John 6:67
What does John 6:67 mean?
A plain-English look at John 6:67 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 6:67 means
Jesus asks the twelve, “Would you also go away?” He invites a decision, not because He is unsure, but to draw out their faith. The question is pastoral and penetrating: do they follow Him for who He is, or for what He gives? It respects their will while acknowledging that staying with Jesus may be costly. The Lord does not chase the crowd or dilute the truth. He looks to those the Father has given Him and calls them to stand. True discipleship answers not with perfect understanding but with allegiance to Jesus’s person and words.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Jesus said therefore unto the twelve, Would ye also go away?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Jesus said therefore unto the twelve, Would ye also go away?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So Jesus said to the twelve, Have you a desire to go away?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Jesus, therefore, said to the twelve, `Do ye also wish to go away?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752After this, many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Jesus therefore said to the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Context
This question follows the departure of many disciples and sets the stage for a defining confession. The narrative narrows from a crowd to the inner circle. Peter, often the spokesman, will answer for the group, expressing their reliance on Jesus’s words and recognition of His identity. Jesus will then respond, acknowledging His choice of the twelve and hinting at Judas’s betrayal.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 14:25
Now there went with him great multitudes: and he turned, and said unto them,
- Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.
- John 6:70
Jesus answered them, Did not I choose you the twelve, and one of you is a devil?
- Ruth 1:11
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
- 2 Samuel 15:19
Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; return to thine own place.
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