John 6:68
What does John 6:68 mean?
A plain-English look at John 6:68 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 6:68 means
Simon Peter answers, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” He recognizes that alternatives are empty; only Jesus speaks life-giving truth. The confession is not rooted in signs but in words—Jesus’s teaching grasped as the channel of eternal life. Peter’s question admits that though hard, Jesus’s words are incomparable. Following Him is not one option among many; it is the only path to life. This is faith’s logic: cling to the One whose words create and sustain eternal life.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then Simon Peter gave this answer: Lord, to whom are we to go? you have the words of eternal life;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Simon Peter, therefore, answered him, `Sir, unto whom shall we go? thou hast sayings of life age-during;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Then Jesus said to the twelve: Will you also go away?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast words of life eternal;
Context
Peter’s reply comes immediately after Jesus’s question to the twelve. It expresses the core response Jesus sought throughout the discourse: belief in His words as life. The next verse will add a confession about Jesus’s identity as the Holy One of God. Together, these statements contrast sharply with the unbelief and departure of many, drawing a line between true and false disciples.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 17:8
for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me.
- John 6:40
For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
- Acts 7:38
This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us:
- 1 John 5:11
And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
- Acts 5:20
Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.
- John 6:63
It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.
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