At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
Parallel translations
- WEB The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down out of heaven.”
- KJV The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
- NKJV The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.”
- NASB So then the Jews were complaining about Him because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.”
- NLT Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
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
The Jewish leaders grumble at Jesus's claim to be the bread that came down from heaven. Their murmuring echoes Israel's old complaints and reveals their unbelief.
Overview
The complaint recalls Israel grumbling against God in the wilderness (Ex. 16). They stumble over Jesus's claim of heavenly origin, unable to reconcile it with His apparent ordinariness. John shows that the offense lies not in lack of evidence but in hardened hearts unwilling to receive the Son.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- John 6:51–52I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”
- John 6:33For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
- John 6:48I am the bread of life.
- John 6:66From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.
- John 6:60On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”
- John 7:12Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.” But others replied, “No, He deceives the people.”
- Jude 1:16These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.
- Luke 19:7And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”
- Luke 5:30But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
- John 6:43“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied.
- John 6:58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
- Luke 15:2So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
- 1 Cor 10:10And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
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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 6:41 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
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