John 6:42

And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

And {G2532} they said {G3004}, Is {G2076} not {G3756} this {G3778} Jesus {G2424}, the son {G5207} of Joseph {G2501}, whose {G3739} father {G3962} and {G2532} mother {G3384} we {G2249} know {G1492}? how is it {G4459} then {G3767} that he {G3778} saith {G3004},{G3754} I came down {G2597} from {G1537} heaven {G3772}?

They said, “Isn’t this Yeshua Ben-Yosef? We know his father and mother! How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’”

And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come down out of heaven?

Commentary

John 6:42 captures the immediate reaction of the Jewish crowd to Jesus' profound claim of having "came down from heaven." This verse highlights the tension between their earthly understanding of Jesus' origins and His divine declarations, forming a critical point in the "Bread of Life" discourse.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' extended discourse in Capernaum, following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Many in the crowd, having witnessed His power, followed Him, seeking more physical bread. However, Jesus shifts their focus from perishable food to the true spiritual bread, Himself, who gives eternal life (John 6:35). He repeatedly asserts His divine origin, stating, "I came down from heaven" (John 6:38). The crowd's reaction in verse 42 is one of murmuring and disbelief, rooted in their familiarity with His human family: "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?"

Key Themes

  • The Conflict of Divine Origin vs. Human Perception: The central struggle in this verse is the crowd's inability to reconcile Jesus' known human parentage with His claim of heavenly descent. They perceived Him as merely "Jesus, the son of Joseph," a carpenter's son from Nazareth, and could not grasp His pre-existent, divine nature. This echoes a common theme of human skepticism towards spiritual truths that defy conventional understanding.
  • Faith and Disbelief: This passage vividly illustrates the human tendency to rely on physical evidence and earthly knowledge rather than spiritual revelation. Their murmuring indicates a lack of faith, as they stumbled over the apparent contradiction between what they saw and what Jesus declared about Himself. True faith often requires looking beyond superficial appearances.
  • Jesus' Heavenly Authority: Despite their doubt, Jesus' repeated assertion of having "came down from heaven" underscores His unique authority and divine mission. He was not merely a prophet or a teacher, but the Son of God sent from the Father. This claim is fundamental to His identity and the Gospel message (see John 3:16).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "came down from heaven" translates the Greek verb katabainō (καταβαίνω), which signifies a literal descent. This isn't merely a metaphorical statement but a declaration of Jesus' pre-existence and His actual movement from the divine realm to the earthly one. The crowd's question highlights their misunderstanding of this profound reality, as they focused solely on His earthly lineage rather than His eternal being.

Practical Application

John 6:42 serves as a timeless reminder that our perception can often limit our understanding of God's truth. Just as the crowd struggled to accept Jesus' divine origin because of His human appearance, we too can sometimes allow our preconceived notions or reliance on worldly wisdom to hinder our faith. This verse challenges us to:

  • Examine Our Assumptions: Are there areas where our human logic prevents us from fully embracing spiritual truths about God or His Word?
  • Cultivate Deeper Faith: Moving beyond what is seen and known to trust in God's revelation, even when it seems paradoxical from a human standpoint.
  • Recognize Jesus' Full Identity: Appreciate the profound mystery of Jesus' dual nature—fully God and fully man—which is essential to the Christian faith (John 1:14). His coming down from heaven is the foundation of our salvation.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 4:22 (6 votes)

    And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

  • Mark 6:3 (5 votes)

    Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

  • Matthew 13:55 (5 votes)

    Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

  • Matthew 13:56 (5 votes)

    And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this [man] all these things?

  • John 7:27 (3 votes)

    Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.

  • John 7:28 (3 votes)

    Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

  • Romans 1:3 (2 votes)

    Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;