John 6:26
What does John 6:26 mean?
A plain-English look at John 6:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 6:26 means
Jesus confronts the crowd’s motives: they seek Him not because they understood the sign, but because they ate and were filled. He pierces the veneer of spiritual interest to reveal self-centered desire. This rebuke is gracious, because it points them to a higher pursuit. Signs are meant to lead to faith in the One sent by the Father, not to a cycle of cravings for material benefits. Jesus will now redirect them away from perishable appetites toward the true nourishment He alone gives. He refuses to be a means to their ends; He is Himself the end—life with God.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Jesus, answering them, said, Truly I say to you, You come after me, not because you saw signs, but because you were given the bread and had enough.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jesus answered them and said, `Verily, verily, I say to you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were satisfied;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Jesus answered them and said: Amen, amen, I say to you, you seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves and were filled.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say to you, Ye seek me not because ye have seen signs, but because ye have eaten of the loaves and been filled.
Context
This searching word follows the crowd’s question about His arrival and launches the heart of the discourse. From here, Jesus will command them to work for food that endures to eternal life, which He—the Son of man—will give. The exchange will move from motives to God’s seal on Jesus, from human works to faith, and from manna to the true bread from heaven. The initial rebuke frames the entire conversation.
v.25And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
v.26This passage
v.27Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 8:18
Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
- James 4:3
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures.
- John 6:30
They said therefore unto him, What then doest thou for a sign, that we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou?
- Psalms 78:37
For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful in his covenant.
- Philippians 2:21
For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.
- 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.
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