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

61Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

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 2:7Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.
• Romans 8:2And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
• 1 Corinthians 15:45The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit.
• 2 Corinthians 3:6He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.
• Galatians 5:25Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
• 1 Peter 3:18Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
• Romans 2:25The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.
• Romans 3:1Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision?
• 1 Corinthians 11:27So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
• Galatians 5:6For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
• Galatians 6:15It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.
• 1 Timothy 4:8“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
• Hebrews 13:9So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
• 1 Peter 3:21And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• John 6:68Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
• John 12:49I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.

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