the physical and perceive the spiritual reality Jesus spoke of. Jesus' question about "offense" isn't an invitation to debate, but a test of spiritual receptivity. It precedes the dramatic defection of many of His followers in John 6:66, showing how divine truth, when unpalatable, actively prunes away those without genuine, Spirit-enabled faith. It teaches us that faith often involves embracing paradoxes and truths that "offend" our natural understanding.

John 6 61 Commentary

John 6:61 serves as a profound moment of truth in Jesus' ministry. It portrays Jesus not merely as a charismatic teacher, but as the omniscient Son of God who effortlessly perceives the hidden thoughts and discontent of His followers. His internal knowledge of their murmuring (γογγύζω), a term laden with Old Testament echoes of Israel's unfaithful grumbling against God, immediately precedes His confronting question: "Doth this offend you?" (σκανδαλίζω). This question is rhetorical, yet deeply probing. Jesus knows the answer, but He forces them to confront the spiritual 'stumbling block' His truth presents. His discourse about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, understood spiritually as complete identification and appropriation of His atoning work, proved too hard for many. They approached spiritual truth with carnal minds, leading to offense rather than understanding. This moment begins the sifting process, where true faith, reliant on the Spirit, is distinguished from mere human admiration or superficial adherence based on perceived benefits. Jesus’ question forces His audience, and subsequently all who encounter His challenging teachings, to examine whether they will embrace His truth or allow it to be a stumbling block.