John 6:29
What does John 6:29 mean?
A plain-English look at John 6:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 6:29 means
Jesus answers that the work of God is to believe in the one He has sent. He reframes obedience from doing to trusting, from self-reliance to dependence on God’s provision in His Son. Faith is not a minor work among many; it is the central response God calls for. To believe in Jesus is to receive the enduring food He gives, because He is that food. This teaches that eternal life is a gift, not a wage. The door to all other works opens through faith in Jesus, the Father’s sent One, rather than through human merit.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Jesus, answering, said to them, This is to do the work of God: to have faith in him whom God has sent.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jesus answered and said to them, `This is the work of God, that ye may believe in him whom He did send.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Jesus answered and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he hath sent.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work ofGod, that ye believe on him whom he has sent.
Context
This declaration responds directly to the crowd’s question about works and ties back to Jesus’s earlier statement about the Father’s seal upon Him. It points the conversation to Jesus’s identity and mission. Yet, despite having seen the feeding, the people will ask for another sign to justify belief. The next verses reveal their appeal to manna in the wilderness, misunderstanding the nature of true bread from heaven.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 5:1
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
- John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- Hebrews 5:9
and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;
- Matthew 17:5
While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
- Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
- Romans 9:30
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:
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