John 6:61

KJV

When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

KJV (with Strong's)

When {G1161} Jesus {G2424} knew {G1492} in {G1722} himself {G1438} that {G3754} his {G846} disciples {G3101} murmured {G1111} at {G4012} it {G5127}, he said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Doth this {G5124} offend {G4624} you {G5209}?

Complete Jewish Bible

But Yeshua, aware that his talmidim were grumbling about this, said to them, “This is a trap for you?

Berean Standard Bible

Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?

American Standard Version

But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said unto them, Doth this cause you to stumble?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 6:61 marks a critical turning point in Jesus' ministry, revealing His divine omniscience as He perceives the inner dissent among His followers regarding His challenging "Bread of Life" discourse. Despite their hidden grumbling, Jesus directly confronts their spiritual resistance, exposing the profound offense His words have caused, thereby initiating a sifting process among those who claimed to follow Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' profound and challenging discourse in the synagogue at Capernaum, where He declared Himself the "Bread of Life" and insisted on the necessity of eating His flesh and drinking His blood for eternal life ([John 6:48-58](/john/6-48-58 "Jesus' Bread of Life Discourse")). The preceding verse, [John 6:60](/john/6-60 "The Disciples' Reaction to Jesus' Teaching"), explicitly states that "many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?" This indicates widespread difficulty and discontent among His followers, setting the stage for Jesus' direct, probing question in [John 6:61](/john/6-61 "Jesus Knows Their Murmuring"). The subsequent verses detail the departure of many disciples and Peter's confession of faith, highlighting the sifting effect of Jesus' challenging truth.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Capernaum, a significant center for Jesus' Galilean ministry. The crowd, initially drawn by the miraculous feeding of the five thousand ([John 6:1-14](/john/6-1-14 "The Feeding of the Five Thousand")), was largely focused on physical sustenance and a messianic king who would provide earthly benefits. Jesus' shift from physical bread to spiritual sustenance, particularly His metaphorical language about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, would have been deeply unsettling. To a Jewish audience, such language, if taken literally, would have been abhorrent, violating dietary laws and the sanctity of blood, which represented life itself. This cultural barrier amplified their misunderstanding and offense, as they struggled to grasp the spiritual reality Jesus was conveying.

* **Key Themes:** [John 6:61](/john/6-61 "Jesus Knows Their Murmuring") contributes significantly to several major themes in the Gospel of John. Foremost is **Jesus' Divine Knowledge**, underscoring His omniscience as He perceives the hidden thoughts and murmuring of His disciples without being told, a theme reiterated throughout the Gospel (e.g., [John 2:25](/john/2-25 "Jesus Knew What Was in Man") and [John 4:29](/john/4-29 "Jesus' Knowledge of the Samaritan Woman")). Another crucial theme is the **Spiritual vs. Carnal Understanding**, as the disciples' offense stems from their inability or unwillingness to move beyond a literal, physical interpretation of Jesus' words to grasp their profound spiritual meaning. This highlights the ongoing tension between human reason and divine revelation, foreshadowing Jesus' later explanation that "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing" ([John 6:63](/john/6-63 "The Spirit Gives Life")). Finally, the verse introduces the theme of **The Cost of Discipleship and Sifting**, as Jesus' challenging words serve to separate those genuinely committed to Him from those seeking only temporal benefits, leading to a significant departure of many who once followed Him ([John 6:66](/john/6-66 "Many Disciples Turn Back")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **knew (Greek, _eídō'_):** From G1492, this verb primarily means "to see" (literally or figuratively), but in its perfect tense, as used here, it means "to know" or "to be aware." This signifies Jesus' intrinsic, immediate, and complete understanding of the disciples' inner thoughts and dispositions. It's not that He inferred their murmuring; He simply knew it, a testament to His divine insight into the human heart.
* **murmured (Greek, _gongýzō'_):** From G1111, this word means "to grumble" or "to complain in low tones." It carries a strong connotation of discontent and dissatisfaction, often directed against authority. In the biblical context, it frequently recalls the Israelites' grumbling against God and Moses in the wilderness (e.g., [Exodus 16:2](/exodus/16-2 "Israel Murmurs for Food")), highlighting a spirit of rebellion and lack of trust in divine provision or teaching. Here, it indicates their quiet, yet profound, spiritual resistance to Jesus' words.
* **offend (Greek, _skandalízō'_):** From G4624, this verb means "to entrap," "to trip up," or "to cause to stumble." Figuratively, it means to entice to sin, apostasy, or displeasure, leading someone to fall away from faith or truth. Jesus' question, "Doth this offend you?", directly addresses whether His teaching has become a spiritual stumbling block that causes them to doubt, reject, or abandon Him. It's a challenge to their spiritual integrity and a test of their true commitment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When Jesus knew in himself":** This clause emphasizes Jesus' divine omniscience and self-awareness. He did not need to be informed by others or observe overt signs; His knowledge of their inner state was immediate and inherent to His being. The phrase "in himself" highlights the internal, self-contained nature of this divine perception.
* **"that his disciples murmured at it":** This identifies the specific action and the group involved. The "murmuring" signifies their quiet, yet widespread, dissatisfaction and grumbling regarding Jesus' teaching. "At it" refers directly to the "hard saying" about eating His flesh and drinking His blood ([John 6:60](/john/6-60 "The Disciples' Reaction to Jesus' Teaching")), indicating their profound spiritual discomfort and resistance to His radical claims.
* **"he said unto them, 'Doth this offend you?'":** This is Jesus' direct, penetrating question, confronting their hidden grumbling. The question is rhetorical in the sense that He already knows the answer, but it serves to bring their hidden thoughts into the open. By asking if "this" (referring to His teaching) "offends" them, Jesus highlights the spiritual stumbling block His words have become, forcing them to confront their own spiritual state and the true nature of their discipleship.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is present in Jesus' question: He already knows their murmuring and offense, yet He asks, forcing them to acknowledge their internal struggle. This creates a powerful moment of confrontation and revelation. The question itself is a **Rhetorical Question**, designed not to elicit new information for Jesus, but to provoke self-reflection and a decision from the disciples. Furthermore, the verse serves as an act of **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the subsequent departure of many disciples and the sifting of Jesus' followers based on their response to His challenging truth. The depiction of Jesus' **Omniscience** is also a literary motif, consistently portrayed throughout John's Gospel to underscore His divine nature and authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 6:61 profoundly illustrates the tension between divine revelation and human resistance, a recurring theme throughout biblical history. Jesus' intrinsic knowledge of His disciples' murmuring underscores His deity and His intimate understanding of the human heart, even its hidden doubts and discontents. His direct confrontation with their "offense" reveals that spiritual truth, particularly when it challenges preconceived notions or demands radical commitment, often acts as a stumbling block to those unwilling to yield to its demands. This moment serves as a crucial test of genuine faith, distinguishing between those who follow for temporal benefits and those truly committed to Jesus as the source of eternal life, regardless of the difficulty of His teachings.

* [Psalm 139:23-24](/psalm/139-23-24 "God Knows My Heart")
* [Luke 12:51](/luke/12-51 "Jesus Brings Division")
* [1 Corinthians 1:23](/1_corinthians/1-23 "Christ Crucified, a Stumbling Block")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 6:61 challenges us to examine our own hearts when confronted with the seemingly "hard sayings" of Scripture or the demanding call of Christ. Just as the disciples murmured when Jesus' words went against their expectations, we too may find ourselves resistant when God's truth challenges our comfort zones, our logic, or our desires. This verse prompts us to consider whether we are truly seeking spiritual understanding and transformation, or if we are allowing our carnal interpretations or personal preferences to become a stumbling block to deeper faith. It reminds us that authentic discipleship often requires embracing truths that are offensive to human reason but are life-giving through the Spirit. Our response to challenging truths reveals the true state of our hearts and the depth of our commitment to Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "hard sayings" of Jesus or the Bible do I find myself murmuring against or struggling to accept?**
* **In what areas of my life might God's truth be causing me to "offend" or stumble, and how can I seek deeper spiritual understanding?**
* **How does Jesus' knowledge of His disciples' inner thoughts encourage or challenge me in my own walk of faith?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus' teaching "offend" His disciples?**
Answer: Jesus' teaching offended His disciples primarily because they interpreted His words about eating His flesh and drinking His blood literally, which was abhorrent and incomprehensible to their Jewish cultural and religious understanding. They failed to grasp the spiritual, metaphorical meaning of His impending sacrifice and the spiritual communion He was offering. Their offense stemmed from a carnal understanding that clashed with the profound spiritual truth Jesus was conveying, making His words a "stumbling block" to their faith. Jesus clarifies this later in [John 6:63](/john/6-63 "The Spirit Gives Life"), stating, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 6:61, with Jesus' divine knowledge and confrontational question, points directly to His role as the ultimate revealer of truth and the sifter of hearts. As the incarnate Word, Jesus embodies the very truth that became a "stumbling block" to many, fulfilling prophecies that He would be "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" ([Romans 9:33](/romans/9-33 "Christ, a Stumbling Stone") referencing [Isaiah 8:14](/isaiah/8-14 "A Stone of Stumbling")). His ability to "know in himself" the murmuring of His disciples underscores His deity and His perfect understanding of human nature, including its resistance to divine grace. This moment foreshadows His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, which, though foolishness to the world, is the power and wisdom of God to those who believe ([1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "The Message of the Cross")). Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John the Baptist Points to Jesus")), offers Himself as the true spiritual sustenance, and His challenging words in [John 6](/john/6 "The Bread of Life") serve to separate those who merely seek earthly benefits from those who recognize Him as the "Holy One of God" and possess the "words of eternal life" ([John 6:68-69](/john/6-68-69 "Peter's Confession")). Thus, Jesus, in His omniscience and challenging truth, brings to light the true condition of the human heart, revealing Himself as the one who both offends and saves.

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

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.

John 2:24

But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men],

John 2:25

And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

John 21:17

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Matthew 11:6

And blessed is [he], whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Revelation 2:23

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

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.