John 6:24
What does John 6:24 mean?
A plain-English look at John 6:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 6:24 means
Finding neither Jesus nor His disciples on that shore, the crowd boards the arriving boats and heads to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. Their determination is clear; they will chase the one who satisfied their hunger. Seeking Jesus can be noble, but motives matter. John reveals that many are driven by the hope of more bread rather than the sign’s meaning. Their search will soon be exposed by Jesus Himself. Yet even their mixed pursuit becomes the occasion for Jesus to reveal the deeper gift—eternal life found in Him, not merely in multiplied loaves.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000when the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
KJV
King James Version · 1611When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901when the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, or his disciples, they got into those boats and went over to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862when therefore the multitude saw that Jesus is not there, nor his disciples, they also themselves did enter into the boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752When therefore the multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they took shipping and came to Capharnaum, seeking for Jesus.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890when therefore the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they got into the ships, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
Context
This action follows the explanatory note about boats and the crowd’s observation about Jesus’s absence. It moves the scene from the feeding site to Capernaum. The next verse will capture the crowd’s question upon finding Him, opening a dialogue in which Jesus redirects their desires from perishing food to the food that endures to eternal life. The discourse will challenge, divide, and finally sift many followers.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 6:17
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.
- John 7:11
The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
- John 20:15
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
- Mark 1:37
and they found him, and say unto him, All are seeking thee.
- John 6:59
These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
- Mark 6:53
And when they had crossed over, they came to the land unto Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.
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