John 6:23

KJV

(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

KJV (with Strong's)

(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}:)

Complete Jewish Bible

Then other boats, from Tiberias, came ashore near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had made the b’rakhah.

Berean Standard Bible

However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

American Standard Version

(howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks):

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 6:23 serves as a crucial parenthetical explanation, clarifying how the multitude, after witnessing and participating in the miraculous feeding, were able to cross the Sea of Galilee to pursue Jesus. This verse bridges the narrative gap between Jesus' departure from the crowd and their subsequent arrival in Capernaum, highlighting the seemingly providential appearance of boats from Tiberias near the site of the recent miracle, underscoring the crowd's persistent focus on the physical benefits they had received.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within John's Gospel, immediately following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand ([John 6:1-14](/john/6-1-14 "John 6:1-14 - Feeding the Five Thousand")) and Jesus' subsequent walking on water to join His disciples in their boat ([John 6:15-21](/john/6-15-21 "John 6:15-21 - Jesus Walks on Water")). While Jesus and His disciples have already departed, the crowd remains on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. John 6:23 provides the necessary logistical detail, explaining how this large crowd, left behind, would eventually cross the sea to find Jesus in Capernaum, setting the stage for the profound "Bread of Life" discourse that follows in [John 6:24-59](/john/6-24-59 "John 6:24-59 - The Bread of Life Discourse"). It functions as an explanatory aside, ensuring the reader understands the mechanics of the crowd's movement.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Tiberias was a significant Roman city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, founded by Herod Antipas around 20 CE and named after Emperor Tiberius. It was a major economic and administrative center, making it a natural hub for maritime activity on the lake. Boats were essential for fishing, trade, and transportation across the Sea of Galilee. The miraculous feeding occurred in a "desolate place" ([Matthew 14:15](/matthew/14-15 "Matthew 14:15 - Feeding the Multitude")) likely on the northeastern shore. The arrival of boats from Tiberias, a bustling city, to this relatively remote area, "nigh unto the place where they did eat bread," suggests a common pattern of travel or perhaps even a specific event (like a market day or festival) that brought these vessels to the vicinity, though the text emphasizes their opportune presence for the crowd's purpose.

* **Key Themes:** John 6:23 subtly contributes to several key themes within the broader narrative of John 6. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Providence**, as the appearance of these boats, though seemingly coincidental, facilitates the next stage of Jesus' ministry, leading to His crucial teaching on the "Bread of Life." Secondly, it underscores the **Human Pursuit of the Tangible**, revealing the crowd's persistent focus on physical provision. Their journey across the sea, enabled by these boats, is driven by a desire for more bread, as explicitly stated in their questioning of Jesus in [John 6:26](/john/6-26 "John 6:26 - Seeking Jesus for Bread"). Finally, the verse reinforces the **Lingering Impact of the Miracle**, by specifically referencing "the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks," it emphasizes that the crowd's memory and motivation were still firmly rooted in the recent miraculous meal, setting up the contrast with the spiritual sustenance Jesus offers.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Howbeit (Greek, _allá_ and _dé_):** The KJV translates a combination of two Greek particles, G235 (_allá_) and G1161 (_dé_), as "Howbeit." _Allá_ (G235) typically signifies "but" or "on the contrary," indicating a strong contrast or transition. _Dé_ (G1161) is a more general connective, often translated as "and," "but," or "moreover," serving to link clauses or introduce new information. Together, "Howbeit" marks this verse as an explanatory interjection, contrasting the crowd's situation (left behind) with the new development (boats arriving), which will enable their pursuit of Jesus.
* **boats (Greek, _ploiárion_):** G4142 (_ploiárion_) refers to a "small boat" or "little ship." The use of the diminutive form might suggest these were not large vessels, but sufficient in number or capacity to transport a significant portion of the multitude. Their arrival from Tiberias indicates a commercial or transport function, rather than being part of Jesus' immediate group.
* **had given thanks (Greek, _eucharistéō_):** G2168 (_eucharistéō_) means "to be grateful" or "to express gratitude," specifically "to say grace at a meal." This word directly links back to Jesus' action before the feeding of the five thousand ([John 6:11](/john/6-11 "John 6:11 - Jesus Feeds the Multitude")). Its repetition here subtly emphasizes the divine origin of the bread and foreshadows the deeper theological significance of "giving thanks" in the context of the Eucharist and Jesus as the "Bread of Life."

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias":** This opening clause introduces a new, seemingly incidental, but crucial development. The arrival of "other boats" (distinct from the one Jesus' disciples used) from Tiberias, a major city, provides the means for the crowd's subsequent movement. The parenthetical nature of the verse suggests it's an explanatory note from the narrator.
* **"nigh unto the place where they did eat bread,":** This phrase precisely locates the arrival of these boats. They came to the very spot where the miraculous feeding had just occurred. This detail is vital as it directly connects the boats to the crowd's current location and their recent experience of the miracle, underscoring their primary motivation for seeking Jesus further.
* **"after that the Lord had given thanks:)":** This final clause provides a temporal and theological anchor. It specifies that the boats arrived *after* the feeding, and importantly, it reiterates that the feeding was preceded by "the Lord" (Jesus) giving thanks. This subtly reinforces the divine authority and miraculous nature of the event, linking the physical bread to the one who provided it through an act of gratitude and blessing.

#### Literary Devices
John 6:23 primarily functions as a **Parenthetical Detail**, providing crucial background information that explains the logistical feasibility of the crowd's pursuit of Jesus. This seemingly minor interjection is vital for narrative continuity, preventing the reader from wondering how the large multitude crossed the sea. It also employs a subtle form of **Foreshadowing**, as the arrival of these boats facilitates the crowd's journey, which in turn leads directly to Jesus' profound "Bread of Life" discourse. The verse also contains **Irony** in that the means by which the crowd pursues Jesus for more physical bread (the boats) ultimately leads them to the very place where Jesus will challenge their carnal desires and reveal Himself as the spiritual "Bread of Life." The repeated emphasis on "the Lord had given thanks" also serves as a **Theological Echo**, connecting the miraculous provision of physical bread to the deeper spiritual reality of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice and the institution of the Lord's Supper.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 6:23, though brief, is rich in theological implications. It subtly reveals God's providential hand in seemingly mundane circumstances, orchestrating events (the arrival of boats) to bring about His divine purposes, even when human motivations are less than spiritual. The crowd's persistent pursuit of Jesus, enabled by these boats, underscores a recurring human tendency to seek after the tangible and immediate, rather than the spiritual and eternal. This sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent teaching, where He redirects their focus from perishable food to the "food that endures to eternal life" ([John 6:27](/john/6-27 "John 6:27 - Do Not Work for Food that Perishes")). The mention of "the Lord had given thanks" also creates a significant thematic link to the concept of the Eucharist, foreshadowing Jesus' later teachings about His body as the true bread, given for the life of the world.

* [John 6:11](/john/6-11 "John 6:11 - Jesus Feeds the Multitude")
* [John 6:26](/john/6-26 "John 6:26 - Seeking Jesus for Bread")
* [Matthew 14:20-21](/matthew/14-20-21 "Matthew 14:20-21 - Abundance After Feeding")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This seemingly minor verse carries significant weight for our reflection today. It reminds us that God often uses ordinary means and circumstances to advance His extraordinary plans, even when our own motivations are flawed. The crowd's eagerness to follow Jesus, albeit for more physical bread, highlights a common human inclination to seek blessings over the Blesser. We are challenged to examine the true nature of our pursuit of Christ: are we drawn to Him primarily for what He can provide for our earthly comfort and security, or are we seeking Him for who He is—the source of eternal life and spiritual sustenance? This verse serves as a crucial setup for Jesus' call to look beyond the temporary and embrace the spiritual reality He offers, urging us to cultivate a hunger for Him that transcends mere material desires.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are my primary motivations for seeking Jesus? Am I more focused on His provision or His person?**
* **How do I recognize God's providence at work in the seemingly mundane details of my life?**
* **In what ways might I be pursuing "perishable food" (physical blessings) instead of the "food that endures to eternal life" (spiritual nourishment)?**

### FAQ
**Why is the arrival of these boats from Tiberias specifically mentioned?**

Answer: The mention of boats from Tiberias in [John 6:23](/john/6-23 "John 6:23 - Boats from Tiberias") is crucial for narrative continuity and logistical clarity. After Jesus and His disciples departed, the large crowd was left on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. These boats provided the means for the multitude to cross the lake to Capernaum, where they would later find Jesus. Tiberias was a major city on the western shore, a hub for maritime activity, so boats originating from there would be a natural means of transport. This detail explains *how* the crowd was able to pursue Jesus, setting the stage for the significant "Bread of Life" discourse that follows, where Jesus challenges their physical hunger and points them to spiritual truth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 6:23, by detailing the arrival of boats that facilitate the crowd's pursuit of physical bread, subtly points to Christ as the ultimate and true provision. The crowd's journey, enabled by these vessels, leads them to Jesus, not merely as a miracle worker who provides food, but as the "Bread of Life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus the Bread of Life")). The temporary boats and the perishable bread they seek are superseded by Christ Himself, who offers eternal sustenance. Just as the physical bread was given after "the Lord had given thanks," foreshadowing the Eucharist, so too does Jesus' body, broken and given thanks for, become the ultimate spiritual food for the world ([John 6:51](/john/6-51 "John 6:51 - Living Bread")). The boats from Tiberias, while a mundane detail, become an instrument in God's sovereign plan to bring people to the one who satisfies every spiritual hunger, ultimately culminating in the cross where Christ's body was given as the true and lasting bread for our salvation ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Sacrifice")).

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

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.