John 6:63

John 6:63 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
• New International Version (NIV)The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
• New King James Version (NKJV)It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

Context of John 6:63

61Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) 65He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”

John 6:63 word by word

τὸ πνεῦμά ἐστιν τὸ ζῳοποιοῦν, ἡ σὰρξ οὐκ ὠφελεῖ οὐδέν· τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἐγὼ λελάληκα ὑμῖν πνεῦμά ἐστιν καὶ ζωή ἐστιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• It isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the spiritὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• that quickenethζωοποιέωzōopoieō · to make aliveG2227
• the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• profitethὠφελέωōpheleō · to helpG5623
• nothingοὐou · noG3756
• ·οὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• the wordsῥῆμαrhēma · declarationG4487
• thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222

Cross-references for John 6:63

• Genesis 2:7Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
• Romans 8:2because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
• 1 Corinthians 15:45So it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
• 2 Corinthians 3:6He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
• Galatians 5:25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
• 1 Peter 3:18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
• Romans 2:25Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
• Romans 3:1So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?
• 1 Corinthians 11:27So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.
• Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.
• Galatians 6:15For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.
• 1 Timothy 4:8For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
• Hebrews 13:9Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.
• 1 Peter 3:21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
• John 6:68Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.
• John 12:49For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said.

Commentaries on John 6:63

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 63It is the spirit that quickeneth - It is the spiritual sense only of my words that is to be attended to, and through which life is to be attained, 2 Corinthians 3:6. Such only as eat and drink what I have mentioned, in a spiritual sense, are to expect eternal life. The flesh profiteth nothing - If ye could even eat my flesh and drink my blood, this would not avail for your salvation. These words contain a caution that the hearers should not understand his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 63It is the Spirit that quickeneth - These words have been understood in different ways. The word “Spirit,” here, evidently does not refer to the Holy Spirit, for he adds, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit.” He refers here, probably, to the doctrine which he had been teaching in opposition to their notions and desires. “My doctrine is spiritual; it is fitted to quicken and nourish the soul. It is from heaven. Your doctrine or your views are…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 60-65Verses 60-65 The human nature of Christ had not before been in heaven, but being God and man, that wondrous Person was truly said to have come down from heaven. The Messiah's kingdom was not of this world; and they were to understand by faith, what he had said of a spiritual living upon him, and his fulness. As without the soul of man the flesh is of no value, so without the quickening Spirit of God all forms of religion are dead and worthless. He who…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 63The true source of the gift Jesus gives is the Holy Spirit, not human effort. In this context, the flesh refers to what humans can do on their own. Life and understanding come through the gift of the Spirit (see 14:15–20; 20:21–22). True life is found only when the Holy Spirit gives life to people.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 60-6560-65. Many ... of his disciples--His pretty constant followers, though an outer circle of them. hard saying--not merely harsh, but insufferable, as the word often means in the Old Testament. who can hear--submit to listen to it.Read the comment

Topics related to John 6:63

• Flesh
• Holy Spirit
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Quickening
• Word of God
• Words

In the dictionaries

• Accursed
• Capernaum
• Meat
• Murmur
• Andrew
• Christ, Offices of
• Flesh
• 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