John 6:22

KJV

¶ 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;

KJV (with Strong's)

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};

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 6:22 serves as a critical transitional verse, detailing the crowd's observations on the day following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. The people, still gathered on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, noticed a significant detail: only one boat had departed the previous evening, the one carrying Jesus's disciples, and Jesus himself had not boarded it with them. This realization creates a narrative mystery regarding Jesus's whereabouts, setting the stage for their subsequent search for Him and the profound "Bread of Life" discourse that follows.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the miraculous feeding of the five thousand and Jesus's subsequent withdrawal from the crowd. In [John 6:15](/john/6-15 "John 6:15 - Jesus Withdraws After Feeding the Five Thousand"), Jesus perceives the crowd's intention to make Him king by force and withdraws to a mountain alone to pray. Meanwhile, His disciples embark on a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. Unbeknownst to the crowd, Jesus later performs another miracle by [walking on the water](/john/6-19 "John 6:19 - Jesus Walks on Water") to join His disciples in the boat, arriving safely at their destination. [John 6:22](/john/6-22 "John 6:22 - The Crowd's Discovery") bridges the gap between these events and the crowd's pursuit of Jesus, explaining their confusion and motivation to cross the sea themselves in search of Him, ultimately leading to the significant "Bread of Life" discourse.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of John 6 take place around the Sea of Galilee, a freshwater lake in northern Israel, which was a hub of fishing and trade. Boats were the primary mode of transport across the lake. The crowd's presence on the "other side of the sea" (likely the eastern shore, near Bethsaida or the Decapolis region) indicates their continued expectation of Jesus after the miraculous meal. Their desire to make Jesus king (as seen in [John 6:15](/john/6-15 "John 6:15 - Attempt to Make Jesus King")) reflects a common Jewish expectation for a messianic figure who would deliver them from Roman rule and provide physical sustenance, echoing the manna in the wilderness. Their diligent observation of the boats underscores their practical understanding of travel and their keen interest in Jesus's movements.

* **Key Themes:** [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - The Bread of Life") is rich with theological themes that [John 6:22](/john/6-22 "John 6:22 - The Crowd's Observation") subtly introduces. A primary theme is **Divine Sovereignty versus Human Perception**. The crowd's inability to comprehend Jesus's movement without a boat highlights the limitations of human understanding when confronted with divine power, foreshadowing the greater spiritual truths they will struggle to grasp later in the chapter. Another key theme is **Seeking Jesus for the Wrong Reasons**. The crowd's diligent search for Jesus is initially motivated by their desire for more miraculous bread ([John 6:26](/john/6-26 "John 6:26 - Seeking Jesus for Food")), rather than for His true identity as the Son of God and the source of eternal life. This verse sets up the dramatic contrast between their physical pursuit and Jesus's subsequent call to spiritual understanding.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **day following (Greek, _epaúrion'_):** This adverb, derived from "upon" and "tomorrow," precisely marks the temporal setting of the crowd's observation. It signifies the immediate aftermath of the feeding miracle and Jesus's withdrawal, establishing a direct chronological link between the previous day's events and the crowd's current perplexity. This temporal marker is crucial for understanding the crowd's continued presence and their subsequent actions.
* **saw (Greek, _eídō'_):** This primary verb means "to see" literally or figuratively, and in its perfect tense, "to know." Here, it refers to the crowd's direct visual perception. Their "seeing" that only one boat departed and that Jesus was not in it forms the basis of their logical deduction and subsequent confusion. It underscores their reliance on empirical evidence, which contrasts sharply with the unseen, supernatural reality of Jesus's actions (walking on water).
* **alone (Greek, _mónos'_):** This adjective signifies being "sole or single; by implication, mere." When applied to the disciples, it emphasizes their solitary departure in the boat, without Jesus. This detail is pivotal because it creates the narrative mystery: if the disciples left alone in the only boat, and Jesus did not accompany them, how did He cross the sea? This "alone" status of the disciples is the critical piece of information that fuels the crowd's subsequent search and sets the stage for Jesus's revelation of His supernatural power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw":** This opening clause establishes the time frame as the morning after the feeding miracle, identifying the observers as the "people" (Greek: _ochlos_, a throng or multitude) who had remained on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Their act of "seeing" initiates the narrative's central dilemma.
* **"that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered":** This part specifies the crucial observation: the crowd noted the absence of any other boats, with the single exception of the vessel that had carried Jesus's disciples away the previous evening. This detail highlights the limited means of transport available and the crowd's careful attention to the movements on the sea.
* **"and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat":** This clause directly states the second key observation: Jesus did not board the boat with His disciples. This fact, combined with the previous point, creates the logical conundrum for the crowd, as they are left to wonder how Jesus could have crossed the water if He didn't use the only available vessel.
* **"but [that] his disciples were gone away alone;":** This final clause reinforces the disciples' solitary departure, emphasizing that Jesus was not with them. The word "alone" (Greek: _mónos_) is critical, solidifying the crowd's bewilderment and setting the stage for their search for Jesus, who seemingly vanished without a conventional means of transport.

#### Literary Devices
John 6:22 masterfully employs **Foreshadowing** and **Narrative Gap** to build suspense and prepare the reader for subsequent events. The crowd's meticulous observation of the boats and the conspicuous absence of Jesus creates a deliberate **Narrative Gap** in their understanding. They know Jesus did not leave by boat, but they do not know how He *did* cross the sea. This gap in their knowledge, shared initially with the reader, serves as a **Foreshadowing** of Jesus's supernatural ability to walk on water ([John 6:16-21](/john/6-16-21 "John 6:16-21 - Jesus Walks on Water")), a miracle that occurred unseen by the crowd. The verse also subtly uses **Irony**, as the crowd, having just witnessed a massive miracle of provision, still relies on conventional logic regarding transportation, highlighting their limited perception of Jesus's divine power.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 6:22 underscores the theme of divine mystery and the limitations of human understanding. The crowd's logical deduction, based on their observation of the boats, leads them to a dead end concerning Jesus's whereabouts. This mirrors humanity's frequent inability to grasp God's ways, which often transcend our rational frameworks. Just as Jesus moved supernaturally without a boat, God often works in ways that are beyond our comprehension or expectation, calling us to trust in His unseen hand and sovereign plan. This verse sets the stage for Jesus to reveal deeper truths about Himself, moving the crowd from a pursuit based on physical needs and logical assumptions to a call for spiritual discernment and faith in Him as the true "Bread of Life."

* [John 20:29](/john/20-29 "John 20:29 - Blessed Are Those Who Believe Without Seeing") - Jesus tells Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8-9 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts Are Higher Than Ours") - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
* [Romans 11:33](/romans/11-33 "Romans 11:33 - The Depth of God's Wisdom") - "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!"

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 6:22 invites us to reflect on the nature of our pursuit of Jesus. The crowd, having just been miraculously fed, was keenly interested in Jesus, but their interest was rooted in physical provision and logical deduction. They sought Him because they couldn't explain His disappearance, and likely hoped for more bread. This challenges us to examine our own motivations for seeking Christ. Are we pursuing Him primarily for what He can do for us – for comfort, provision, or answers to our problems – or for who He truly is as the Lord of all, the source of eternal life? The verse also subtly teaches us about divine providence. Just as Jesus had a supernatural way of crossing the sea that was hidden from the crowd, God often works behind the scenes in our lives, orchestrating events in ways we cannot immediately perceive or understand. Our call is to trust His sovereignty, even when the path forward is unclear or defies our logical expectations.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What motivates your pursuit of Jesus in your daily life? Is it primarily for physical or spiritual benefits?**
* **How do you respond when God's ways seem illogical or hidden from your understanding?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to rely solely on your own observations and logic, rather than trusting in God's unseen work?**

### FAQ
**Why were the people surprised by Jesus's apparent disappearance?**
Answer: The people were surprised because they had observed two key facts: first, only one boat had departed the previous evening from their side of the sea, and second, Jesus had not entered that boat with His disciples. Given that boats were the only conventional means of crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus's absence from that boat, combined with no other boats being available, created a logical conundrum for them. They couldn't fathom how He could have crossed to the other side without a vessel, leading to their perplexity and subsequent search for Him, as described in [John 6:24](/john/6-24 "John 6:24 - The Crowd Crosses the Sea").

**What happened to Jesus between John 6:21 and 6:22?**
Answer: Between the disciples' departure in the boat (implied in [John 6:17](/john/6-17 "John 6:17 - Disciples Depart by Boat")) and the crowd's observation in [John 6:22](/john/6-22 "John 6:22 - The Crowd's Discovery"), Jesus performed the miracle of walking on water. After sending His disciples ahead, Jesus went to a mountain to pray ([John 6:15](/john/6-15 "John 6:15 - Jesus Withdraws to Pray")). Later, as the disciples struggled against a strong wind while crossing the sea, Jesus came to them, walking on the water, and entered their boat ([John 6:16-21](/john/6-16-21 "John 6:16-21 - Jesus Walks on Water")). This supernatural journey was unseen by the crowd, explaining their confusion the following day.

**What is the significance of the "other side of the sea" in this context?**
Answer: The "other side of the sea" refers to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, likely near Bethsaida or the Decapolis region, where the feeding of the five thousand had occurred. Its significance lies in establishing the crowd's location relative to the disciples' destination (Capernaum, on the western shore). The fact that the crowd remained on the eastern side, observing the boat traffic, underscores their continued interest in Jesus. Their subsequent decision to cross the sea themselves to Capernaum ([John 6:24](/john/6-24 "John 6:24 - Crowd Follows Jesus to Capernaum")) highlights their determination to find Him, setting the stage for the pivotal "Bread of Life" discourse that takes place there.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 6:22, by highlighting the crowd's inability to comprehend Jesus's supernatural movement, subtly points to the profound mystery of Christ's person and work. The crowd's logical conclusion—that Jesus could not have crossed the sea without a boat—is shattered by the reality of His divine power, exemplified by His walking on water ([John 6:19](/john/6-19 "John 6:19 - Jesus Walks on Water")). This foreshadows the greater spiritual truths about Jesus that humanity, relying solely on human reason, struggles to grasp. Just as they sought a physical explanation for His disappearance, many seek Christ for tangible benefits, failing to see Him as the ultimate spiritual sustenance. This verse sets the stage for Jesus to reveal Himself not merely as a miracle worker, but as the "Bread of Life" who descended from heaven ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), offering eternal life to those who believe, a truth far surpassing any physical provision or human logic. He is the one who transcends all natural limitations, demonstrating His divine nature and foreshadowing His ultimate triumph over death and the grave, providing a way of salvation that no human effort or understanding could ever achieve ([John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.