Focused Passage

John 6:16-21

The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship

Jesus feeds the crowd as a sign, reveals his divine presence over the sea, rebukes bread-seeking unbelief, declares himself the bread of life from heaven, teaches that life comes through faith in his flesh given for the world, and exposes true discipleship when many turn back but the Twelve are called to confess him.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

16 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,

17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them.

18 A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated.

19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified.

20 But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

21 Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 16

Cross-references

Matthew 14:22 BSB references Mark 6:45 BSB references Mark 6:47 Classic cross-references

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction When Ὡς G5613 Adverb evening ὀψία G3798 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular came ἐγένετο G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταὶ G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural went down κατέβησαν G2597 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular sea θάλασσαν G2281 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

Verse 17

Cross-references

Mark 6:45 Classic cross-references John 6:24 Classic cross-references Matthew 8:24 Classic cross-references John 2:12 Classic cross-references John 4:46 Classic cross-references

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction got into ἐμβάντες G1684 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition a boat πλοῖον G4143 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular [and] started ἤρχοντο G2064 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural across πέραν G4008 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular sea θαλάσσης G2281 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition Capernaum Καφαρναούμ G2584 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction It was ἐγεγόνει G1096 Verb - Pluperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular already ἤδη G2235 Adverb dark σκοτία G4653 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv οὔπω G3768 Adverb had not yet gone out ἐληλύθει G2064 Verb - Pluperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition them αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural

Verse 18

Cross-references

Psalms 135:7 Classic cross-references Matthew 14:24 Classic cross-references Psalms 107:25 Classic cross-references

Original words

A strong μεγάλου G3173 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular wind ἀνέμου G417 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular was blowing πνέοντος G4154 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular and τε G5037 Conjunction the ἥ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular sea θάλασσα G2281 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular grew agitated διεγείρετο G1326 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Mark 6:47 Classic cross-references Mark 6:50 Classic cross-references Matthew 14:25 Classic cross-references John 14:18 Classic cross-references Mark 4:40 Classic cross-references

Original words

[When] οὖν G3767 Conjunction they had rowed Ἐληλακότες G1643 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural about ὡς G5613 Adverb three or four miles εἴκοσι G1501 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . πέντε G4002 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . ἢ G2228 Conjunction . . . τριάκοντα G5144 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . σταδίους G4712 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural they saw θεωροῦσιν G2334 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular approaching γινόμενον G1096 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular . . . ἐγγὺς G1451 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular boat πλοίου G4143 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction walking περιπατοῦντα G4043 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular sea θαλάσσης G2281 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction they were terrified ἐφοβήθησαν G5399 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural

BSB notes

Greek about twenty-five or thirty stadia; that is, approximately 2.87 to 3.45 miles (4.62 to 5.55 kilometers)

Verse 20

Cross-references

Matthew 14:27 Classic cross-references Isaiah 43:1 Classic cross-references Isaiah 44:8 Classic cross-references Isaiah 41:10 Classic cross-references Isaiah 41:14 Classic cross-references

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [Jesus] spoke up λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural It is εἰμι G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular I Ἐγώ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular {do} not μὴ G3361 Adverb be afraid φοβεῖσθε G5399 Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural

Verse 21

Cross-references

Mark 6:51 Classic cross-references Psalms 107:30 Classic cross-references Matthew 14:32 Classic cross-references Psalms 24:7 Classic cross-references Revelation 3:20 Classic cross-references

Original words

Then οὖν G3767 Conjunction they were willing ἤθελον G2309 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to take λαβεῖν G2983 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular boat πλοῖον G4143 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction at once εὐθέως G2112 Adverb the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular boat πλοῖον G4143 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular reached ἐγένετο G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular . . . ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular shore γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - εἰς G1519 Preposition where ἣν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular they were heading ὑπῆγον G5217 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural

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