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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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.

Context of John 6:26

24So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. 25They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” 28They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

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 6:47“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.
• John 3:3Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
• John 6:15When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.
• Psalms 78:37Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant.
• Psalms 106:12Then his people believed his promises. Then they sang his praise.
• Ezekiel 33:31So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.
• Acts 8:18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power.
• Romans 16:18Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.
• Philippians 2:21All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.
• Philippians 3:19They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
• 1 Timothy 6:5These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.
• James 4:3And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

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