¶ The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but [that] his disciples were gone away alone;
The day following {G1887}, when the people {G3793} which {G3588} stood {G2476} on the other side {G4008} of the sea {G2281} saw {G1492} that {G3754} there was {G2258} none {G3756} other {G243} boat {G4142} there {G1563}, save {G1508} that {G1565} one {G1520} whereinto {G1519}{G3739} his {G846} disciples {G3101} were entered {G1684}, and {G2532} that {G3754} Jesus {G2424} went {G4897} not {G3756} with {G4897} his {G846} disciples {G3101} into {G1519} the boat {G4142}, but {G235} that his {G846} disciples {G3101} were gone away {G565} alone {G3441};
The next day, the crowd which had stayed on the other side of the lake noticed that there had been only one boat there, and that Yeshua had not entered the boat with his talmidim, but that the talmidim had been alone when they sailed off.
The next day, the crowd that had remained on the other side of the sea realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with His disciples, but they had gone away alone.
On the morrow the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, save one, and that Jesus entered not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples went away alone
-
Mark 6:45
¶ And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. -
John 6:2
And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. -
Matthew 14:22
¶ And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. -
John 6:15
¶ When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. -
John 6:21
Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
Context of John 6:22
John 6:22 serves as a pivotal transitional verse, immediately following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. After this astonishing event, Jesus had sent His disciples across the Sea of Galilee in a boat while He Himself withdrew to a mountain to pray (John 6:15). The crowd, who had just witnessed the abundant provision of bread and fish, stayed behind, likely expecting Jesus to return or to find Him in the morning.
The Crowd's Observation
This verse describes the scene "the day following" the miracle. The large crowd, still on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee near Bethsaida, observes a crucial detail: there was only one boat that departed the previous evening, and it was the one carrying Jesus's disciples. Their observation is precise: "Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but [that] his disciples were gone away alone." This creates a significant mystery for them, as they are keenly aware that Jesus did not board the only available vessel with His followers. This knowledge sets the stage for their confusion and subsequent search for Him.
Setting the Stage for Miracles
The crowd's perplexity regarding Jesus's whereabouts is intentional. Unbeknownst to them, Jesus had joined His disciples later by walking on the water during the night, a profound display of His divine power and control over creation. This verse builds suspense, explaining *why* the crowd would later cross the sea themselves to Capernaum (John 6:24) in search of Him. Their pursuit ultimately leads to Jesus's profound "Bread of Life" discourse, where He reveals Himself as the true spiritual sustenance that gives eternal life (John 6:35).
Practical Application
John 6:22 reminds us that God often works in ways that are not immediately discernible or understandable to human reasoning. The crowd, though they had just seen a miracle of provision, couldn't comprehend Jesus's supernatural ability to travel without a boat. Similarly, we are often called to trust in God's ways and His divine providence even when we cannot fully see the path or understand the method. This passage also subtly highlights the human tendency to seek Jesus for physical benefits (like the miraculous bread) rather than for His spiritual truth and identity, a theme Jesus addresses directly in the subsequent verses of John chapter 6. It encourages us to pursue Christ not just for what He can do for us, but for who He truly is as the Son of God.