John 6:63

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.

It is {G2076} the spirit {G4151} that quickeneth {G2227}; the flesh {G4561}{G3756} profiteth {G5623} nothing {G3762}: the words {G4487} that {G3739} I {G1473} speak {G2980} unto you {G5213}, they are {G2076} spirit {G4151}, and {G2532} they are {G2076} life {G2222}.

It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is no help. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life,

The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.

John 6:63 is a pivotal verse in Jesus's "Bread of Life" discourse, offering a profound clarification on the nature of spiritual truth and life. It serves as a key interpretive lens for His earlier, challenging statements about eating His flesh and drinking His blood.

Context

This verse comes at a critical juncture in the Gospel of John. Following Jesus's miraculous feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-14) and His declaration that He is the true bread from heaven (John 6:35), He speaks of eating His flesh and drinking His blood (John 6:53-56). This teaching was so difficult and literal for many of His listeners that it caused them to turn away (John 6:66). In John 6:63, Jesus clarifies that His words are not to be understood in a purely physical or carnal sense, but spiritually, emphasizing the necessity of spiritual understanding over mere human comprehension.

Key Themes

  • Spirit vs. Flesh: Jesus draws a sharp distinction between the spiritual and the purely physical. The spirit is the source of true life and understanding, while the flesh (referring to human nature, carnal understanding, or physical effort alone) is utterly incapable of imparting spiritual life or grasping divine truth.
  • Life-Giving Power: The verse highlights that true spiritual life, or "quickening," originates from the Spirit. This points to the work of the Holy Spirit in regenerating and sustaining believers.
  • The Nature of Jesus's Words: Christ declares that His words are not just human utterances but are infused with divine power and essence. They are "spirit, and they are life," meaning they convey spiritual truth and impart eternal life to those who receive them by faith.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "it is the spirit that quickeneth" uses a powerful verb, from the Greek zōopoieō (ζωοποιέω), which means "to make alive," "to give life," or "to vivify." This emphasizes the Spirit's role as the active agent in imparting life. The contrast between spirit (Greek: pneuma, referring to the Holy Spirit and divine essence) and flesh (Greek: sarx, referring to the human, carnal nature) is central. Jesus's words are not merely intellectual concepts; they are imbued with pneuma, conveying spiritual reality, and zōē (ζωή), which signifies profound, eternal life, not just biological existence.

Related Scriptures

This concept of the Spirit giving life resonates throughout scripture. Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 3:6, stating, "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." Similarly, the power of God's Spirit to impart life is seen in Romans 8:11, where it's stated that the Spirit will "quicken your mortal bodies." The life-giving nature of Jesus's words is also foundational, as seen when He proclaims, "He that heareth my word... hath everlasting life" in John 5:24. Peter, understanding this profound truth, later confesses, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life" in John 6:68.

Practical Application

For believers today, John 6:63 serves as a crucial reminder that spiritual truths cannot be fully grasped by human intellect or effort alone. True understanding and spiritual vitality come from the Holy Spirit. It encourages us to seek discernment from God's Spirit when reading His Word and to rely on His power for transformation, rather than on our own strength or carnal wisdom. The enduring power and relevance of Jesus's teachings are highlighted; they are not just ancient texts but living words that continue to impart spiritual life and guidance.

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.

  • Hebrews 4:12

    For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

  • Galatians 5:25

    If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

  • Psalms 119:93

    ¶ I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

  • John 6:68

    Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

  • Psalms 119:50

    ¶ This [is] my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

  • Deuteronomy 32:47

    For it [is] not a vain thing for you; because it [is] your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong [your] days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

  • 1 Peter 1:23

    Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
← Back