John 6:53
What does John 6:53 mean?
A plain-English look at John 6:53 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 6:53 means
Jesus insists that unless one eats the flesh of the Son of man and drinks His blood, there is no life in him. He states the negative to stress necessity. Flesh and blood together emphasize His whole, true humanity given in death. Drinking blood, forbidden in the law, shocks the senses to signal a new covenant reality: life comes by inwardly receiving the benefits of His poured-out life. He is not prescribing a physical act but a spiritual participation by faith. Without union with the crucified Christ, people remain spiritually dead.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, If you do not take the flesh of the Son of man for food, and if you do not take his blood for drink, you have no life in you.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jesus, therefore, said to them, `Verily, verily, I say to you, If ye may not eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and may not drink his blood, ye have no life in yourselves;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jesus therefore said to them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Unless ye shall have eaten the flesh of the Son of man, and drunk his blood, ye have no life in yourselves.
Context
This solemn word answers the crowd’s dispute and escalates the stakes. It introduces the full imagery of eating and drinking, connecting it to life’s very presence. The next verses will present the positive promise—those who eat and drink have eternal life, will be raised, and abide in Christ. The argument progresses from necessity to assurance and communion.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 6:55
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
- Matthew 5:18
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.
- John 13:8
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
- John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
- Matthew 26:26
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
- John 6:26
Jesus 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.
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