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John 6:47

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Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Verily {G281}, verily {G281}, I say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, He that believeth {G4100} on {G1519} me {G1691} hath {G2192} everlasting {G166} life {G2222}.

Yes, indeed! I tell you, whoever trusts has eternal life:

Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life.

Commentary

John 6:47 is a pivotal declaration by Jesus Christ during His "Bread of Life" discourse, emphasizing the immediate and profound benefit of genuine faith in Him. This verse succinctly states the core message of salvation: that belief in Jesus grants the believer not merely a future hope, but a present reality of eternal life.

Context

This verse comes in the midst of a significant teaching by Jesus following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand and His walking on water (John 6:16-21). The crowd, having seen His power to provide physical sustenance, sought Him out for more bread. Jesus, however, redirected their focus from earthly food to spiritual nourishment, identifying Himself as the true "Bread of Life". Throughout this chapter, He explains that this spiritual bread is not something to be earned or merely eaten, but to be received through faith in Him. Verse 47 serves as a powerful summary of this teaching, clarifying the direct link between belief and eternal life.

Key Themes

  • The Authority of Jesus: The phrase "Verily, verily, I say unto you" (Greek: Amen, Amen) underscores the absolute truth and divine authority behind Jesus' declaration. It's a solemn, emphatic statement signifying critical importance.
  • The Centrality of Belief: The condition for receiving everlasting life is simply "He that believeth on me." This belief (Greek: pisteuō eis eme) is not merely intellectual assent to facts about Jesus, but a deep, active trust and reliance upon Him, involving commitment and a turning to Him for salvation and sustenance.
  • The Nature of Everlasting Life: Jesus states that the believer "hath" (possesses) everlasting life, indicating it is a present reality, not just a future promise. This zōē aiōnios (eternal life) is not merely endless existence, but a quality of life—divine life—characterized by a relationship with God. As Jesus Himself defines it, eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's "Verily, verily" translates the Greek Amen, Amen (ἀμὴν ἀμήν), a solemn Hebrew affirmation adopted by Jesus to introduce particularly weighty and authoritative statements. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and truth of what follows. The phrase "believeth on me" uses the Greek preposition eis (εἰς), meaning "into," which implies movement towards and union with Christ, not just belief about Him. This underscores the active, relational nature of saving faith.

Practical Application

John 6:47 offers immense comfort and clarity for believers today. It simplifies the path to salvation, highlighting that eternal life is a free gift received through faith in Jesus, not by works or rituals. It reassures believers that they possess eternal life now, as a present reality, providing a foundation for assurance and peace. This verse encourages a continuous, abiding trust in Jesus as the source of all spiritual life and reminds us of the profound simplicity of God's plan for humanity's salvation, emphasizing that the focus is on the object of our faith—Jesus Christ Himself.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

  • John 3:36 (11 votes)

    He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

  • Romans 5:9 (8 votes)

    Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

  • Romans 5:10 (8 votes)

    For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

  • Colossians 3:3 (8 votes)

    For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

  • Colossians 3:4 (8 votes)

    When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

  • John 5:24 (7 votes)

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

  • John 3:16 (7 votes)

    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.