John 6:31

John 6:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
• New International Version (NIV)Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”

Context of John 6:31

29Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires – to believe in the one whom he sent.” 30So they said to him, “Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

John 6:31 word by word

οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν τὸ μάννα ἔφαγον ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καθώς ἐστιν γεγραμμένον· ἄρτον ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς φαγεῖν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• fathersὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• fathersπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• did eatφαγεῖνphagō · to eatG5315
• mannaμάνναmanna · mannaG3131
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the desertἔρημοςerēmos · desertedG2048
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• He gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• breadἄρτοςartos · breadG740
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772

Cross-references for John 6:31

• John 6:49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
• Exodus 16:4Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people will go out and gather the amount for each day, so that I may test them. Will they walk in my law or not?
• Numbers 11:6But now we are dried up, and there is nothing at all before us except this manna!”
• Deuteronomy 8:3So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord’s mouth.
• Joshua 5:12The manna stopped appearing the day they ate some of the produce of the land; the Israelites never ate manna again.
• Nehemiah 9:20You imparted your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths; you provided water for their thirst.
• Psalms 105:40They asked for food, and he sent quails; he satisfied them with food from the sky.
• Nehemiah 9:15You provided bread from heaven for them in their time of hunger, and you brought forth water from the rock for them in their time of thirst. You told them to enter in order to possess the land that you had sworn to give them.
• Psalms 78:24He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain of heaven.
• 1 Corinthians 10:3and all ate the same spiritual food,
• Revelation 2:17The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand except the one who receives it.’

Commentaries on John 6:31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert - Their argument seems to run thus: Thou hast, we grant, fed five thousand men with five loaves and two small fishes; but what is this in comparison of what Moses did in the desert, who for forty years fed more than a million of persons with bread from heaven: do something like this, and then we will believe in thee, as we have believed in Moses.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31Our fathers - The Jews who were led by Moses through the wilderness. Did eat manna - This was the name given by the Jews to the food which was furnished to them by God in their journey. It means literally, “What is this?” and was the question which they asked when they first saw it, Exodus 16:14-15. It was small like frost, and of the size of coriander-seed, and had a sweetish taste like honey. It fell in great quantities, and was regarded by the Jews as…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-35Verses 28-35 Constant exercise of faith in Christ, is the most important and difficult part of the obedience required from us, as sinners seeking salvation. When by his grace we are enabled to live a life of faith in the Son of God, holy tempers follow, and acceptable services may be done. God, even his Father, who gave their fathers that food from heaven to support their natural lives, now gave them the true Bread for the salvation of their souls. Coming…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-59This dialogue took place in the synagogue at Capernaum shortly before Passover (6:4, 59). During Passover, Jews would read the story of the exodus from Egypt (see Exodus 1–15).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 28-3128-31. What shall we do ... the works of God--such works as God will approve. Different answers may be given to such a question, according to the spirit which prompts the inquiry. (See Ho 6:6-8; Lu 3:12-14). Here our Lord, knowing whom He had to deal with, shapes His reply accordingly.Read the comment

Topics related to John 6:31

• Blessing
• Jesus, the Christ
• Manna
• Quotations and Allusions
• Symbols and Similitudes

In the dictionaries

• Accursed
• Capernaum
• Manna
• Meat
• Murmur
• Andrew
• Desert
• 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