John 6:63

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 6:63 serves as a pivotal interpretive key within Jesus's "Bread of Life" discourse, clarifying that spiritual truth and life are not apprehended through human effort or carnal understanding, but through the divine work of the Spirit. This verse profoundly distinguishes between the life-giving power of the Spirit and the utter inadequacy of the flesh, emphasizing that Jesus's words themselves are imbued with spiritual essence and the capacity to impart eternal life.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This declaration by Jesus comes at a critical juncture in the Gospel of John, specifically within the extended "Bread of Life" discourse in [John 6](/john/6 "John 6 - The Bread of Life"). Following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand ([John 6:1-14](/john/6-1-14 "John 6:1-14 - Feeding the Five Thousand")), Jesus presents Himself as the true "Bread of Life" descended from heaven ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")). His subsequent, challenging statements about eating His flesh and drinking His blood ([John 6:53-56](/john/6-53-56 "John 6:53-56 - Eating His Flesh and Drinking His Blood")) caused significant confusion and offense among His listeners, leading many disciples to turn away ([John 6:66](/john/6-66 "John 6:66 - Many Disciples Turn Away")). In [John 6:63](/john/6-63 "John 6:63 - The Spirit Gives Life"), Jesus offers a crucial clarification, explaining that His teachings are not to be understood in a literal, physical sense, but spiritually, thereby revealing the true, non-carnal nature of the life He offers.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Jewish thought, the concepts of "spirit" (רוּחַ, *ruach*) and "flesh" (בָּשָׂר, *basar*) often stood in stark contrast. "Flesh" typically referred to humanity in its weakness, mortality, and earthly limitations, often associated with sin and carnal understanding. "Spirit," on the other hand, was associated with God's divine power, life, and supernatural intervention. The audience, accustomed to literal interpretations of religious pronouncements, struggled to grasp Jesus's metaphorical language about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. This context highlights their need for a spiritual lens to understand profound theological truths that transcend mere physical realities or human intellectual capacity. Jesus's clarification in [John 6:63](/john/6-63 "John 6:63 - The Spirit Gives Life") directly addresses this cultural predisposition towards literalism and redirects their focus to the spiritual realm.

* **Key Themes:** [John 6:63](/john/6-63 "John 6:63 - The Spirit Gives Life") powerfully reinforces several overarching themes in John's Gospel. Firstly, the **Spirit vs. Flesh** dichotomy is central, emphasizing that divine life and understanding are imparted by the Holy Spirit, not through human effort or carnal means. This theme echoes throughout the New Testament, particularly in Paul's epistles, highlighting the inadequacy of human nature apart from God's Spirit. Secondly, the **Life-Giving Power** of God is profoundly showcased; true, eternal life (*zōē*) originates from the Spirit, not from physical sustenance or rituals. This points to the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit in bringing spiritual vitality. Thirdly, the **Nature of Jesus's Words** is unveiled as inherently divine and efficacious. His words are not mere human utterances but are "spirit, and they are life," meaning they carry the very essence of God's truth and possess the power to impart spiritual and eternal life to those who receive them by faith, a concept foundational to the Gospel's portrayal of Jesus as the Word made flesh ([John 1:1-14](/john/1-1-14 "John 1:1-14 - The Word Became Flesh")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Spirit (Greek, _pneûma'_):** From G4151, `pneûma` refers to a current of air, breath, or a breeze. Figuratively, it denotes a spirit, the rational soul, vital principle, mental disposition, or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit. In [John 6:63](/john/6-63 "John 6:63 - The Spirit Gives Life"), `pneûma` primarily refers to the Holy Spirit, the divine agent of life and understanding, in contrast to the limitations of human nature. It also encapsulates the spiritual essence of Jesus's words.
* **Quickeneth (Greek, _zōopoiéō'_):** From G2227, `zōopoiéō` means "to (re-)vitalize," "make alive," or "give life." This verb emphasizes the active, life-imparting work of the Spirit. It's not merely about sustaining physical existence but about imparting spiritual life, regeneration, and vivification, transforming what is dead or inert into something living and vibrant.
* **Flesh (Greek, _sárx'_):** From G4561, `sárx` refers to flesh, the body (as opposed to the soul or spirit), or (by implication) human nature with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions. In this context, "flesh" signifies the purely human, natural, or carnal understanding and effort, which is utterly incapable of grasping or producing spiritual life. It represents the limitations of human existence apart from divine intervention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"It is the spirit that quickeneth":** This opening clause establishes the fundamental principle: true life, particularly spiritual life, originates solely from the Spirit. The Spirit (referring primarily to the Holy Spirit) is the active agent that vivifies, regenerates, and imparts spiritual vitality. Human effort or natural processes cannot achieve this divine quickening.
* **"the flesh profiteth nothing":** This stark declaration underscores the absolute inability of human nature, carnal understanding, or physical means to contribute to spiritual life or understanding. "Flesh" here represents the entirety of human existence apart from God's Spirit – its limitations, weaknesses, and inability to comprehend or attain divine realities. Any attempt to grasp spiritual truth through purely physical or intellectual means, or to gain eternal life through human merit, is utterly futile.
* **"the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life":** Jesus directly applies the spiritual principle to His own teachings. His words are not mere human utterances or intellectual concepts; they are infused with divine essence ("spirit") and possess the inherent power to impart spiritual and eternal life ("life"). This means that to truly understand and benefit from Jesus's teachings, one must receive them spiritually, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate their meaning and apply their life-giving power to the heart. His words are the vehicle through which the Spirit quickens and gives life.

#### Literary Devices
The verse makes powerful use of several literary devices. **Contrast** is paramount, sharply distinguishing between "spirit" and "flesh," and their respective capacities to give life or profit. This antithesis highlights the divine origin of life versus the futility of human effort. **Metaphor** is also evident, as Jesus declares His words *are* "spirit" and "life," not merely that they contain or lead to these qualities. This strong metaphorical identification emphasizes the inherent, intrinsic nature of His teachings as spiritually imbued and life-giving. Furthermore, the phrase "they are spirit, and they are life" employs **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the two phrases reinforce and elaborate on the same core idea, underscoring the profound spiritual and life-giving essence of Jesus's words.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[John 6:63](/john/6-63 "John 6:63 - The Spirit Gives Life") is a cornerstone for understanding the spiritual nature of salvation and the Christian life. It clarifies that the "eating" of Jesus's flesh and "drinking" of His blood, which caused so much offense, was never intended to be understood literally or physically, but spiritually. This verse establishes the Holy Spirit as the indispensable agent of spiritual life and understanding, without whom human effort or carnal interpretation yields nothing. It underscores the profound truth that God's ways are higher than human ways, and divine truth requires divine illumination. The life Jesus offers is not merely an extension of physical existence but a new quality of spiritual vitality, imparted through His Spirit-filled words.

* [2 Corinthians 3:6](/2_corinthians/3-6 "2 Corinthians 3:6 - The Spirit Gives Life")
* [Romans 8:11](/romans/8-11 "Romans 8:11 - Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus")
* [John 5:24](/john/5-24 "John 5:24 - Hearing Jesus's Word and Eternal Life")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[John 6:63](/john/6-63 "John 6:63 - The Spirit Gives Life") serves as a profound and enduring reminder for believers today that genuine spiritual understanding and transformation do not arise from human intellect, self-effort, or adherence to external rituals alone. It calls us to recognize our absolute dependence on the Holy Spirit to quicken our hearts, illuminate the Scriptures, and enable us to truly grasp and live out the truths of God's Word. In a world that often prioritizes tangible results and human achievement, this verse reorients us to the unseen, yet supremely powerful, work of the Spirit. It encourages us to approach the Bible not merely as a historical text or a collection of moral principles, but as living words imbued with divine power, capable of imparting eternal life and spiritual vitality. Our spiritual growth is not a matter of striving in the flesh, but of yielding to the Spirit who gives life.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I relying on "the flesh" (my own efforts, wisdom, or strength) rather than the quickening power of the Spirit?**
* **How does my approach to reading and studying the Bible reflect the understanding that Jesus's words "are spirit, and they are life"?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a deeper reliance on the Holy Spirit for spiritual understanding and vitality?**

### FAQ
**What does Jesus mean by "the flesh profiteth nothing"?**

Answer: When Jesus states that "the flesh profiteth nothing," He is emphasizing the utter inadequacy of human nature, carnal understanding, or physical means to provide spiritual life or benefit. This is not a condemnation of the physical body itself, but rather a declaration that spiritual realities cannot be apprehended or attained through purely human effort, intellect, or material means. In the context of the "Bread of Life" discourse, it clarifies that His earlier challenging statements about eating His flesh and drinking His blood ([John 6:53-56](/john/6-53-56 "John 6:53-56 - Eating His Flesh and Drinking His Blood")) were not to be taken literally, as if physical consumption could impart eternal life. Instead, true spiritual nourishment and life come from the Spirit, not from anything the "flesh" can provide or comprehend. It underscores the spiritual nature of salvation and the inability of human works or carnal wisdom to contribute to it.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[John 6:63](/john/6-63 "John 6:63 - The Spirit Gives Life") finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ Himself, who is the embodiment of the "spirit" and the source of "life." As the eternal Word of God made flesh ([John 1:1-14](/john/1-1-14 "John 1:1-14 - The Word Became Flesh")), Jesus's very being and every utterance are saturated with divine Spirit and life-giving power. He is not merely a messenger of truth, but Truth incarnate ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). His words are "spirit, and they are life" because they proceed from Him who is the resurrection and the life ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")) and who gives the Holy Spirit without measure ([John 3:34](/john/3-34 "John 3:34 - God Gives the Spirit Without Limit")). The life-giving Spirit, of whom Jesus speaks, is the Spirit He would later send to indwell believers, enabling them to understand and live out His words ([John 14:26](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Holy Spirit, the Helper")). Thus, this verse points to Christ as the sole conduit of eternal life, imparted through His Spirit-breathed words, which transcend all carnal understanding and human limitation.

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

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.