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

61When Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining about this, he said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended? 62Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help! The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had already known from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65So Jesus added, “Because of this I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed him to come.”

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 2:7The Lord God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
• Romans 8:2For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
• 1 Corinthians 15:45So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living person”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
• 2 Corinthians 3:6who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
• Galatians 5:25If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.
• 1 Peter 3:18Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.
• Romans 2:25For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
• Romans 3:1Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision?
• 1 Corinthians 11:27For this reason, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
• Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love.
• Galatians 6:15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!
• 1 Timothy 4:8For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”
• Hebrews 13:9Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them.
• 1 Peter 3:21And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
• John 6:68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
• John 12:49For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak.

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