John 6:31

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

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}.

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

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

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

Commentary

In John 6:31, a crowd addresses Jesus, recalling a significant event from Israel's history: "Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat." This statement comes shortly after Jesus miraculously fed over five thousand people with a few loaves and fish, an event that deeply impressed the multitude and sparked a desire for more miraculous sustenance.

Context

This verse is spoken by the Jewish crowd who had followed Jesus across the Sea of Galilee, primarily because they had witnessed His miraculous sign of feeding the five thousand. They were seeking more physical food, not necessarily spiritual truth. In their request, they draw a parallel to the manna God provided to their ancestors during the Exodus, implicitly challenging Jesus: "If you are truly from God, like Moses, then give us a continuous supply of miraculous bread." This sets the stage for Jesus to reveal a profound spiritual truth about Himself as the "Bread of Life."

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision: The crowd rightly acknowledges God's miraculous provision of manna to their ancestors in the wilderness, as recorded in Exodus 16:4 and later referenced in passages like Psalm 78:24. This highlights God's historical care for His people.
  • Physical vs. Spiritual Hunger: The core tension of John 6 begins here. The crowd's focus is entirely on physical hunger and a desire for more miraculous food, whereas Jesus is attempting to shift their understanding towards a deeper, spiritual hunger for eternal life.
  • Misunderstanding of Jesus' Identity: By comparing Jesus to Moses and expecting Him to provide physical bread, the crowd reveals their limited understanding of His true identity and mission. They see Him as a provider of earthly goods rather than the Son of God who offers salvation.

Linguistic Insights

The term "manna" itself comes from the Hebrew phrase man hu, meaning "What is it?", reflecting the Israelites' initial bewilderment at the mysterious food God provided (Exodus 16:15). The phrase "bread from heaven" emphasizes its supernatural and divine origin, distinguishing it from any earthly food source and setting up the contrast with Jesus as the ultimate heavenly bread.

Reflection and Application

This verse challenges us to examine our own motivations for seeking God. Are we primarily seeking Him for physical blessings, solutions to earthly problems, or for the deeper, eternal spiritual nourishment He offers? Just as the manna was temporary and could not provide lasting life, so too are our earthly pursuits. Jesus, the true "Bread of Life," offers sustenance that leads to eternal life, satisfying our deepest spiritual hunger. Our focus should be on seeking His spiritual truth rather than merely temporary signs or provisions.

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Cross-References

  • Nehemiah 9:15 (14 votes)

    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 (12 votes)

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

  • Psalms 78:24 (9 votes)

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

  • Psalms 78:25 (9 votes)

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

  • Exodus 16:4 (8 votes)

    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 (8 votes)

    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 (7 votes)

    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.