John 6:66

John 6:66 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
• New International Version (NIV)From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

Context of John 6:66

64But [still] there are some of you who do not believe and have faith.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65And He was saying, “This is the reason why I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him [that is, unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples abandoned Him, and no longer walked with Him. 67So Jesus said to the twelve [disciples], “You do not want to leave too, do you?” 68Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope].

John 6:66 word by word

ἐκ τούτου πολλοὶ ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ἀπῆλθον εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω καὶ οὐκέτι μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ περιεπάτουν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• thatοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• ofὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ofμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• wentἀπέρχομαιaperchomai · to go awayG565
• backεἰςeis · towardG1519
• ·ὀπίσωopisō · afterG3694
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• walkedπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
• no moreοὐκέτιouketi · not any moreG3765
• withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326

Cross-references for John 6:66

• John 6:60When many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This is a difficult and harsh and offensive statement. Who can [be expected to] listen to it?”
• John 8:31So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.
• Zephaniah 1:6And those who have turned back from following the Lord, And those who have not sought the Lord [as their most important need] or inquired of Him.”
• Matthew 12:40for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
• Matthew 13:20The one on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and at once welcomes it with joy;
• Matthew 19:22But when the young man heard this, he left grieving and distressed, for he owned much property and had many possessions [which he treasured more than his relationship with God].
• Matthew 21:8Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road [as before a king], while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.
• Matthew 27:20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.
• Luke 9:62But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things left behind] is fit for the kingdom of God.”
• 2 Timothy 1:15You are aware of the fact that all who are in [the province of] Asia turned away and deserted me, Phygelus and Hermogenes among them.
• 2 Timothy 4:10for Demas, having loved [the pleasures of] this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
• Hebrews 10:38But My righteous one [the one justified by faith] shall live by faith [respecting man’s relationship to God and trusting Him]; And if he draws back [shrinking in fear], My soul has no delight in him.
• 2 Peter 2:20For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world by [personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition has become worse for them than the first.
• 1 John 2:19They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out [teaching false doctrine], so that it would be clearly shown that none of them are of us.

Commentaries on John 6:66

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 66Many of his disciples went back - They no longer associated with him, nor professed to acknowledge him as the Messiah. None of these were of the twelve. Christ had many others who generally attended his ministry, and acknowledged him for the Messiah.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 66Many of his disciples - Many who had followed him professedly as his disciples and as desirous of learning of him. See the notes at John 6:60. Went back - Turned away from him and left him. From this we may learn, 1.Not to wonder at the apostasy of many who profess to be followers of Christ. Many are induced to become his professed followers by the prospect of some temporal benefit, or under some public excitement, as these were; and when that temporal…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 66-71Verses 66-71 When we admit into our minds hard thoughts of the words and works of Jesus, we enter into temptation, which, if the Lord in mercy prevent not, will end in drawing back. The corrupt and wicked heart of man often makes that an occasion for offence, which is matter of the greatest comfort. Our Lord had, in the foregoing discourse, promised eternal life to his followers; the disciples fastened on that plain saying, and resolved to cleave to him…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-71Each story in this chapter uses the setting of the Feast of the Passover (6:4) to communicate a deeper meaning.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66-7166-71. From that time, &c.--or, in consequence of this. Those last words of our Lord seemed to have given them the finishing stroke--they could not stand it any longer. walked no more--Many a journey, it may be, they had taken with Him, but now they gave Him up finally!Read the comment

Topics related to John 6:66

• Apostasy
• Backsliders
• Instability
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Unbelief

In the dictionaries

• Accursed
• Capernaum
• Meat
• Murmur
• Peter
• Andrew
• Apostasy; Apostate
• Disciple
• Jesus Christ
• Johannine Theology

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