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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.

Context of John 6:26

24Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. 25When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 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. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

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 6:47Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.
• John 3:3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
• John 6:15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
• Psalms 78:37their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.
• Psalms 106:12Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.
• Ezekiel 33:31My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.
• Acts 8:18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money
• Romans 16:18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
• Philippians 2:21For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
• Philippians 3:19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
• 1 Timothy 6:5and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
• James 4:3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

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