Devine Scripture

John 6:17

What does John 6:17 mean?

A plain-English look at John 6:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 6:17 means

The disciples embark for Capernaum in a boat, and darkness falls while Jesus has not yet joined them. The scene layers vulnerability: distance from land, night, and separation from Jesus. Their obedience to move forward brings them into a situation where their own strength will not suffice. John draws attention to Jesus’s delay, which heightens the impact of His sudden approach. The disciples are not abandoned; they are being set up to see His authority in a new way. Faith often matures in places where vision is limited and help seems delayed.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and they entered into a boat, and were going over the sea unto Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and they entered into a boat, and were going over the sea unto Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they took a boat and went across the sea in the direction of Capernaum. By then it was dark and still Jesus had not come to them.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having entered into the boat, they were going over the sea to Capernaum, and darkness had already come, and Jesus had not come unto them,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when they had gone up into a ship, they went over the sea to Capharnaum. And it was now dark: and Jesus was not come unto them.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and having gone on board ship, they went over the sea to Capernaum. And it had already become dark, and Jesus had not come to them,

Context

This verse advances the setting introduced in the previous line. After the feeding and Jesus’s withdrawal, the disciples begin crossing without Him. The narrative now emphasizes darkness and Jesus’s absence to prepare for the storm. The following verse adds the rising sea and strong wind, leading to the fearful moment when Jesus appears walking on the water and speaks peace to them.

v.16And when evening came, his disciples went down unto the sea;

v.17This passage

v.18And the sea was rising by reason of a great wind that blew.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 6:45

    And straightway he constrained his disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side to Bethsaida, while he himself sendeth the multitude away.

  • John 6:24

    when the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

  • John 4:46

    He came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

  • John 2:12

    After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, andhisbrethren, and his disciples; and there they abode not many days.

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