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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Just as the living Father sent me, and I live through the Father, so also whoever eats me will live through me.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 6:57, a pivotal statement within Jesus' "Bread of Life" discourse, encapsulates the profound spiritual truth that just as Jesus' own life and mission are entirely derived from and sustained by the living Father who sent Him, so too the spiritual and eternal life of a believer is wholly dependent upon a vital, intimate union with Christ, metaphorically expressed as "eating" Him. This verse underscores the reciprocal nature of divine life, flowing from the Father to the Son, and from the Son to those who truly receive Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the climax of Jesus' profound "Bread of Life" discourse in [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - The Bread of Life Discourse"). Following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand ([John 6:1-15](/john/6-1-15 "John 6:1-15 - Feeding the Five Thousand")), Jesus intentionally shifts the crowd's focus from physical sustenance to spiritual nourishment. He declares Himself to be the "bread of life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), emphasizing that true life comes not from manna in the wilderness but from Him. The discourse intensifies as Jesus speaks of His flesh and blood, leading to significant misunderstanding and even desertion by many disciples ([John 6:60-66](/john/6-60-66 "John 6:60-66 - Many Disciples Turn Away")). Verse 57 serves as a powerful summary of the life-giving union Jesus offers, drawing a direct parallel between His dependence on the Father and the believer's dependence on Him.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Capernaum, a town on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus has been teaching extensively. The Jewish audience, familiar with the Old Testament narrative of manna from heaven ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna from Heaven")), initially sought a repeat of physical provision. However, Jesus challenges their earthly perspective, introducing a spiritual reality that transcends their immediate desires. The concept of "eating" someone's flesh would have been shocking and offensive to a Jewish audience, given the Mosaic Law's prohibitions against consuming blood and the general abhorrence of cannibalism. This deliberate use of provocative language by Jesus forces His listeners to move beyond a literal interpretation to grasp the deep spiritual truth of intimate identification and spiritual assimilation.
* **Key Themes:** [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - The Bread of Life Discourse") is rich with theological themes that converge in verse 57. The primary theme is **Jesus as the Source of Life**, specifically eternal life, contrasting with perishable earthly food. This is closely tied to the theme of **Divine Dependence and Union**, where Jesus perfectly models dependence on the Father, and believers are called to mirror this dependence on Him. The concept of **Spiritual Nourishment** is central, moving beyond physical sustenance to the necessity of receiving Christ Himself for true vitality. Furthermore, the discourse highlights **Faith and Belief** as the means by which one "eats" or receives Christ, leading to **Eternal Life** as the ultimate outcome. Jesus' repeated emphasis on His divine origin and mission from the Father ([John 6:38](/john/6-38 "John 6:38 - Jesus' Divine Mission")) reinforces His unique authority as the life-giver.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **living (Greek, _záō'_):** A primary verb meaning "to live," literally or figuratively. In this context, it refers to the inherent, active, and eternal life of God the Father, which is then imparted to Jesus and, through Jesus, to believers. It signifies not merely existence, but vibrant, dynamic, and eternal vitality.
* **Father (Greek, _patḗr'_):** A primary word meaning "father," literally or figuratively. Here, it refers to God the Father, emphasizing His role as the source and origin of life, authority, and mission. Jesus' relationship with the Father is one of perfect unity and dependence, serving as the paradigm for the believer's relationship with Christ.
* **eateth (Greek, _trṓgō'_):** This verb means "to gnaw or chew," implying a more literal and visceral act of eating than the more common Greek word for "eat" (phagō). Jesus deliberately uses _trṓgō_ to emphasize the intense, personal, and continuous assimilation of His person—His flesh and blood—into the believer's very being, signifying a deep, life-sustaining spiritual union, not a mere intellectual assent.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"As the living Father hath sent me":** This clause establishes the divine origin and mission of Jesus. The Father is described as "living," emphasizing His inherent and eternal life, which is the ultimate source of all life. Jesus' coming into the world is not self-initiated but is a direct act of the Father's will, underscoring His divine authority and purpose.
* **"and I live by the Father":** This phrase highlights Jesus' perfect and continuous dependence on the Father. His life, both in its earthly manifestation and its eternal essence, is sustained "by" (Greek: _diá_, meaning "through" or "because of") the Father. This reveals the intimate, co-existent relationship within the Godhead and serves as the model for all true spiritual life.
* **"so he that eateth me":** This is the crucial metaphorical instruction for believers. "Eating" Jesus, particularly with the strong verb _trṓgō_, signifies a deep, personal, and active appropriation of Christ. It implies not just believing in Him intellectually, but receiving Him into one's innermost being, assimilating His truth, His life, His sacrifice, and His very person in a way that profoundly impacts one's existence.
* **"even he shall live by me":** This is the promised outcome for those who "eat" Jesus. Just as Jesus lives "by" the Father, believers will live "by" Him. This life is spiritual and eternal, sustained "through" or "because of" Christ. It is a life that derives its vitality, purpose, and eternal duration entirely from intimate union with Jesus, mirroring the Son's dependence on the Father.

#### Literary Devices
The verse makes prominent use of **Analogy** and **Parallelism**. Jesus draws a direct comparison between His relationship with the Father and the believer's relationship with Him. The structure "As X... so Y..." creates a clear parallel: "As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me." This **A-B-A'-B' structure** powerfully conveys the reciprocal nature of divine life. The phrase "eateth me" is a profound **Metaphor**, representing a deep, spiritual assimilation and union with Christ, rather than a literal act. This metaphor is an example of **Hyperbole** in its initial shock value, designed to provoke deeper thought and understanding of spiritual realities. The repeated use of "live" (**záō**) emphasizes the central theme of life, highlighting the Father as the source, Jesus as the mediator, and believers as the recipients of this eternal vitality.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 6:57 profoundly articulates the Trinitarian nature of life and salvation. It reveals that the eternal life believers receive is not merely a gift but a participation in the very life of God Himself, mediated through Jesus Christ. The Father is the ultimate source of life, who sends the Son. The Son, in perfect unity and dependence, lives by the Father and, in turn, becomes the source of life for humanity. This verse underscores the essential truth that outside of Christ, there is no true spiritual life, and that genuine Christian existence is characterized by a continuous, vital dependence on Him, much like our physical bodies depend on food for sustenance. It is a call to a deep, transformative union with the living Christ.

* [John 5:26](/john/5-26 "The Father Gives Life to the Son")
* [John 14:6](/john/14-6 "Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")
* [Galatians 2:20](/galatians/2-20 "Living by Faith in the Son of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 6:57 invites us into a profound contemplation of our spiritual sustenance. It challenges us to move beyond superficial engagement with Christ to a deep, life-sustaining union. Just as Jesus' entire being and mission were rooted in His dependence on the Father, so too our spiritual vitality is entirely derived from and sustained by Him. "Eating" Jesus means more than intellectual assent; it implies a daily, conscious choice to feed on His Word, to appropriate His sacrifice, to embody His teachings, and to allow His Spirit to permeate every aspect of our lives. This union is not passive but active, requiring continuous communion and surrender. It reminds us that our spiritual health is not self-generated but is a constant outflow from the Living Bread. This verse calls us to examine the true source of our life and to continually draw from the wellspring of Christ's inexhaustible life.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I currently "live by" Christ, and where might I need to deepen my dependence on Him?**
* **How does understanding Jesus' dependence on the Father inform my own understanding of spiritual dependence?**
* **What does "eating" Jesus practically look like in my daily life, beyond mere intellectual belief?**
* **How does this verse challenge my assumptions about the source of my spiritual strength and eternal hope?**

### FAQ
**What does Jesus mean by "eateth me"? Is this literal?**

Answer: No, Jesus is not speaking literally of cannibalism. The phrase "eateth me" (especially using the Greek verb _trṓgō_, meaning "to gnaw" or "to chew") is a profound and provocative metaphor. In the context of the "Bread of Life" discourse, it signifies a deep, intimate, and continuous spiritual assimilation of Christ's person, His teachings, His atoning work, and His very life. It means to fully receive Him, believe in Him, and allow Him to become the sustaining source of one's spiritual existence, much as physical food sustains the body. This spiritual "eating" leads to eternal life and an unbreakable union with Him. It's about internalizing His truth and making Him the core of one's being, as explained in [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life") where Jesus says, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 6:57 stands as a profound revelation of Christ's unique mediatorial role in the economy of salvation. Jesus, the Son, perfectly embodies the life and will of the Father, serving as the ultimate revelation of God ([John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - No One Has Seen God")). His declaration, "I live by the Father," underscores His divine origin and perfect obedience, foreshadowing His ultimate act of self-giving on the cross, which was entirely in submission to the Father's will ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Jesus' Humility and Obedience")). The promise that "he that eateth me, even he shall live by me" finds its fulfillment in the New Covenant, where believers are united with Christ through faith, receiving His resurrected life. This spiritual union is actualized by the indwelling Holy Spirit, whom Christ sends from the Father ([John 14:16-17](/john/14-16-17 "John 14:16-17 - The Promise of the Holy Spirit")). Through Christ's death and resurrection, He became the true "bread of life," offering His body and blood as the means of eternal sustenance, a truth powerfully symbolized in the Lord's Supper ([1 Corinthians 11:23-26](/1_corinthians/11-23-26 "1 Corinthians 11:23-26 - Institution of the Lord's Supper")). Thus, Christ is not merely a provider of life, but the very life itself, through whom believers are reconciled to God and participate in the divine nature ([2 Peter 1:4](/2_peter/1-4 "2 Peter 1:4 - Partakers of the Divine Nature")).

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

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.