John 6:26

John 6:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
• New International Version (NIV)Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.

Context of John 6:26

24So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they boarded the small boats themselves and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you have been searching for Me, not because you saw the signs (attesting miracles), but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures [and leads] to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for God the Father has authorized Him and put His seal on Him.” 28Then they asked Him, “What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?”

John 6:26 word by word

Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν· ζητεῖτέ με οὐχ ὅτι εἴδετε σημεῖα, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι ἐφάγετε ἐκ τῶν ἄρτων καὶ ἐχορτάσθητε.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• Ye seekζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• notοὐou · noG3756
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• ye sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• the miraclesσημεῖονsēmeion · signG4592
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• ye did eatφαγεῖνphagō · to eatG5315
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the loavesἄρτοςartos · breadG740
• were filledχορτάζωchortazō · to feedG5526

Cross-references for John 6:26

• John 6:47I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who believes [in Me as Savior—whoever adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me—already] has eternal life [that is, now possesses it].
• John 3:3Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”
• John 6:15Then Jesus, knowing that they were going to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountainside by Himself.
• Psalms 78:37For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful to His covenant.
• Psalms 106:12Then Israel believed in [the validity of] His words; They sang His praise.
• Ezekiel 33:31They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not practice them; for with their mouth they express loving devotion, but their heart goes after their (unlawful) gain.
• Acts 8:18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
• Romans 16:18For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites and base desires. By smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting [the innocent and the naive].
• Philippians 2:21For the others [who deserted me after my arrest] all seek [to advance] their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
• Philippians 3:19whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things.
• 1 Timothy 6:5and perpetual friction between men who are corrupted in mind and deprived of the truth, who think that godliness is a source of profit [a lucrative, money-making business—withdraw from them].
• James 4:3You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires.

Commentaries on John 6:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Ye seek me, not because ye saw, etc. - Though the miracle of the loaves was one of the most astonishing that ever was wrought upon earth; and though this people had, by the testimony of all their senses, the most convincing proof of its reality; yet we find many of them paid little attention to it, and regarded the omnipotent hand of God in it no farther than it went to satisfy the demands of their appetite! Most men are willing to receive temporal good…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26Ye seek me, not because … - The miracles which Jesus performed were proofs that he came from God. To seek him because they had seen them, and were convinced by them that he was the Messiah, would have been proper; but to follow him simply because their wants were supplied was mere selfishness of a gross kind. Yet, alas! many seek religion from no better motive than this. They suppose that it will add to their earthly happiness, or they seek only to escape…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-27Verses 22-27 Instead of answering the inquiry how he came there, Jesus blamed their asking. The utmost earnestness should be employed in seeking salvation, in the use of appointed means; yet it is to be sought only as the gift of the Son of man. Him the Father has sealed, proved to be God. He declared the Son of man to be the Son of God with power.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26The crowd had decided that Jesus was a prophet. They even wanted to use him for their own political goals (see 6:15). However, they did not understand the true meaning of the miracle. They focused on the bread and the signs. Jesus then explained what the miracle really meant. He taught that people should not work only for food that spoils. Instead, they should seek the food that gives eternal life (6:27–59).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. Ye seek me, &c.--Jesus does not put them through their difficulty, says nothing of His treading on the waves of the sea, nor even notices their question, but takes advantage of the favorable moment for pointing out to them how forward, flippant, and superficial were their views, and how low their desires. "Ye seek Me not because ye saw the miracles"--literally, "the signs," that is, supernatural tokens of a higher presence, and a divine commission…Read the comment

Topics related to John 6:26

• Covetousness
• Hypocrisy
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Accursed
• Capernaum
• Meat
• Murmur
• Andrew
• Jesus Christ
• Johannine Theology
• John, Gospel of

Commentaries on John 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings