John 6:43

KJV

Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

KJV (with Strong's)

Jesus {G2424} therefore {G3767} answered {G611} and {G2532} said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Murmur {G1111} not {G3361} among {G3326} yourselves {G240}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yeshua answered them, “Stop grumbling to each other!

Berean Standard Bible

“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied.

American Standard Version

Jesus answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In [John 6:43](/john/6-43 "John 6:43 - Jesus Addresses Murmuring"), Jesus directly confronts the growing discontent and private grumbling among the Jewish people who are struggling to accept His profound claims about His divine origin and identity as the "Bread of Life." This verse marks a pivotal moment in the discourse, as Jesus, with divine insight, addresses their internal dissent, challenging their unbelief and calling them to a deeper understanding of His true nature and mission, thereby highlighting the tension between human skepticism and divine revelation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** [John 6:43](/john/6-43 "John 6:43 - Jesus Addresses Murmuring") is situated firmly within the extensive "Bread of Life" discourse, which spans much of [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - The Bread of Life Discourse"). Immediately preceding this verse, in [John 6:41-42](/john/6-41-42 "John 6:41-42 - The Jews Murmur"), the Jews are explicitly described as "murmuring" about Jesus' claim to have "come down from heaven." Their complaint is rooted in their familiarity with His earthly parents, Joseph and Mary, which contradicts their understanding of a divine origin. Jesus' statement in [John 6:43](/john/6-43 "John 6:43 - Jesus Addresses Murmuring") is a direct response to this specific, internal grumbling, demonstrating His awareness of their private thoughts and challenging their skepticism. The discourse continues with Jesus further elaborating on the necessity of believing in Him for eternal life, culminating in the controversial teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood in [John 6:53-58](/john/6-53-58 "John 6:53-58 - Eating His Flesh and Drinking His Blood").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The murmuring of the Jews in [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - The Bread of Life Discourse") echoes a significant motif from the Old Testament, particularly the Israelites' grumbling against God and Moses during their wilderness wanderings (e.g., [Exodus 16:2](/exodus/16-2 "Exodus 16:2 - Israelites Murmur for Food"), [Numbers 14:27](/numbers/14-27 "Numbers 14:27 - God Hears Their Murmuring")). This historical precedent would have been well-known to Jesus' Jewish audience, imbuing their present murmuring with a strong negative connotation of rebellion and lack of faith in divine provision and leadership. Culturally, the concept of a Messiah was deeply ingrained, but expectations varied widely, often focusing on a political or military deliverer. Jesus' claims of heavenly origin and spiritual sustenance, rather than earthly power or physical bread, clashed sharply with these popular messianic expectations, leading to confusion and, ultimately, rejection.
* **Key Themes:** The murmuring in [John 6:43](/john/6-43 "John 6:43 - Jesus Addresses Murmuring") contributes to several key themes within [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - The Bread of Life Discourse") and the Gospel of John as a whole. Foremost is the theme of **Disbelief and Spiritual Blindness**, where human inability to comprehend divine truth leads to rejection. Despite Jesus' miraculous signs and clear declarations, many remain spiritually unperceptive, unable to see beyond His earthly humanity to His divine identity. This highlights the theme of **Divine Revelation vs. Human Perception**, emphasizing that true understanding of Jesus comes not from human reason alone but from God's drawing ([John 6:44](/john/6-44 "John 6:44 - No One Can Come Unless the Father Draws Him")). The passage also underscores the **Sovereignty of God** in salvation, as Jesus states that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them, and that those given by the Father will come ([John 6:37](/john/6-37 "John 6:37 - All That the Father Gives Will Come")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Murmur (Greek, _gongýzō_):** This word (G1111) describes a low, indistinct sound of complaining or grumbling, often expressing discontent in secret or among a group. It carries a strong negative connotation, frequently used in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) to depict the Israelites' rebellious complaints against God and Moses during their wilderness journey (e.g., [Numbers 14:27](/numbers/14-27 "Numbers 14:27 - God's Response to Murmuring")). By using this term, Jesus implicitly connects their current grumbling to a pattern of historical disobedience and lack of faith among God's people, highlighting the spiritual danger of their internal dissent.
* **Answered (Greek, _apokrínomai_):** This verb (G611) means "to conclude for oneself" or "to respond." In a Hebraic sense, it can also mean "to begin to speak where an address is expected." Here, Jesus' "answer" is not a direct reply to an explicit question but a response to their internal, unspoken grumbling. This demonstrates His omniscience and authority, as He knows their hearts and minds, directly addressing their private thoughts and challenging their unbelief before it is openly voiced.
* **Yourselves (Greek, _allḗlōn_):** This reciprocal pronoun (G240) means "one another" or "each other." The phrase "murmur not among yourselves" emphasizes that the grumbling was not a public outcry but a private, communal discontent shared within the group. This internal, whispered dissent is precisely what Jesus confronts, revealing His knowledge of their hidden thoughts and the collective nature of their unbelief.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Jesus therefore answered and said unto them":** This opening phrase establishes Jesus' divine authority and insight. The "therefore" (G3767, _oûn_) links His response directly to the Jews' murmuring described in the preceding verses. His "answering" is not a reaction to an overt question but a proactive, omniscient response to their internal, whispered complaints, demonstrating His awareness of their hearts and minds. He does not wait for their grumbling to become a public accusation but addresses it immediately and directly.
* **"Murmur not among yourselves":** This is a direct, authoritative command from Jesus. The negative imperative "murmur not" forbids the very act of their internal grumbling. The phrase "among yourselves" highlights the private, communal nature of their discontent, emphasizing that their disbelief was being fostered and shared within their own group, away from open dialogue. Jesus' command is a call to cease their internal resistance and instead, to open their hearts to His truth, recognizing the spiritual danger inherent in their skepticism and the historical pattern of such murmuring against God.

#### Literary Devices
[John 6:43](/john/6-43 "John 6:43 - Jesus Addresses Murmuring") employs several potent literary devices. The most prominent is **Direct Admonition**, as Jesus issues a clear, authoritative command: "Murmur not among yourselves." This direct address underscores His authority and His awareness of their internal state. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present; the crowd seeks physical bread from heaven, yet they grumble when the true "Bread of Life" stands before them, claiming heavenly origin. This highlights their spiritual blindness and the **Contrast** between their earthly expectations and Jesus' divine reality. Furthermore, the use of "murmur" (γογγύζω, _gongýzō_) serves as a powerful **Allusion** or **Typology** to the Israelites' grumbling in the wilderness against God and Moses. This connection implicitly casts the contemporary Jewish audience in the same light as their rebellious ancestors, suggesting a historical pattern of unbelief and resistance to divine truth, thereby adding a layer of theological weight to Jesus' command.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jesus' command to "murmur not" in [John 6:43](/john/6-43 "John 6:43 - Jesus Addresses Murmuring") is a profound theological statement on the nature of faith and the danger of unbelief. It reveals that true faith requires a willingness to accept divine truth, even when it challenges human reason or preconceived notions. The murmuring itself is not merely a social complaint but a manifestation of spiritual resistance to God's revelation, a pattern seen throughout biblical history. Jesus' immediate and direct confrontation of this internal grumbling underscores His divine omniscience and authority, asserting that He knows the hearts of humanity and demands a response of trust, not skepticism. This passage emphasizes that salvation is not contingent on human understanding or agreement, but on God's sovereign drawing and the individual's obedient faith in the one whom God has sent.

* [Numbers 14:27](/numbers/14-27 "Numbers 14:27 - God's Response to Murmuring")
* [1 Corinthians 10:10](/1_corinthians/10-10 "1 Corinthians 10:10 - Warning Against Murmuring")
* [Hebrews 3:12](/hebrews/3-12 "Hebrews 3:12 - Warning Against Unbelief")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[John 6:43](/john/6-43 "John 6:43 - Jesus Addresses Murmuring") serves as a powerful and timeless admonition for believers today. In a world saturated with information and diverse viewpoints, it is easy to fall into the trap of skepticism, questioning God's ways or His Word when they do not align with our immediate understanding or desires. Jesus' command to "murmur not" calls us to cultivate a spirit of humility and trust, recognizing that God's wisdom far surpasses our own ([Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8-9 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways are Higher")). When we encounter paradoxes in Scripture, unanswered prayers, or challenging circumstances, our natural inclination might be to grumble or complain, just as the Jews did. However, this verse encourages us to resist that urge, understanding that murmuring can be a gateway to deeper unbelief and a hardened heart. Instead, we are called to lean into faith, to seek understanding through prayer and study, and to humbly accept what God reveals, even if it remains a mystery to our finite minds. This passage reminds us that genuine faith embraces the divine mystery rather than allowing human limitations to foster doubt and discontent.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or faith do I tend to "murmur" or complain, rather than trust God's wisdom?**
* **How can I cultivate a spirit of acceptance and humility when God's ways seem paradoxical or difficult to understand?**
* **What is the connection between private grumbling and the erosion of faith in my own life?**

### FAQ

**Why were the Jews murmuring about Jesus in John 6?**

Answer: The Jews were murmuring primarily because Jesus claimed to have "come down from heaven" ([John 6:41](/john/6-41 "John 6:41 - The Jews Murmur")). This claim directly contradicted their knowledge of His earthly parentage, as they knew Him as "Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know" ([John 6:42](/john/6-42 "John 6:42 - The Jews' Complaint")). Their murmuring stemmed from an inability to reconcile His known human origins with His profound claims of divine, heavenly descent, leading to skepticism and disbelief regarding His true identity as the "Bread of Life."

**What is the significance of Jesus knowing and addressing their murmuring?**

Answer: Jesus' knowledge and direct address of their murmuring, even though it was "among yourselves" (private), highlights His divine omniscience. He knew their thoughts and the internal dissent brewing within the crowd, demonstrating that nothing is hidden from Him. By confronting their grumbling directly, Jesus asserts His authority not only over their actions but over their very hearts and minds. This act underscores His divine nature and challenges them to move beyond superficial understanding to a deeper, spiritual faith in Him.

**How does this passage relate to the Old Testament concept of murmuring?**

Answer: The murmuring of the Jews in [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - The Bread of Life Discourse") carries significant echoes of the Israelites' repeated grumbling against God and Moses during their wilderness journey after the Exodus (e.g., [Exodus 16:2](/exodus/16-2 "Exodus 16:2 - Israelites Murmur for Food"), [Numbers 14:27](/numbers/14-27 "Numbers 14:27 - God Hears Their Murmuring")). In the Old Testament, murmuring was consistently portrayed as a sign of unbelief, rebellion against God's provision, and a failure to trust His leadership. By using this term, Jesus implicitly links the present generation's spiritual resistance to a historical pattern of disobedience, warning them of the grave spiritual consequences of their lack of faith, just as the previous generation faced judgment for their murmuring.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The murmuring of the Jews against Jesus in [John 6:43](/john/6-43 "John 6:43 - Jesus Addresses Murmuring") finds its Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus as the ultimate divine revelation and the true "Bread of Life," whose rejection by His own people mirrors and surpasses the historical pattern of Israel's unbelief. Just as the Israelites murmured against God's provision of manna in the wilderness ([Numbers 11:4-6](/numbers/11-4-6 "Numbers 11:4-6 - Israelites Crave Meat")), the Jews in John 6 grumbled against Jesus, the living Bread who came down from heaven ([John 6:33](/john/6-33 "John 6:33 - The True Bread from Heaven")). Their inability to reconcile His earthly origins with His divine claims foreshadows the broader rejection of the Messiah by many in Israel. Jesus, however, is the fulfillment of all God's promises and the culmination of His redemptive plan. He is not merely a prophet or a king, but God incarnate, the very Word made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Their murmuring against Him is, in essence, a murmuring against God Himself, highlighting the profound spiritual blindness that prevents them from recognizing their Savior. Yet, Jesus' response is not one of condemnation but a continued call to faith, emphasizing that those whom the Father draws will come to Him ([John 6:44](/john/6-44 "John 6:44 - No One Can Come Unless the Father Draws Him")), ultimately leading to eternal life through belief in Him ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). Thus, Jesus stands as the perfect and final answer to humanity's deepest spiritual hunger, despite the persistent human tendency to resist divine truth.

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

Hebrews 4:13

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

John 6:64

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

Matthew 16:8

[Which] when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

Mark 9:33

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

John 16:19

Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?