John 6:31

KJV

Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

KJV (with Strong's)

Our {G2257} fathers {G3962} did eat {G5315} manna {G3131} in {G1722} the desert {G2048}; as {G2531} it is {G2076} written {G1125}, He gave {G1325} them {G846} bread {G740} from {G1537} heaven {G3772} to eat {G5315}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Our fathers ate man in the desert — as it says in the Tanakh, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’

Berean Standard Bible

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

American Standard Version

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In John 6:31, the Jewish crowd, having recently witnessed Jesus miraculously feed thousands, challenges Him by recalling God's historical provision of manna to their ancestors in the wilderness. Their statement, "Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat," serves as an implicit demand for Jesus to provide similar, continuous physical sustenance, thereby revealing their limited understanding of His true identity and mission, and setting the stage for His profound discourse on Himself as the "Bread of Life."

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' miraculous feeding of the five thousand ([John 6:1-14](/john/6-1-14 "John 6:1-14 - The Feeding of the Five Thousand")), an event that deeply impressed the multitude and led them to pursue Jesus across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus, perceiving their carnal motivations, confronts them in [John 6:26-27](/john/6-26-27 "John 6:26-27 - Jesus Rebukes the Crowd's Motives"), stating they seek Him not because of the signs, but because they ate the loaves and were filled. Their question in [John 6:28](/john/6-28 "John 6:28 - The Crowd Asks About God's Work") about "the works of God" and Jesus' response about believing in Him ([John 6:29](/john/6-29 "John 6:29 - The Work of God is to Believe")) lead directly to their demand for a sign in [John 6:30](/john/6-30 "John 6:30 - The Crowd Demands a Sign"), which they frame by referencing the manna. This sets the stage for Jesus' extensive "Bread of Life" discourse that follows, where He redefines "bread from heaven" and reveals His own divine nature and salvific purpose.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The reference to "manna in the desert" immediately evokes the Exodus narrative, a foundational event in Israelite history. During their forty years of wandering, God miraculously provided manna, a daily sustenance, as recorded in [Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - The Provision of Manna"). This event was deeply ingrained in Jewish memory and theology, symbolizing God's faithful provision and His covenant relationship with Israel. By Jesus' time, there was a widespread expectation among some Jewish groups that the Messiah, or a prophet like Moses, would perform similar or even greater miracles, including a renewed provision of manna. The crowd's challenge in [John 6:31](/john/6-31 "John 6:31 - The Crowd's Demand for Manna") taps into this cultural memory and messianic anticipation, implicitly asking Jesus to prove His authority by replicating or surpassing Moses' miracle.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes in John's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Provision**, acknowledging God's historical faithfulness in sustaining His people, as seen in the manna narrative (e.g., [Nehemiah 9:15](/nehemiah/9-15 "Nehemiah 9:15 - God's Provision in the Wilderness")). Secondly, it immediately establishes the **Contrast Between Physical and Spiritual Hunger**. The crowd's focus is entirely on physical sustenance, desiring a continuous supply of earthly bread, while Jesus aims to elevate their understanding to a spiritual hunger for eternal life, which He alone can satisfy. This tension is central to the entire [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - The Bread of Life Discourse") discourse. Lastly, the crowd's statement underscores their **Misunderstanding of Jesus' Identity and Mission**. By comparing Him to Moses and expecting a repeat of the manna, they reveal their perception of Jesus as merely a miracle-worker or a political leader who can provide material benefits, rather than the Son of God who offers salvation and eternal life.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **written (Greek, _gráphō'_):** This verb signifies the act of inscribing or recording, often referring to scripture. In this context, it points to the authoritative nature of the Old Testament witness regarding God's provision of manna, lending weight to the crowd's argument while also setting the stage for Jesus to interpret that scripture in a new light. The crowd appeals to the divine record, expecting Jesus to conform to its historical pattern of provision.
* **gave (Greek, _dídōmi'_):** This verb, meaning "to give" or "to bestow," highlights the divine initiative in providing the manna. It emphasizes that the manna was a gift from God, not something earned or produced by human effort. This sets up a crucial parallel and contrast with Jesus, who is the ultimate gift from God, given for the life of the world. The crowd acknowledges God as the giver, but fails to grasp the ultimate gift He is now offering.
* **heaven (Greek, _ouranós'_):** Referring to the sky or the abode of God, "heaven" here underscores the supernatural origin of the manna. It was not earthly bread but came directly from the divine realm, signifying God's direct intervention and care for His people. This concept of "from heaven" is critical for Jesus' subsequent teaching about His own origin and nature as the true bread from heaven, far superior to the manna.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Our fathers did eat manna in the desert":** This clause grounds the crowd's argument in the historical experience of their Israelite ancestors during the Exodus. They recall God's miraculous provision of manna ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - The Provision of Manna")) in the wilderness, a foundational event in their national identity and a testament to God's care for His people. The use of "our fathers" emphasizes their direct lineage and shared heritage with those who received this divine sustenance.
* **"as it is written":** This phrase serves as a direct appeal to the authority of Scripture, specifically referencing passages like [Psalm 78:24](/psalms/78-24 "Psalm 78:24 - Bread from Heaven") or [Nehemiah 9:15](/nehemiah/9-15 "Nehemiah 9:15 - God's Provision of Manna"), which recount God's provision of "bread from heaven." The crowd uses this scriptural precedent to frame their expectation of Jesus, implying that if He is truly a prophet or Messiah, He should perform similar, if not greater, signs to validate His claims.
* **"He gave them bread from heaven to eat":** This final clause reiterates the divine source and miraculous nature of the manna. The emphasis on "He gave" attributes the provision directly to God, and "from heaven" highlights its supernatural origin, distinguishing it from any earthly food. This statement sets the stage for Jesus' profound reinterpretation of what it means to receive "bread from heaven," shifting the focus from physical sustenance to spiritual life.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Allusion**, directly referencing the historical event of God providing manna to the Israelites in the wilderness, which is a well-known narrative from the Old Testament ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - The Manna and Quail")). This allusion serves to establish a historical and theological precedent in the minds of the Jewish crowd, setting up a comparison between Jesus and Moses. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Contrast** being set up, though it is not explicitly stated by the crowd. They are contrasting the temporary, physical bread given by God through Moses with the expectation of a new, perhaps greater, physical provision from Jesus. This contrast will be fully developed by Jesus in the subsequent verses, where He distinguishes between the manna and Himself as the true, spiritual "Bread of Life." Finally, the "bread from heaven" carries significant **Symbolism**, representing divine sustenance and life, which Jesus will then appropriate and redefine in a profound spiritual sense.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 6:31 serves as a pivotal point, bridging the crowd's earthly expectations with Jesus' heavenly revelation. The crowd's appeal to the manna highlights a deep-seated theological truth: God is a provider who sustains His people. However, their focus remains on the physical manifestation of this provision, missing the deeper spiritual reality that God desires to impart. This verse sets the stage for Jesus to unveil a superior form of divine provision – Himself as the true "bread from heaven," offering not temporary physical sustenance, but eternal spiritual life. It underscores the transition from the old covenant's shadows and types to the new covenant's ultimate reality found in Christ.

* [Exodus 16:4](/exodus/16-4 "Exodus 16:4 - God Promises Manna") - God's initial promise to provide bread from heaven.
* [Psalm 78:24](/psalms/78-24 "Psalm 78:24 - He Gave Them Grain from Heaven") - A poetic recollection of God's provision of manna, emphasizing its heavenly origin.
* [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life") - Jesus' direct response, declaring Himself to be the Bread of Life.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This interaction in John 6:31 serves as a powerful mirror for our own spiritual journeys. Do we, like the crowd, often approach God primarily seeking physical blessings, solutions to earthly problems, or tangible signs, rather than the deeper, eternal spiritual nourishment He offers? The manna, while a miraculous provision, was temporary; it sustained life for a day but could not grant eternal life. Similarly, our earthly pursuits, no matter how good or necessary, are ultimately finite. Jesus, the true "Bread of Life," offers sustenance that leads to eternal life, satisfying our deepest spiritual hunger and providing a lasting relationship with God. Our focus should be on seeking His spiritual truth, His very self, and the life He offers, rather than merely temporary signs or provisions. This verse calls us to examine our motivations: are we seeking the Giver, or merely His gifts?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are my primary motivations for seeking God in my daily life? Am I more focused on physical provisions or spiritual sustenance?**
* **How might my expectations of God be limiting my understanding of His true identity and mission, similar to the crowd in John 6?**
* **In what ways do I tend to prioritize temporary earthly satisfactions over eternal spiritual nourishment?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper hunger for Jesus as the "Bread of Life" in my own life?**

### FAQ
**Why did the crowd mention manna to Jesus?**

Answer: The crowd had just been miraculously fed by Jesus ([John 6:1-14](/john/6-1-14 "John 6:1-14 - The Feeding of the Five Thousand")) and were seeking more physical food. By mentioning the manna, they were implicitly challenging Jesus to perform a similar, continuous miracle, much like Moses, who, in their understanding, provided daily manna to their ancestors in the wilderness ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - The Provision of Manna")). They were demanding a sign that would validate Him as a prophet or Messiah who could satisfy their physical hunger, revealing their earthly focus rather than a spiritual one.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The crowd's reference to the manna in [John 6:31](/john/6-31 "John 6:31 - The Crowd's Demand for Manna") sets the perfect theological backdrop for Jesus to reveal Himself as the ultimate "bread from heaven." While the manna was a miraculous provision, it was a type, a shadow pointing to a greater reality. It sustained physical life temporarily, but those who ate it still died ([John 6:49](/john/6-49 "John 6:49 - The Fathers Ate Manna and Died")). Jesus, however, declares Himself to be the true bread, the living bread that came down from heaven, offering eternal life to all who partake of Him ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life") and [John 6:51](/john/6-51 "John 6:51 - Jesus, the Living Bread")). He is not merely a provider of physical sustenance but the very source of spiritual life, the embodiment of God's perfect provision. The manna foreshadowed Christ's sacrificial body, broken for the world, and His Spirit, which gives life, transcending the temporary nature of the Old Covenant's provisions and fulfilling them in His person and work ([Hebrews 9:11-12](/hebrews/9-11-12 "Hebrews 9:11-12 - Christ's Superior 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

Nehemiah 9:15

And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.

Psalms 105:40

[The people] asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

Psalms 78:24

And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.

Psalms 78:25

Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.

Exodus 16:4

Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

Exodus 16:15

And when the children of Israel saw [it], they said one to another, It [is] manna: for they wist not what it [was]. And Moses said unto them, This [is] the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

Exodus 16:35

And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.