John 6:63
What does John 6:63 mean?
A plain-English look at John 6:63 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 6:63 means
Jesus declares that the Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words He has spoken are spirit and life. This does not negate His incarnation; it corrects a fleshly, literalistic reading of His teaching. Physical categories alone cannot grasp His meaning; the Spirit must give life, and His words are the vehicle of that life. To “eat” and “drink” is to receive His life through Spirit-empowered faith in His word. Human effort, heritage, or mere bodily thinking cannot produce eternal life. Only the Spirit, through Christ’s living words, can.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.
KJV
King James Version · 1611It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The spirit is the life giver; the flesh is of no value: the words which I have said to you are spirit and they are life.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862the spirit it is that is giving life; the flesh doth not profit anything; the sayings that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752If then you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890It is the Spirit which quickens, the flesh profits nothing: the words which I have spoken unto you are spirit and are life.
Context
This explanation follows the ascension question and directly addresses the disciples’ misunderstanding. It reframes the discourse in spiritual terms, guiding them away from offense toward faith. Yet Jesus will immediately acknowledge that some do not believe, and that He knew from the beginning who would not and who would betray Him. The dialogue moves from teaching to sober diagnosis and the necessity of the Father’s granting.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
- Romans 10:17
So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
- Hebrews 13:9
Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.
- 1 Corinthians 15:45
So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, Andwhichentered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.
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