Limitless Word
A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.
John 6:2 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
  • BSB A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick.
  • NKJV Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.
  • NASB A large crowd was following Him, because they were watching the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.
  • NLT A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick.

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

A great crowd followed Jesus because of the healing signs they had seen. The crowds were drawn chiefly by his miracles.

Overview

Large multitudes pursue Jesus, attracted by the signs he performed on the sick. Their interest, while genuine, is largely tied to the benefits of his miracles. This sets up the later contrast when many turn away upon hearing his deeper teaching.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • Matt 4:24–25The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.
  • Matt 12:15Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all,
  • Matt 15:30–31Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them,
  • Matt 14:14Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
  • Mark 6:33They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him.
  • John 2:11This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
  • Matt 8:1When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
  • Matt 13:2Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat, and sat, and all the multitude stood on the beach.

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 6:2YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 6:2 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.