When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
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.
- BSB 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.
- ESV So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking 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 quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 6:17And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
- Mark 6:53And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
- Luke 8:40And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.
- Mark 1:37And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
- John 7:11Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
- John 6:23(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
- John 6:59These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
- John 20:15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
- John 18:4–5Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
- Matt 14:34And when they were gone over, they came into the land of 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.