(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
(Howbeit {G235}{G1161} there came {G2064} other {G243} boats {G4142} from {G1537} Tiberias {G5085} nigh {G1451} unto the place {G5117} where {G3699} they did eat {G5315} bread {G740}, after that the Lord {G2962} had given thanks {G2168}:)
Then other boats, from Tiberias, came ashore near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had made the b’rakhah.
However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
(howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks):
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John 6:1
¶ After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea of] Tiberias. -
John 6:11
And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. -
John 6:12
When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
John 6:23 (KJV) provides a crucial parenthetical detail that explains the presence of boats which the multitude later used to follow Jesus. This verse acts as a bridge, clarifying the circumstances that allowed the large crowd to cross the Sea of Galilee in search of Jesus after the miraculous feeding of the five thousand.
Context
This verse immediately follows the account of Jesus walking on water and the disciples reaching Capernaum, while the large crowd that had been fed was still on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. The miraculous feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-14) had taken place in a desolate area, likely on the northeast shore. Jesus had then sent His disciples ahead by boat and later joined them by walking on the water, leaving the crowd behind. The arrival of "other boats from Tiberias" explains how the large gathering of people, who had witnessed the miracle and eaten the bread, were able to cross the sea to find Jesus in Capernaum, as described in the subsequent verses. Tiberias was a prominent Roman city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, making it a natural origin point for boats.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "the Lord had given thanks" is a direct reference to Jesus' action before the feeding miracle. The Greek word here is eucharisteo (εὐχαριστέω), meaning "to give thanks." This term is significant as it connects to the giving of thanks in the institution of the Lord's Supper, linking the miraculous provision of physical bread to the spiritual "Bread of Life" that Jesus would later discuss (e.g., John 6:35).
Significance and Application
This seemingly small detail underscores the human tendency to seek after physical provision and tangible benefits. The crowd's journey across the sea, facilitated by these boats, was not primarily driven by a spiritual hunger but by a desire for more bread. This sets the stage for Jesus' profound discourse on the "Bread of Life" (John 6:26-59), where He challenges them to look beyond the temporary and seek the spiritual sustenance He offers. For us today, it serves as a reminder to examine our own motivations for seeking Jesus: are we pursuing Him for what He can give us physically, or for who He is and the eternal life He offers?