John 6:31
What does John 6:31 mean?
A plain-English look at John 6:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 6:31 means
The crowd cites, “He gave them bread out of heaven to eat,” appealing to the manna in the wilderness. They imply that Moses, or God through Moses, provided a continual heavenly bread, so Jesus must produce similar or greater works to validate His claims. Their memory of Scripture is selective; they focus on external provision and miss its purpose. Manna sustained physical life for a time, but it did not grant eternal life. By invoking this text, they invite Jesus to position Himself in relation to Moses and the Exodus. He will do so—but not as a mere provider of more manna.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Our fathers had the manna in the waste land, as the Writings say, He gave them bread from heaven.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862our fathers the manna did eat in the wilderness, according as it is having been written, Bread out of the heaven He gave them to eat.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.
Context
This quotation follows their request for a sign and tightens the challenge: will Jesus equal the wilderness provision? The narrative prepares for Jesus’s correction—shifting credit from Moses to the Father—and for His revelation that the true bread is not a substance but a person who comes down from heaven to give life to the world. Their appeal becomes the springboard for Jesus’s greatest self-disclosure in the chapter.
v.30They said therefore unto him, What then doest thou for a sign, that we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou?
v.31This passage
v.32Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Nehemiah 9:20
Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
- 1 Corinthians 10:3
and did all eat the same spiritual food;
- Psalms 78:24
And he rained down manna upon them to eat, And gave them food from heaven.
- Deuteronomy 8:3
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by everything that proceedeth out of the mouth of Jehovah doth man live.
- Revelation 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.
- Nehemiah 9:15
and gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commandedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore John 6
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on John 6.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Communion
Communion, often called the Lord's Supper, is a sacred practice remembering Jesus' sacrifice and looking forward to His return.
Topic
Bible Verses About Eternal Life
Eternal life, a gift from God, is knowing Him and Jesus Christ, and living forever in His presence.
Topic
Bible Verses About Abiding in Christ
Key scriptures reveal what it means to abide in Christ, emphasizing our continuous connection and dependence on Him for spiritual life and fruitfulness.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for the Fear of Losing a Loved One
When you can't stop imagining the worst — verses to put your loved one back in God's hands.
Verses for
Bible Verses for the Fear of Death
When you're afraid to die — what scripture promises about the last enemy.
Verses for
Bible Verses for Grief After Losing Someone You Love
When the room is empty — verses that grieve with you, not around you.