TRV
John 6:52
Bible Versions
The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?
At this, the Judeans disputed with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
-
John 10:19
¶ There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. -
John 9:16
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. -
John 6:41
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. -
1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. -
John 4:11
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? -
Acts 17:32
¶ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this [matter]. -
John 3:9
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
John 6:52 captures a pivotal moment of misunderstanding during Jesus' profound "Bread of Life" discourse in Capernaum. Following Jesus' declaration that His flesh would be given for the life of the world (John 6:51), the KJV text states, "The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?"
Context
This verse is situated within a lengthy and challenging teaching by Jesus, where He progressively reveals Himself as the ultimate source of spiritual sustenance. Earlier, He had miraculously fed five thousand people (John 6:1-14), and the crowd then sought Him for more physical bread. Jesus redirected their focus, declaring, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger" (John 6:35). The audience, however, struggled to move beyond a literal, physical interpretation of His words, leading to the contentious debate described in verse 52. This struggle reflects a common theme in John's Gospel, where characters often misunderstand Jesus' spiritual metaphors.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Greek word for "strove" is emachonto (ἐμάχοντο), which means "they fought," "they contended," or "they disputed vehemently." This indicates a heated and earnest argument, not merely casual questioning. Their immediate focus was on the literal meaning of "flesh" (sarx, σάρκα), which in their cultural context would have been associated with cannibalism, an abhorrent thought. Jesus, however, was speaking of His body given as a sacrifice, an act that would provide spiritual life and eternal salvation. This contrast between the physical and spiritual understanding is crucial to the entire discourse (see John 6:63).
Practical Application
John 6:52 serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of spiritual discernment. When encountering God's Word, we are called to look beyond mere literalism to grasp the deeper, spiritual truths that bring life. True spiritual nourishment comes not from physical acts but from a deep, abiding faith in Jesus Christ and His completed work on the cross. This passage encourages us to seek understanding of Jesus' identity and His redemptive mission, allowing His words to transform our hearts and minds, rather than merely puzzling our intellect. It underscores that God's ways are often higher than our ways, requiring faith to comprehend.