So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him.
Parallel translations
- WEB When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus wasn’t there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
- KJV When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
- NKJV when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
- NASB So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats and came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus.
- NLT So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Finding neither Jesus nor His disciples, the crowd boards the boats and goes to Capernaum to seek Him. Their pursuit is earnest but driven by the wrong motive.
Overview
The crowd's diligence in seeking Jesus seems commendable, but the next verses reveal their hearts were set on physical bread, not on Him. John often probes the difference between seeking Jesus for benefits and believing in Him for who He is. Their search becomes the occasion for Jesus to call them to a deeper faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- John 6:17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them.
- Mark 6:53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and moored the boat.
- Luke 8:40When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him.
- Mark 1:37and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!”
- John 7:11So the Jews were looking for Him at the feast and asking, “Where is He?”
- John 6:23However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
- John 6:59Jesus said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
- John 20:15“Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.”
- John 18:4–5Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?”
- Matt 14:34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 6:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.