As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
As {G2531} the living {G2198} Father {G3962} hath sent {G649} me {G3165}, and I {G2504} live {G2198} by {G1223} the Father {G3962}: so {G2532} he that eateth {G5176} me {G3165}, even he {G2548} shall live {G2198} by {G1223} me {G1691}.
Just as the living Father sent me, and I live through the Father, so also whoever eats me will live through me.
Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me.
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Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. -
John 5:26
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; -
John 17:21
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. -
1 John 4:9
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. -
Colossians 3:3
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. -
Colossians 3:4
When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. -
John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 6:57 (KJV)
‹As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.›
Commentary
This verse is a powerful statement within Jesus' "Bread of Life" discourse (John 6), where He identifies Himself as the spiritual sustenance necessary for eternal life. Having fed the multitudes physically, Jesus shifts the focus to spiritual nourishment.
The verse draws a direct parallel: just as Jesus' existence and mission are dependent on the "living Father" who sent Him, so too the spiritual life of the believer is dependent on "eating" Him. "Eating" here is metaphorical, signifying receiving, believing in, and intimately uniting with Christ.
Key Themes: The core message emphasizes spiritual life, dependence, and vital union.
Linguistic Insight: The phrase "live by me" translates the Greek zēsei di' emou (ζήσει δι' ἐμοῦ), meaning "shall live through me" or "shall live because of me." It highlights that Christ is not just the *giver* of life, but the very *means* and *source* through whom life is sustained.
Practical Application: This verse challenges believers to understand that their spiritual vitality and eternal life are not self-generated but are entirely derived from receiving and abiding in Jesus Christ. It calls for a constant, dependent relationship with Him as the source of life, much like our physical lives depend daily on nourishment. It is a call to live "through" Him.
See also: John 14:6, John 5:26, John 15:5.