John 6:63 kjv
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John 6:63 nkjv
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
John 6:63 niv
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you?they are full of the Spirit and life.
John 6:63 esv
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 6:63 nlt
The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 6 63 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 3:6 | "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." | Spirit vs. Flesh origin |
| Rom 8:2 | "For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death." | Spirit bringing life and freedom |
| Rom 8:4 | "...so that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." | Living by the Spirit |
| 1 Cor 15:45 | "So it is written: 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit." | Adam vs. Christ (Spirit) |
| 2 Cor 3:6 | "for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." | Letter vs. Spirit |
| Gal 5:22-23 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." | Manifestation of Spirit's life |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "So Christ gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers, to equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up..." | Spirit-given gifting and building |
| Phil 3:3 | "...for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh." | No confidence in the flesh |
| 1 Peter 3:18 | "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." | Put to death in flesh, alive in Spirit |
| Gen 1:2 | "The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters." | Spirit as source of life |
| Deut 32:46-47 | "...take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you today, so that you may command them to your children... They are not just idle words for you—they are your life." | Words as life |
| Isa 55:10-11 | "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bear fruit and helping it bud... so will my word be that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." | God's word accomplishing purpose |
| Jer 15:16 | "Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the happiness of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts." | Words bringing joy and life |
| John 1:4 | "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." | Christ as the source of life |
| John 5:24 | "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." | Hearing and believing leads to life |
| John 8:12 | "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" | Jesus as the light of life |
| John 17:3 | "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." | Knowledge of God and Jesus |
| Acts 7:51 | "You stiff-necked people! With uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are resisting the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you." | Resisting the Spirit |
| Rom 10:17 | "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." | Faith from hearing the Word |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, even dividing soul and soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." | Word of God is living and active |
John 6 verses
John 6 63 Meaning
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.
John 6 63 Context
This verse is found in the discourse where Jesus explains his nature as the Bread of Life and contrasts it with the manna provided by Moses. He had declared that He Himself was the bread that came down from heaven, and that those who ate His flesh and drank His blood would have eternal life. Many of His disciples found these words too hard and turned back, considering them too difficult to accept. In John 6:63, Jesus addresses their disbelief and their rejection of His spiritual teaching by contrasting the insufficiency of the physical ("flesh") with the life-giving power of His words and the Spirit. The context highlights a turning point, where many disciples stopped following Him due to His radical claims and the spiritual understanding required. Jesus emphasizes that understanding His message is not merely a matter of intellectual assent but requires a divinely imparted life.
John 6 63 Word Analysis
The Spirit ( τὸ πνεῦμα - to pneuma): This refers to the Holy Spirit. In its most profound sense, it is the divine animating principle of God, the agent of spiritual life and understanding. It is distinct from the human spirit (though often related), and emphasizes God's active presence and power. It directly counters the limitations of the flesh.
gives life (ζωοποιεῖ - zōopoiei): From the verb zoopoieō, meaning "to make alive," "to give life," or "to quicken." It signifies imparting true, spiritual, eternal life, originating from God. This is not merely biological existence but a regenerative spiritual existence.
the flesh (ἡ σάρξ - hē sarx): This refers to the physical, material, and earthly nature of humanity. In a negative theological sense, it represents the sinful, mortal, and fallen human condition, incapable of producing true spiritual life or understanding divine realities on its own. It can also refer to physical human life without the Spirit.
counts for nothing / is not profitable (οὐκ ὀφελεῖ οὐδέν - ouk oophelei ouden): This signifies that the flesh, in its natural, unregenerate state, offers no true benefit or advantage for obtaining eternal life. It is futile and insufficient for spiritual salvation.
The words (τὰ ῥήματα - ta rhēmata): These are the specific utterances Jesus has spoken, particularly concerning His identity, His mission, His sacrifice, and the way of life He offers. These are not just pronouncements but divinely inspired, life-imparting words.
I have spoken to you (ἐλάλησα ὑμῖν - elalēsa hymin): Emphasizes Jesus' direct communication and the personal nature of His teachings to His disciples.
they (αὐτά - auta): Refers back to "the words."
are Spirit (πνεῦμά ἐστιν - pneuma estin): Indicates that the words are not merely human thoughts or pronouncements, but are permeated and empowered by the Holy Spirit. They are imbued with divine life.
are life (καὶ ζωὴν ἐστιν - kai zōēn estin): Further confirms that these Spirit-filled words directly impart life, the eternal, spiritual life that Jesus offers.
Words Group Analysis: "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing."This is a foundational antithesis. It sets up a core theological principle: the ultimate source and sustenance of spiritual vitality is God's Spirit, not man's inherent nature or physical efforts. This concept echoes throughout Scripture, highlighting the inadequacy of human efforts in achieving salvation without divine intervention and renewal. The flesh's inability points to the doctrine of original sin and human depravity.
Words Group Analysis: "The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life."This connects Jesus' specific words to the divine source of life. It emphasizes that Jesus' teachings are not merely informative but transformative, empowered by the Holy Spirit. The "Spirit" and "life" are intimately tied to His pronouncements, making them the conduit for God's life-giving power. This underscores the authority and divine nature of Jesus' words.
John 6 63 Bonus Section
This verse serves as a crucial theological explanation for why many turned away. They were looking for a physical Messiah who would restore a physical kingdom. When Jesus spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, and now stating that only the Spirit and His words give life, they realized they didn't have the spiritual capacity or willingness to understand. It underscores the absolute necessity of the Holy Spirit for genuine faith and understanding of Christ's teachings. It also sets the stage for the ongoing work of the Spirit in illuminating and applying God's Word to believers’ lives, empowering them to live by faith, not by fleshly means.
John 6 63 Commentary
Jesus contrasts the limited, earthly capacity of human nature (flesh) with the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit and His own divinely-sourced words. He clarifies that superficial adherence or fleshly efforts cannot achieve true, eternal life. Instead, His specific teachings, when received and understood through the power of the Spirit, are the very means by which spiritual life is imparted. The words themselves are vehicles of the Spirit's power to animate and sustain believers. This verse challenges listeners to move beyond the physical and embrace the spiritual reality that Jesus presents, highlighting that true life is found in Him and His words, empowered by the Spirit.