John 6 64

John 6:64 kjv

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

John 6:64 nkjv

But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.

John 6:64 niv

Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

John 6:64 esv

But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)

John 6:64 nlt

But some of you do not believe me." (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn't believe, and he knew who would betray him.)

John 6 verses

John 6 64 Meaning

John 6:64 reveals Jesus's divine foreknowledge concerning the faith of His followers, even those currently among His disciples. It states that some present in His audience did not truly believe in Him, despite outward appearances or association. Crucially, it highlights Jesus's prior awareness of this internal unbelief, extending to the specific knowledge of Judas Iscariot's future betrayal, signifying His complete omniscience not only of their hearts but also of future events. This verse underscores the fundamental division between superficial adherence and genuine, heartfelt faith in Christ.

John 6 64 Context

John 6:64 occurs in the aftermath of Jesus's profound and challenging "Bread of Life" discourse in Capernaum. Following His miraculous feeding of the five thousand (Jn 6:1-15), the crowd pursued Jesus, seeking more physical bread. Jesus redirected their focus, declaring Himself the "bread of life" that gives spiritual, eternal sustenance (Jn 6:22-59). He proclaimed the necessity of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, which deeply disturbed many, including His own disciples. They interpreted His words literally, finding them "hard to accept" (Jn 6:60). John 6:64 is Jesus's direct response, acknowledging the grumbling and division His words created by pointing out the underlying issue: a lack of genuine belief among some of His followers. This sets the stage for the departure of many "disciples" (Jn 6:66) and Peter's confession of faith on behalf of the Twelve (Jn 6:68-69). Historically, Jewish expectations for the Messiah often involved political and material benefits, making Jesus's spiritual claims difficult for many to grasp or accept.

John 6 64 Word analysis

• But there are some of you who do not believe:

  • But (Ἀλλʼ - All'): A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a sharp contrast or transition from the previous discussion, emphasizing the distinction within the group.
  • some (τίνες - tines): Indicates a specific subset, not all, but a significant portion of those currently associating with Jesus, creating an internal division within His perceived followers.
  • of you (ἐξ ὑμῶν - ex hymōn): Identifies these non-believers as belonging to the present audience, directly challenging the assumption that all who follow are genuine.
  • do not believe (οὐ πιστεύουσιν - ou pisteuousin): Greek present active indicative, signifying an ongoing state of non-belief. It's not a temporary doubt, but a settled lack of faith. This reveals a core spiritual deficiency, not just intellectual disagreement. This lack of faith makes His spiritual teachings unintelligible or offensive (1 Cor 2:14).

• For Jesus had known from the beginning:

  • For (γὰρ - gar): Introduces the reason or explanation for Jesus's statement about unbelief.
  • Jesus (ὁ Ἰησοῦς - ho Iēsous): Highlights Jesus's identity as the subject, emphasizing His divine perception.
  • had known (ᾔδει - ēdei): Greek perfect active indicative of οἶδα (oida), meaning "to know." This perfect tense signifies a continuous, settled knowledge originating in the past and persisting into the present. It implies profound, innate omniscience, not newly acquired information.
  • from the beginning (ἐξ ἀρχῆς - ex archēs): This phrase typically means "from the very first." In this context, it refers to the beginning of their discipleship with Him, the start of His ministry, or even a more eternal, foundational knowledge. It underscores that Jesus's awareness of their true spiritual state was not a new discovery, but inherent. This challenges any notion that their unbelief or Judas's betrayal took Him by surprise.

• who they were who did not believe:

  • This specifies the object of Jesus's knowledge: the identity and spiritual condition of those without true faith. It implies an internal reality hidden to others but completely transparent to Him.

• and who it was that would betray Him:

  • would betray (παραδώσων - paradōsōn): Greek future active participle of παραδίδωμι (paradididōmi), "to hand over," "to deliver," often implying betrayal in this context. This emphasizes a specific future action of a particular individual.
  • This segment specifies Jesus's foreknowledge extends to a concrete future event, the ultimate act of treachery by Judas, linking it to the general unbelief present. This knowledge does not remove Judas's personal responsibility or free will in the act.

John 6 64 Bonus section

This verse introduces the theme of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Jesus knows what will happen, including Judas's betrayal, yet this knowledge does not force Judas's hand. Judas acts according to his own will and sinful desires. The passage implicitly raises questions about what constitutes genuine discipleship versus superficial adherence, especially within the context of perceived difficult teachings or hardship. This revelation by Jesus prepares the reader for the exodus of many disciples that follows (Jn 6:66), framing their departure not as a surprise setback for Jesus, but as a fulfillment of His prior knowledge regarding their true spiritual state. It also serves as a polemic against the notion that mere physical presence with Christ guarantees salvation or true faith; instead, an inner spiritual disposition is essential.

John 6 64 Commentary

John 6:64 is a powerful declaration of Christ's divine omniscience and serves as a sharp demarcation in the discourse. Amidst grumbling disciples, Jesus proactively exposes the underlying issue: genuine belief is not universal even among His followers. His foreknowledge, spanning from their initial engagement to the precise act of betrayal by Judas, confirms His deity. This verse demonstrates that Jesus does not merely react to human infidelity; He understands it deeply from an eternal perspective, yet He still extends grace and continues His mission. The distinction between outward association and inward faith is paramount. Judas, despite being one of the Twelve, represented the pinnacle of this internal unbelief, leading to the gravest sin. Jesus's knowledge of this impending betrayal does not lessen Judas's culpability, but rather underscores God's sovereignty over all human choices. The challenging nature of Jesus's "Bread of Life" teaching exposed latent unbelief, forcing a critical decision for His hearers, revealing those whose hearts were truly drawn to Him and those whose motives were shallow or temporal.