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 64 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 6:63 | "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." | Explains the life-giving nature of Jesus' words. |
| John 3:6 | "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." | Contrasts fleshly birth with spiritual birth. |
| 1 Cor 15:45 | "Thus it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit." | Identifies Jesus as the life-giving Spirit. |
| Rom 8:1-2 | "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death." | Highlights the freedom and life brought by the Spirit. |
| Eph 2:1 | "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins..." | Describes the pre-conversion state of believers. |
| Acts 16:14 | "...whose heart the Lord opened to pay attention to what was said by Paul." | Illustrates the Spirit opening the heart to receive truth. |
| John 1:13 | "...who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." | Emphasizes divine origination of spiritual life. |
| 1 Thess 2:13 | "And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers." | Shows the Word being received as divine and powerful. |
| John 5:25 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live." | Jesus declares His authority to give life to the dead. |
| Matt 11:15 | "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." | A common call to attentive spiritual listening. |
| Mark 4:12 | "...‘so that,’ 'seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’" | Parallels the hardening of hearts despite hearing. |
| John 8:43 | "Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word." | Jesus directly addresses those who cannot understand His word. |
| John 14:26 | "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." | The Spirit's role in understanding Jesus' words. |
| John 17:17 | "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." | Connects the Word to sanctification by the Spirit. |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." | The potent nature of God's Word. |
| 1 Pet 1:23 | "since you have been born anew, not of corruptible but of incorruptible through the living and abiding word of God." | The incorruptible new birth through God's Word. |
| Rom 10:17 | "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." | Links hearing the Word to the origin of faith. |
| 2 Cor 4:6 | "For it is God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." | God giving spiritual light to the heart. |
| John 6:44 | "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." | Underscores the Father's initiative in drawing people to Jesus. |
| Isa 53:1 | "Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" | An Old Testament expression of incredulity to divine revelation. |
John 6 verses
John 6 64 Meaning
Jesus speaks of a profound spiritual reality. While He spoke words of life, some who heard Him understood them only on a physical level and lacked true spiritual life. This spiritual deadness meant they could not believe Him.
John 6 64 Context
In John chapter 6, Jesus performs the miraculous feeding of the five thousand and walks on water. He then engages in a discourse with the crowds about His identity as the Bread of Life, emphasizing that true spiritual sustenance comes from believing in Him and His divine origin. This teaching is deeply spiritual, moving from physical nourishment to spiritual nourishment. The discourse causes many of His followers to turn away, finding His teaching too hard to accept. John 6:64 comes directly after Jesus expresses His awareness of their disbelief, specifically stating His foreknowledge of the one who would betray Him. The immediate context is the reaction of the crowd to His "hard sayings" and the withdrawal of many disciples.
John 6 64 Word Analysis
- But: Introduces a contrast or exception.
- Jesus: The central figure, the Son of God, speaking divine truth.
- knew: (Greek: ēidei) Expresses deep, certain, and abiding knowledge, not just intellectual understanding. It implies spiritual insight.
- from: Indicates the source or origin.
- the beginning: Refers to the origin of Jesus' earthly ministry, or possibly from eternity past, signifying His divine omniscience.
- who: Refers to those who would turn away.
- they were: Pertains to their inherent spiritual condition.
- who: Refers to the same group.
- believed: (Greek: pisteuon) The present participle signifies a continuous or habitual state of believing, or an action in process, which in this context, was lacking or superficial.
- not: A negation, emphasizing the absence of true faith.
- and: Connects the two clauses, indicating a consequential or simultaneous truth.
- who: Refers to Jesus.
- would betray: (Greek: paredoken) Implies a destined action, a handing over, with the nuance of delivering into the hands of others, specifically Judas.
Words/Groups Analysis:
- "knew from the beginning": This phrase highlights Jesus' divine knowledge. It's not merely a prediction but a deep understanding of their inherent condition from the outset of His interactions with them. This speaks to His omniscience.
- "who they were who believed not": This is a crucial clause. It points not to a temporary wavering, but a fundamental lack of true spiritual apprehension and belief that characterized these individuals. Their inability to "believe" stemmed from a deeper spiritual deficit.
- "and who it was that would betray him": This further emphasizes Jesus' foreknowledge concerning the betrayal by Judas. It shows His complete understanding of the hearts and actions of those around Him, even the intimate betrayer.
John 6 64 Bonus Section
The "beginning" (arche) mentioned by Jesus can refer to various points: the beginning of His public ministry, the beginning of their following Him, or even the eternal beginning before creation, reflecting His pre-existence. The Greek word pisteuon (believed) used in the present participle form suggests a lack of continued, active faith. The contrast is between a mere outward following and an inner, Spirit-generated conviction. Jesus’ knowledge here isn't judgmental in a human sense, but descriptive of reality – He knows who is truly His and who is not, including the internal spiritual state. This foreknowledge of Judas’ betrayal also highlights God's sovereignty in history and Jesus’ complete obedience to the Father’s plan, even to the point of knowing and allowing His own betrayal.
John 6 64 Commentary
Jesus' statement in John 6:64 reveals the spiritual blindness of some who followed Him. Despite witnessing His miracles and hearing His profound teachings on the Bread of Life, their hearts were not truly open to receive the spiritual truth He offered. They lacked the divine enablement—the life from the Spirit—necessary to grasp the essence of His words. Jesus, possessing divine foreknowledge, knew from the beginning who among them did not truly believe and, specifically, who would betray Him. This verse underscores that salvation and genuine faith are not solely dependent on hearing the message or witnessing miracles, but on a work of the Holy Spirit enabling one to believe and to remain faithful. It separates those who are spiritually alive and receptive from those who remain spiritually dead, unable to apprehend the truth.
- Practical Application: True understanding of Jesus’ teachings comes through the Spirit, not mere intellectual assent. If our faith feels superficial or we struggle to grasp spiritual truths, we should seek the Lord’s opening of our hearts by His Spirit, rather than relying on our own understanding.