John 6:24

KJV

When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

KJV (with Strong's)

When {G3753} the people {G3793} therefore {G3767} saw {G1492} that {G3754} Jesus {G2424} was {G2076} not {G3756} there {G1563}, neither {G3761} his {G846} disciples {G3101}, they {G846} also {G2532} took {G1684}{G1519} shipping {G4143}, and {G2532} came {G2064} to {G1519} Capernaum {G2584}, seeking for {G2212} Jesus {G2424}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Accordingly, when the crowd saw that neither Yeshua nor his talmidim were there, they themselves boarded the boats and made for K’far-Nachum in search of Yeshua.

Berean Standard Bible

So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him.

American Standard Version

when the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand and Jesus' subsequent walk on water, John 6:24 describes the persistent crowd's determined search for Jesus. Realizing that neither Jesus nor His disciples were present at the location of the previous day's miracle, they took boats and crossed the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, a significant center of Jesus' Galilean ministry, intent on finding Him. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' profound discourse on the Bread of Life, revealing the crowd's underlying motivations for seeking Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** John 6:24 immediately follows a series of extraordinary events that profoundly impacted the Galilean populace. In [John 6:1-15](/john/6-1-15 "John 6:1-15 - Feeding the Five Thousand"), Jesus miraculously fed over five thousand people with only five barley loaves and two small fish, demonstrating His divine power and compassion. This act stirred the crowd to attempt to seize Him by force and make Him king ([John 6:15](/john/6-15 "John 6:15 - Crowd Attempts to Make Jesus King")), revealing their carnal understanding of His Messiahship. To avoid this political entanglement and to teach His disciples a deeper lesson, Jesus withdrew alone to the mountain ([John 6:15](/john/6-15 "John 6:15 - Jesus Withdraws")). Meanwhile, His disciples embarked on a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee, encountering a storm, during which Jesus miraculously [walked on the water](/john/6-16-21 "John 6:16-21 - Jesus Walks on Water") to join them. The previous day, the crowd had remained on the eastern side of the lake, near Tiberias, and upon discovering Jesus' absence, they took the available boats to pursue Him to Capernaum, anticipating His presence there.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Capernaum was a thriving fishing village and a major commercial hub on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, serving as Jesus' primary base of operations during His Galilean ministry ([Matthew 4:13](/matthew/4-13 "Matthew 4:13 - Jesus Settles in Capernaum")). Its strategic location made it a natural destination for people crossing the lake. The availability of "shipping" (boats) reflects the common mode of transport across the Sea of Galilee, which was a vital artery for trade and travel in the region. The crowd's determination to cross the lake underscores their earnestness, highlighting a society where physical proximity to a revered teacher or miracle-worker was paramount. Their journey from the eastern shore (likely the Decapolis region or near Bethsaida) to Capernaum on the western shore was a significant undertaking, indicating their deep-seated desire to re-engage with Jesus, albeit for reasons that Jesus would soon expose as superficial.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully introduces the theme of **human pursuit of Jesus**, but crucially, it also sets the stage for the exploration of **motivations for seeking Christ**. The crowd's active search across the lake demonstrates a genuine, albeit misguided, earnestness. Their desire to find Jesus is driven by the memory of the miraculous provision of bread, rather than a spiritual hunger for His teaching or His true identity. This pursuit leads directly into Jesus' profound discourse on the [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), where He challenges their carnal desires and calls them to seek eternal life. Furthermore, Jesus' **intentional withdrawal** from the crowd ([John 6:15](/john/6-15 "John 6:15 - Jesus Withdraws from the Crowd")) serves as a divine strategy, prompting the crowd to make an effort to find Him, thereby creating an opportunity for Him to confront their superficial understanding and reveal deeper spiritual truths about His person and mission.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **saw (Greek, _eídō'_):** (G1492) This primary verb, used here in the aorist tense, signifies a direct perception or observation. The crowd "saw" with their physical eyes that Jesus and His disciples were no longer present. While _eídō_ can also imply figurative understanding ("to know"), in this context, it primarily refers to their factual observation of absence, which then prompts their action.
* **took shipping (Greek, _embaínō'_):** (G1684) Derived from "in" and "to walk," this verb literally means "to walk on" or "to step in," and by extension, "to embark" or "get into a vessel." It emphasizes the active decision and physical act of the crowd entering boats to cross the lake. This was not a passive waiting, but a deliberate, collective movement.
* **seeking for (Greek, _zētéō'_):** (G2212) This verb denotes a diligent, active, and earnest search or inquiry. It implies a strong desire and effort to find something or someone. While the crowd's "seeking" here is undeniably earnest, the subsequent narrative in John 6 will reveal that the object of their search was primarily for physical sustenance and further signs, rather than for spiritual truth or a deeper relationship with Jesus.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there":** This opening clause establishes the crowd's initial realization. Having returned to the eastern shore where the feeding miracle occurred, they observed the absence of Jesus, who had withdrawn to the mountain, and His disciples, who had departed by boat. The "therefore" (G3767 _oûn_) logically connects this observation to the preceding events of Jesus' withdrawal and the disciples' departure.
* **"neither his disciples":** This clarifies that not only Jesus but also His immediate followers, who would normally be with Him, were gone. This double absence confirmed to the crowd that Jesus had indeed left the area, prompting them to consider where He might have gone.
* **"they also took shipping":** Upon realizing Jesus' absence, the crowd took the initiative. The phrase "took shipping" (G1684 _embaínō_ with G4143 _ploîon_ implied) indicates they boarded available boats, likely those that had come from Tiberias ([John 6:23](/john/6-23 "John 6:23 - Boats from Tiberias")). This highlights their active and determined pursuit.
* **"and came to Capernaum":** This specifies their destination. Capernaum was a known center of Jesus' ministry, and the crowd correctly surmised that He would likely be there. Their journey across the Sea of Galilee signifies their commitment to finding Him.
* **"seeking for Jesus":** This final phrase explicitly states their purpose. The Greek word _zētéō_ (G2212) conveys an active, diligent search. While their physical pursuit was earnest, the subsequent dialogue in [John 6:26-27](/john/6-26-27 "John 6:26-27 - Jesus Challenges the Crowd's Motives") reveals that their underlying motivation was primarily for more physical bread, not for the spiritual nourishment Jesus offered.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices. **Irony** is subtly present, as the crowd diligently seeks Jesus, yet their motivations are fundamentally misaligned with His divine purpose. They seek the "bread that perishes" rather than the "bread of life" that Jesus embodies, a point Jesus will soon make explicit. The **Setting** of Capernaum itself functions symbolically; as a hub of Jesus' ministry, it becomes the stage for a critical theological confrontation. The crowd's physical journey across the lake can be seen as **Symbolism** for a spiritual quest, though in this case, it's a quest with flawed motives. The entire scene also serves as **Foreshadowing** for the profound discourse on the Bread of Life that follows, where Jesus will challenge the crowd's carnal desires and reveal the deeper spiritual meaning of His identity and mission.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 6:24 serves as a crucial bridge, connecting the miraculous signs of Jesus' power to the profound theological truths He is about to reveal. The crowd's diligent pursuit of Jesus, though physically arduous, highlights a universal human tendency to seek out sources of provision and power. However, the subsequent narrative exposes the superficiality of their quest, revealing that their hunger was primarily for physical satisfaction rather than spiritual transformation. This sets the stage for Jesus to reorient their understanding, shifting the focus from earthly bread to the eternal sustenance He alone provides. It underscores the theological truth that while God often meets physical needs, His ultimate desire is to satisfy the deeper spiritual hunger of humanity through His Son, calling for a pursuit of Him for who He is, not merely for what He can give.

* [Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Matthew 6:33 - Seek First the Kingdom of God"): "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
* [Jeremiah 29:13](/jeremiah/29-13 "Jeremiah 29:13 - Seeking God with All Your Heart"): "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
* [Hebrews 11:6](/hebrews/11-6 "Hebrews 11:6 - Faith and Seeking God"): "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 6:24 offers a profound mirror for contemporary believers, prompting us to critically examine the motivations behind our own pursuit of Jesus. Are we genuinely seeking Him for who He is—the Son of God, the source of eternal life, and the Lord of all—or are our efforts primarily driven by a desire for what He can provide: comfort, security, healing, or material blessings? The crowd's earnest physical pursuit, yet spiritually shallow motivation, serves as a cautionary tale. True discipleship calls for a diligent and wholehearted seeking of Christ's person, His will, and His kingdom, recognizing that His greatest gifts are spiritual and eternal, far surpassing any temporal provisions. This verse challenges us to move beyond a transactional faith, where Jesus is merely a means to an end, towards a transformative relationship where He is the ultimate end, the very object of our deepest longing and worship.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are my primary motivations for seeking Jesus in my daily life? Am I seeking His hand or His face?**
* **How does my daily spiritual discipline (prayer, Bible study, worship) reflect the earnestness of the crowd's physical pursuit in John 6:24?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to seek Jesus for temporal benefits rather than for eternal life and spiritual transformation?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper, more Christ-centered motivation for my faith journey, moving beyond a focus on what I can gain?**

### FAQ

**Why did the crowd cross the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum to find Jesus?**

Answer: The crowd crossed the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum because they had observed that Jesus and His disciples were no longer at the site of the miraculous feeding on the eastern shore. Knowing Capernaum was a central location for Jesus' ministry, they correctly anticipated that He would likely be there. Their motivation, as revealed in the subsequent dialogue in [John 6:26-27](/john/6-26-27 "John 6:26-27 - Jesus Challenges the Crowd's Motives"), was primarily driven by a desire for more physical food and miraculous signs, rather than a deeper spiritual understanding of His identity or message. They were seeking the "bread that perishes," not the "Bread of Life."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The crowd's earnest, yet ultimately misdirected, pursuit of Jesus in [John 6:24](/john/6-24 "John 6:24 - The Crowd Seeks Jesus") beautifully foreshadows humanity's inherent longing for fulfillment, a longing that can only be truly satisfied in Christ. While they sought Him for physical bread, Jesus would soon reveal Himself as the [true Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), the one who descends from heaven to give life to the world. Their physical journey across the lake to find Him points to the spiritual journey every soul must undertake to find satisfaction not in earthly provisions, but in the person of Jesus. He is the ultimate answer to every human hunger, the living water that quenches all thirst ([John 4:14](/john/4-14 "John 4:14 - Jesus, the Living Water")), and the light that dispels all darkness ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")). The crowd's seeking, though flawed in its motivation, highlights the universal need for a Savior, a need perfectly met in the one who declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). He is the one who satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart, offering not temporary sustenance, but eternal life and abundant joy to all who truly seek Him.

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 6:17

And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

Mark 1:37

And when they had found him, they said unto him, All [men] seek for thee.

Mark 6:53

And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

Matthew 14:34

¶ And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

John 18:4

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

John 18:5

They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am [he]. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

Luke 8:40

¶ And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people [gladly] received him: for they were all waiting for him.