John 6:14

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

Then {G3767} those men {G444}, when they had seen {G1492} the miracle {G4592} that {G3739} Jesus {G2424} did {G4160}, said {G3004}, This {G3754}{G3778} is {G2076} of a truth {G230} that prophet {G4396} that should come {G2064} into {G1519} the world {G2889}.

When the people saw the miracle he had performed, they said, “This has to be ‘the prophet’ who is supposed to come into the world.”

When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world.

Commentary on John 6:14 (KJV)

John 6:14 captures a pivotal moment of recognition by the crowd immediately following one of Jesus' most remarkable miracles. Having just witnessed and benefited from the miraculous feeding of over five thousand people, the men present declared a profound truth about Jesus' identity, albeit with a limited understanding of His full mission.

Context

This verse is the direct aftermath of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, detailed in John 6:1-13. Jesus had just demonstrated His divine power by multiplying five barley loaves and two small fish to feed a vast multitude, with twelve baskets of leftovers. This act of provision, reminiscent of God's provision of manna in the wilderness, profoundly impacted the witnesses, leading them to a significant conclusion about Jesus' identity.

Key Themes

  • Recognition of Jesus' Identity: The crowd's declaration, "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world," signifies a crucial moment of insight. They recognized Jesus as a unique, divinely appointed figure.
  • Messianic Expectation: The phrase "that prophet" (Greek: ho prophētēs) refers to a specific, long-awaited figure in Jewish expectation. This belief was rooted in the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18:15-18, where Moses foretold of a prophet whom God would raise up from among their brethren, to whom they should listen. Many Jews believed this prophet would be the Messiah or a direct forerunner.
  • Miracles as Signs: In the Gospel of John, Jesus' miracles are not merely displays of power but "signs" (Greek: sēmeia) intended to reveal His true identity as the Son of God. The feeding miracle, in particular, served as a powerful sign, linking Jesus to the Mosaic tradition and cementing the crowd's belief that He was the promised prophet.

Linguistic and Historical Insights

The expectation of "that prophet" was deeply ingrained in first-century Jewish thought. It was so prominent that even John the Baptist was asked if he was "that prophet" in John 1:21. The crowd's immediate association of Jesus with this figure after the feeding miracle demonstrates their understanding of Him as a new Moses, capable of providing sustenance from heaven. However, their understanding was still largely focused on earthly and nationalistic hopes, as evidenced by their subsequent attempt to make Him king by force (John 6:15). This indicates a recognition of His power but a misunderstanding of His spiritual kingdom and true purpose.

Significance and Application

John 6:14 highlights the tension between genuine recognition of Jesus' power and an incomplete understanding of His divine mission. While the crowd correctly identified Him as a prophet, they struggled to grasp His spiritual authority and the nature of His kingdom, which was "not of this world." For believers today, this verse serves as a crucial reminder that true faith involves recognizing Jesus not just for what He can do for us physically or materially, but for who He truly is: the promised Messiah, the Son of God, and the only source of eternal life. It challenges us to move beyond seeking Him only for our immediate needs to embracing His full identity and spiritual truth, understanding that His greatest provision is salvation and spiritual nourishment.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Deuteronomy 18:15

    ¶ The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

  • Deuteronomy 18:18

    I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

  • Matthew 21:11

    And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

  • Acts 7:37

    This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

  • Matthew 11:3

    And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

  • John 1:21

    And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

  • John 7:40

    Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

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