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 Living Translation (NLT)The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Context of John 6:63

61When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My 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 2:7And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
• Romans 8:2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
• 1 Corinthians 15:45And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
• 2 Corinthians 3:6who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
• Galatians 5:25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
• 1 Peter 3:18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
• Romans 2:25For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
• Romans 3:1What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
• 1 Corinthians 11:27Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this 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 avails anything, but faith working through love.
• Galatians 6:15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
• 1 Timothy 4:8For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
• Hebrews 13:9Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
• 1 Peter 3:21There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
• John 6:68But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
• John 12:49For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, 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