


John 6:34
Bible Versions
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread from now on.”
“Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.”
They said therefore unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
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John 4:15
The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. -
John 6:26
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. -
Psalms 4:6
¶ [There be] many that say, Who will shew us [any] good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Context
This verse immediately follows Jesus' declaration that He is the "true bread from heaven" (see John 6:32 and John 6:33). The crowd, having recently been miraculously fed with physical bread and fish (the feeding of the five thousand, detailed in John 6:1-14), is now seeking Jesus for more physical sustenance. They are still thinking in terms of literal, earthly food, much like their ancestors ate manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:35).
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Greek word for "bread" here is artos, which can refer to a literal loaf of bread. However, within this discourse, Jesus is clearly using it metaphorically. The crowd's request, "evermore give us this bread" (Greek: pantote dos hēmin ton arton touton), expresses a desire for a continuous, never-ending provision, akin to the daily manna provided to Israel. This shows their focus on the quantity and consistency of the provision, rather than its true, spiritual quality.
Practical Application
John 6:34 serves as a powerful reminder that we, like the crowd, often seek physical or material solutions to what are fundamentally spiritual problems. We may pursue worldly success, comfort, or possessions, hoping they will satisfy a deeper longing that only Christ can fill. This verse challenges us to: