John 6:56
What does John 6:56 mean?
A plain-English look at John 6:56 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 6:56 means
He says that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood abides in Him, and He in that person. The result of receiving Christ is a living union—mutual indwelling. Salvation is not only a legal standing but a shared life. To “abide” means ongoing trust, dependence, and fellowship. Jesus is not describing a momentary experience but a sustained relationship nourished by continual reliance on His sacrifice. This union is the heart of eternal life—Christ in us, and we in Christ—a reality that will be echoed later in the Gospel.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He who takes my flesh for food and my blood for drink is in me and I in him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862he who is eating my flesh, and is drinking my blood, doth remain in me, and I in him.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in me and I in him.
Context
This promise follows the declarations about true food and drink and links nourishment to abiding relationship. The discourse moves from what Christ gives to what Christ is in the believer and the believer in Him. Next, Jesus will ground this union in His relationship with the living Father, showing that the life believers receive through Him mirrors His own life from the Father.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 91:1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
- John 14:20
In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
- Lamentations 3:24
Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
- Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
- Ephesians 3:17
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
- John 14:23
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
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