John 6:47
What does John 6:47 mean?
A plain-English look at John 6:47 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 6:47 means
Jesus solemnly assures that whoever believes has eternal life. Faith is the divinely appointed means of receiving life now, not merely in the future. Eternal life is a present possession that alters one’s standing with God and one’s destiny. This brief promise distills the discourse: the bread from heaven gives life to believers. It also subtly contrasts with the crowd’s fixation on seeing signs; the key is believing, not demanding further proofs. Jesus holds out a simple, profound pathway: trust Him, and you live forever.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Truly I say to you, He who has faith in me has eternal life.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Verily, verily, I say to you, He who is believing in me, hath life age-during;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Amen, amen, I say unto you: He that believeth in me hath everlasting life.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Verily, verily, I say to you, He that believes [on me] has life eternal.
Context
This assurance follows Jesus’s assertion of His unique knowledge of the Father and anticipates His renewed self-identification as the bread of life. It grounds the call to come in a clear promise and prepares for the contrast with manna. The next verses will repeat “I am the bread of life,” recall the ancestors who ate manna and died, and promise life without death to those who partake of the heavenly bread.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 14:19
Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also.
- John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.
- Colossians 3:3
For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
- John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on 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.
- 1 John 5:12
He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.
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