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And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
John 6:2 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.
  • 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 4:24–25And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
  • Matt 12:15But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
  • Matt 15:30–31And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
  • Matt 14:14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
  • Mark 6:33And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
  • John 2:11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
  • Matt 8:1When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
  • Matt 13:2And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

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.