John 6:51

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

I {G1473} am {G1510} the living {G2198} bread {G740} which {G3588} came down {G2597} from {G1537} heaven {G3772}: if {G1437} any man {G5100} eat {G5315} of {G1537} this {G5127} bread {G740}, he shall live {G2198} for {G1519} ever {G165}: and {G1161}{G2532} the bread {G740} that {G3739} I {G1473} will give {G1325} is {G2076} my {G3450} flesh {G4561}, which {G3739} I {G1473} will give {G1325} for {G5228} the life {G2222} of the world {G2889}.

I am the living bread that has come down from heaven; if anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. Furthermore, the bread that I will give is my own flesh; and I will give it for the life of the world.”

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.

In John 6:51, Jesus continues His profound discourse on Himself as the "Bread of Life," a pivotal declaration following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. This verse encapsulates core Christian doctrines: the divine nature of Christ, the necessity of His sacrifice, and the promise of eternal life through faith in Him.

Context

This statement is part of Jesus' extended sermon in Capernaum, often called the "Bread of Life discourse," which began after the multitude sought Him primarily for physical sustenance (John 6:26). Jesus aims to shift their focus from perishable food to the spiritual nourishment He alone provides. He contrasts Himself with the manna that fed the Israelites in the wilderness (John 6:49), asserting that He is the true, living bread from heaven that gives life eternal. This builds upon His earlier declaration, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35).

Key Themes

  • Jesus as the "Living Bread": Jesus identifies Himself as the ultimate source of spiritual sustenance, unlike the temporary manna. He is not merely bread, but "living bread," implying He possesses and imparts life itself. This life is eternal, a profound contrast to the physical life sustained by earthly food.
  • The Promise of Eternal Life: The phrase "if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever" clearly links spiritual consumption of Christ with the gift of everlasting life. This "eating" is not literal but signifies a deep, personal reception and belief in who Jesus is and what He offers.
  • Sacrifice for the World's Life: The declaration "the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" points directly to Jesus' future crucifixion. His incarnation ("my flesh") and sacrificial death are the means by which He provides this life. This highlights the atoning work of Christ, offered not just for Israel, but for the entire world.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "living bread" is artos ho zōn (ἄρτος ὁ ζῶν). The adjective zōn means "living" or "life-giving," emphasizing that this bread is not inert but active and dynamic, capable of imparting life. The term "flesh" (σάρξ - sarx) here refers to Jesus' human nature, which He fully embraced and offered as a sacrifice. This is distinct from His blood, which is mentioned later in the discourse (John 6:53), but both signify His complete self-giving.

Practical Application

For believers today, John 6:51 underscores the absolute centrality of Jesus Christ for spiritual life. To "eat of this bread" means to personally accept Him by faith as the Son of God and the Savior who gave His life for humanity. This verse forms a foundational understanding for Christian practices like Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper, where believers remember and participate in the benefits of Christ's sacrifice. It reminds us that true and lasting satisfaction, peace, and eternal life are found only in Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 22:19

    And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake [it], and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

  • John 6:33

    For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

  • John 3:13

    And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.

  • Hebrews 10:5

    Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

  • Hebrews 10:12

    But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

  • Matthew 20:28

    Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

  • Titus 2:14

    Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

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