John 6:57
What does John 6:57 mean?
A plain-English look at John 6:57 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 6:57 means
Jesus explains the pattern: as the living Father sent Him, and He lives because of the Father, so whoever eats Him will live because of Him. The source of life flows from the Father to the Son and from the Son to believers. This is not independent vitality but mediated life—shared, derived, and sustained by relationship. Believers’ life “because of” Jesus mirrors His life “because of” the Father, revealing a profound communion. Thus, partaking of Christ is the only way to truly live, since He alone is connected to the living Father as the sent One.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949As the living Father has sent me, and I have life because of the Father, even so he who takes me for his food will have life because of me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`According as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, he also who is eating me, even that one shall live because of me;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me: and I in him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890As the living Father has sent me and I live on account of the Father, he also who eats me shall live also on account of me.
Context
This explanation follows the promise of mutual abiding and situates it within the Trinitarian relationship. It clarifies that the believer’s life is derivative of Christ’s life, just as Christ’s incarnate life is dependent on the Father’s sending. The next verse will summarize the bread-from-heaven theme, contrast it again with manna, and reassert the promise of living forever to those who eat this 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.
- Colossians 3:3
For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
- Hebrews 9:14
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
- 1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
- Psalms 18:46
Jehovah liveth; and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation,
- 2 Corinthians 13:4
for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you.
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