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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 6:52 At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/6-52.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/43_Jhn_06_52.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 6:52 - Jesus the Bread of Life" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/6-52.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/6-52.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/6.htm">Chapter 6</a> > Verse 52</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad12.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/6-51.htm" title="John 6:51">◄</a> John 6:52 <a href="/john/6-53.htm" title="John 6:53">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/6.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/6.htm">New International Version</a> Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, &#8220How can this man give us his flesh to eat?&#8221 <a href="/nlt/john/6.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked. <a href="/esv/john/6.htm">English Standard Version</a> The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” <a href="/bsb/john/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” <a href="/blb/john/6.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Therefore the Jews were arguing with one another, saying, "How is this man able to give us His flesh to eat?" <a href="/kjv/john/6.htm">King James Bible</a> The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? <a href="/nkjv/john/6.htm">New King James Version</a> The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” <a href="/nasb_/john/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” <a href="/nasb/john/6.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, &#8220How can this man give us His flesh to eat?&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/john/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a> The Jews therefore began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” <a href="/lsb/john/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” <a href="/amp/john/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” <a href="/csb/john/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> At that, the Jews argued among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat? ” <a href="/hcsb/john/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> At that, the Jews argued among themselves, &#8220How can this man give us His flesh to eat?&#8221 <a href="/asv/john/6.htm">American Standard Version</a> The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? <a href="/cev/john/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> They started arguing with each other and asked, "How can he give us his flesh to eat?" <a href="/erv/john/6.htm">English Revised Version</a> The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? <a href="/gwt/john/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The Jews began to quarrel with each other. They said, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" <a href="/gnt/john/6.htm">Good News Translation</a> This started an angry argument among them. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. <a href="/isv/john/6.htm">International Standard Version</a> Then the Jewish leaders debated angrily with each other, asking, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" <a href="/msb/john/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, ?How can this man give us His flesh to eat?? <a href="/net/john/6.htm">NET Bible</a> Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began to argue with one another, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" <a href="/nheb/john/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The Jews therefore argued with one another, saying, "How can this one give us flesh to eat?" <a href="/wbt/john/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> The Jews therefore contended among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? <a href="/wey/john/6.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> This led to an angry debate among the Jews. "How can this man," they argued, "give us his flesh to eat?" <a href="/web/john/6.htm">World English Bible</a> The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> The Jews, therefore, were striving with one another, saying, “How is this One able to give us [His] flesh to eat?” <a href="/blb/john/6.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Therefore the Jews were arguing with one another, saying, "How is this man able to give us His flesh to eat?" <a href="/ylt/john/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> The Jews, therefore, were striving with one another, saying, 'How is this one able to give us his flesh to eat?' <a href="/slt/john/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Then the Jews contended with one another, saying, How can he give us the flesh to eat.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? <a href="/cpdv/john/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> <V 6:53>Therefore, the Jews debated among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” <a href="/nabre/john/6.htm">New American Bible</a> The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?” <a href="/nrsvce/john/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> The Jews argued one with another, saying, How can this man give us his body to eat? <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/6.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> But the Jews were arguing with one another and saying, “How can this man give us his body to eat?”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/6.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> The Jews, therefore, contended among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? <a href="/godbey/john/6.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Then the Jews were contending with one another, saying, How is this One able to give unto us His flesh to eat? <a href="/haweis/john/6.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Then the Jews contended with each other, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? <a href="/mace/john/6.htm">Mace New Testament</a> Upon this the Jews disputed among themselves, saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat? <a href="/wey/john/6.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> This led to an angry debate among the Jews. "How can this man," they argued, "give us his flesh to eat?" <a href="/worrell/john/6.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> The Jews, therefore, were wrangling with one another, saying, "How can This Man give us His flesh to eat?" <a href="/worsley/john/6.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> The Jews therefore cavilled amongst themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? <a href="/parallel/john/6-52.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=2126" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/6.htm">Jesus the Bread of Life</a> …51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.” 52<a href="/greek/3767.htm" title="3767: oun (Conj) -- Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.">At this,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2453.htm" title="2453: Ioudaioi (Adj-NMP) -- Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.">Jews</a> <a href="/greek/3164.htm" title="3164: Emachonto (V-IIM/P-3P) -- To engage in battle, fight; hence: To strive, contend, dispute. ">began to argue</a> <a href="/greek/4314.htm" title="4314: pros (Prep) -- To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.">among</a> <a href="/greek/240.htm" title="240: allēlous (RecPro-AMP) -- One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.">themselves,</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legontes (V-PPA-NMP) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. "></a> <a href="/greek/4459.htm" title="4459: Pōs (Adv) -- Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!">“How</a> <a href="/greek/1410.htm" title="1410: dynatai (V-PIM/P-3S) -- (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.">can</a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: houtos (DPro-NMS) -- This; he, she, it. ">this man</a> <a href="/greek/1325.htm" title="1325: dounai (V-ANA) -- To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.">give</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmin (PPro-D1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">us</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">His</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4561.htm" title="4561: sarka (N-AFS) -- Flesh, body, human nature, materiality; kindred. ">flesh</a> <a href="/greek/5315.htm" title="5315: phagein (V-ANA) -- A primary verb; to eat.">to eat?”</a> 53So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/26-26.htm">Matthew 26:26-28</a> While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” / Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. / This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. <a href="/mark/14-22.htm">Mark 14:22-24</a> While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.” / Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. / He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. <a href="/luke/22-19.htm">Luke 22:19-20</a> And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” / In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you. <a href="/1_corinthians/10-16.htm">1 Corinthians 10:16</a> Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? <a href="/1_corinthians/11-23.htm">1 Corinthians 11:23-25</a> For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, / and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” / In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” <a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a> The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. <a href="/john/3-14.htm">John 3:14-16</a> Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, / that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. / For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. <a href="/john/4-10.htm">John 4:10-14</a> Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” / “Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water? / Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?” ... <a href="/john/5-39.htm">John 5:39-40</a> You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, / yet you refuse to come to Me to have life. <a href="/john/7-37.htm">John 7:37-38</a> On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. / Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” <a href="/john/8-51.htm">John 8:51</a> Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.” <a href="/john/10-10.htm">John 10:10</a> The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. <a href="/john/11-25.htm">John 11:25-26</a> Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” <a href="/john/12-24.htm">John 12:24</a> Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. <a href="/john/14-6.htm">John 14:6</a> Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?strove.<a href="/john/6-41.htm">John 6:41</a> The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.<a href="/john/7-40.htm">John 7:40-43</a> Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet… <a href="/john/9-16.htm">John 9:16</a> Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.How.<a href="/john/3-4.htm">John 3:4,9</a> Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? … <a href="/john/4-11.htm">John 4:11</a> The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?<a href="/acts/17-32.htm">Acts 17:32</a> And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/6-44.htm">Able</a> <a href="/luke/19-7.htm">Angry</a> <a href="/mark/8-11.htm">Argue</a> <a href="/luke/20-5.htm">Argued</a> <a href="/hosea/12-3.htm">Contended</a> <a href="/isaiah/58-4.htm">Debate</a> <a href="/mark/9-34.htm">Disputed</a> <a href="/john/6-51.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/john/6-51.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/john/6-50.htm">Food</a> <a href="/john/6-41.htm">Jews</a> <a href="/john/1-42.htm">Led</a> <a href="/john/5-44.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/hosea/12-4.htm">Strove</a> <a href="/john/6-24.htm">Themselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/6-60.htm">Able</a> <a href="/john/7-23.htm">Angry</a> <a href="/acts/6-9.htm">Argue</a> <a href="/john/9-16.htm">Argued</a> <a href="/acts/11-2.htm">Contended</a> <a href="/john/7-12.htm">Debate</a> <a href="/acts/6-9.htm">Disputed</a> <a href="/john/6-53.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/john/6-53.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/john/6-53.htm">Food</a> <a href="/john/7-1.htm">Jews</a> <a href="/john/7-47.htm">Led</a> <a href="/john/7-7.htm">Possible</a> <a href="/acts/7-26.htm">Strove</a> <a href="/john/7-35.htm">Themselves</a><div class="vheading2">John 6</div>1. <a href="/john/6-1.htm">Jesus feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes.</a> 15. <a href="/john/6-15.htm">Thereupon the people would have made him king;</a> 16. <a href="/john/6-16.htm">but withdrawing himself, he walks on the sea to his disciples;</a> 26. <a href="/john/6-26.htm">reproves the people flocking after him, and all the fleshly hearers of his word;</a> 32. <a href="/john/6-32.htm">declares himself to be the bread of life to believers.</a> 66. <a href="/john/6-66.htm">Many disciples depart from him.</a> 68. <a href="/john/6-68.htm">Peter confesses him.</a> 70. <a href="/john/6-70.htm">Judas is a devil.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/6.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/6.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves This phrase indicates a moment of confusion and debate among the Jewish audience. The context is Jesus' teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum, a significant location for His ministry. The Jews' argument reflects a common pattern in the Gospels where Jesus' teachings provoke misunderstanding or controversy. This internal debate among the Jews highlights their struggle to comprehend Jesus' spiritual message, often interpreting His words in a literal sense. This mirrors other instances in the Gospels where Jesus' teachings are met with skepticism or confusion, such as in <a href="/john/3-4.htm">John 3:4</a>, where Nicodemus questions the concept of being "born again."“How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” This question underscores the literal interpretation of Jesus' metaphorical language. The Jews' incredulity is rooted in their cultural and religious background, where consuming human flesh is strictly forbidden (<a href="/leviticus/17-10.htm">Leviticus 17:10-14</a>). Their question reveals a lack of understanding of the symbolic nature of Jesus' statement, which foreshadows the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist. This phrase also connects to the broader theme of Jesus as the Bread of Life, a fulfillment of Old Testament manna (Exodus 16), and points to the sacrificial nature of His mission. The question anticipates the deeper theological implications of Jesus' sacrifice and the spiritual nourishment He offers, as later expounded in <a href="/john/6-53.htm">John 6:53-58</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_jews.htm">The Jews</a> This term refers to the Jewish people present during Jesus' teaching. They were often skeptical and questioned Jesus' teachings, especially when they seemed to contradict traditional Jewish understanding. 2. <a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a> The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching about being the Bread of Life, a metaphor that confounded many of His listeners. 3. <a href="/topical/c/capernaum.htm">Capernaum</a> This is the location where Jesus delivered the Bread of Life discourse. It was a significant place in Jesus' ministry, often serving as a base for His operations. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_bread_of_life_discourse.htm">The Bread of Life Discourse</a> This event is a critical teaching moment where Jesus explains the spiritual significance of His mission and identity, using the metaphor of bread. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_synagogue.htm">The Synagogue</a> The setting for this discourse, where Jewish teaching and discussion traditionally took place, adding to the tension of Jesus' radical statements.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_spiritual_truths.htm">Understanding Spiritual Truths</a> Jesus often used physical metaphors to convey spiritual truths. We must seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to understand these deeper meanings. <a href="/topical/t/the_bread_of_life.htm">The Bread of Life</a> Jesus as the Bread of Life signifies that He is essential for spiritual sustenance and eternal life, just as bread is essential for physical life. <a href="/topical/f/faith_beyond_understanding.htm">Faith Beyond Understanding</a> The Jews struggled with Jesus' teaching because it defied their understanding. Faith sometimes requires trusting in Jesus' words even when they challenge our logic. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_communion.htm">The Importance of Communion</a> This passage foreshadows the institution of the Lord's Supper, reminding us of the importance of regularly partaking in communion as a means of grace and remembrance. <a href="/topical/u/unity_in_christ.htm">Unity in Christ</a> The argument among the Jews highlights the division that can occur when focusing on literal interpretations. Unity in Christ requires focusing on His spiritual message.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_6.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 6</a> <a href="/q/how_did_jesus_'learn_obedience'.htm">How can an omniscient Son of God 'learn obedience' (Hebrews 5:8) if he is already fully divine and perfect?</a> <a href="/q/why_did_divine_jesus_say_'i_thirst'.htm">How could Jesus, who is presented as divine, express physical weakness by saying 'I thirst' in John 19:28?</a> <a href="/q/how_did_jesus_know_her_life_details.htm">How can we reconcile Jesus knowing specific details about the woman's life (John 4:17-18) with naturalistic explanations?</a> <a href="/q/did_herod_want_john_the_baptist_dead.htm">Did Herod want to kill John the Baptist? Yes (Matthew 14:5) No. It was Herodias, the wife of Herod who wanted to kill him. But Herod knew that he was a righteous man and kept him safe (Mark 6:20)</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(52) The Jews therefore strove among themselves.--They have passed beyond the murmuring of <a href="/john/6-41.htm" title="The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.">John 6:41</a>. They understand that He means, though His own words have not yet expressed it, that His flesh is to be eaten, and is thus to supply the principle of life. They contend one with another as to how this can really be.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 52-59. - (d) The conflict among the Jews leads Christ to insist further on separate participation of his flesh and blood as the condition of life. Verse 52. - The Jews therefore strove one with another (ἐμάχοντο represents more vigorous demonstration of their difficulties than the ἐγόγγυζον of ver. 41). They were not unanimous in their judgment. Some said one thing, and others said another. The "Jews" had not yet come to a unanimous opinion that this wonderful Being was talking sheer heresy or incomprehensible mystery. They knew his habit of metaphoric speech, and that underneath common imagery he was in the habit of conveying doctrines the full purport of which was not at once apparent. Some denounced him as uttering an intolerable riddle. Some saw, in a measure, through it, and hated the doctrine that was thereby conveyed. How could he be so essential to the life of the world? and how, said the pure materialist, "how can he give us his flesh to eat?" A question of great interest arises. He has already identified, in ver. 35, "coming to him," "reaching him" under the drawing of the Father, with the transcendent blessing of life eternal, of victory, over death, and resurrection. In ver. 40 "beholding" and "believing" are cognate or equivalent conditions of life and resurrection. In ver. 47, again, "believing," per se, is the essential and all-comprehensive condition. Now, has Christ added, in this verse, anything fresh to the fundamental ideas? Let it be pondered that he has already equated "believing" with eating a bread that endureth to everlasting life (vers. 27-29). He has declared himself to be the "Bread of life," and to be appropriated by "coming" and "believing." He has spoken of himself as "living Bread," which, coming for the life of the world from heaven itself, is offered as food. Now, what more than this has he said when he declared that he will offer his "flesh" as heavenly food? The Jews undoubtedly show, by their mutual contest, that he had put some part of the previous oracle in a still more enigmatical, if not offensive, form. So far the imagery was not altogether beyond them. Here it takes on a form which excites angry controversy. If they understood him to mean "doctrine," "truth," "cause," even "office," as Head of a spiritual school - as one providing by his gracious will ample nutriment for all who would eat of the rich banquet of his words - they would, to some extent, follow him. The eating of the tree of life was a well known figure in Hebrew Scripture (<a href="/proverbs/4-17.htm">Proverbs 4:17</a>; <a href="/proverbs/9-5.htm">Proverbs 9:5</a>); cf. the language of Isaiah (<a href="/isaiah/55-2.htm">Isaiah 55:2</a>), the action of Ezekiel (<a href="/ezekiel/3-1.htm">Ezekiel 3:1-3</a>), and the imagery of Hosea (<a href="/hosea/10-13.htm">Hosea 10:13</a>). In the "Midrash on <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-24.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:24</a>; <a href="/ecclesiastes/3-12.htm">Ecclesiastes 3:12</a>; <a href="/ecclesiastes/8-15.htm">Ecclesiastes 8:15</a>," "eating and drinking" is said always to refer to the Law (Edersheim and Wunsche). But when he spoke of giving his "flesh" for the life of the world, he passed beyond the limits of their interpreting power. They did not see through his imagery; nor did Jesus exactly answer the angry query which they were putting one to another. <a href="/commentaries/john/6-52.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>At this, οὖν (oun) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3767.htm">Strong's 3767: </a> Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly. the οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Jews Ἰουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2453.htm">Strong's 2453: </a> Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah. began to argue Ἐμάχοντο (Emachonto) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3164.htm">Strong's 3164: </a> To engage in battle, fight; hence: To strive, contend, dispute. among πρὸς (pros) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_4314.htm">Strong's 4314: </a> To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward. themselves, ἀλλήλους (allēlous) Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_240.htm">Strong's 240: </a> One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another. “How Πῶς (Pōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_4459.htm">Strong's 4459: </a> Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much! can δύναται (dynatai) Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1410.htm">Strong's 1410: </a> (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible. this [man] οὗτος (houtos) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> This; he, she, it. give δοῦναι (dounai) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active <a href="/greek/strongs_1325.htm">Strong's 1325: </a> To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give. us ἡμῖν (hēmin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. His αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. flesh σάρκα (sarka) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4561.htm">Strong's 4561: </a> Flesh, body, human nature, materiality; kindred. to eat?” φαγεῖν (phagein) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active <a href="/greek/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> A primary verb; to eat. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/6-52.htm">John 6:52 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/6-52.htm">John 6:52 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/6-52.htm">John 6:52 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/6-52.htm">John 6:52 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/6-52.htm">John 6:52 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/6-52.htm">John 6:52 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/6-52.htm">John 6:52 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/6-52.htm">John 6:52 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/6-52.htm">John 6:52 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/6-52.htm">John 6:52 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/6-52.htm">NT Gospels: John 6:52 The Jews therefore contended with one another (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/6-51.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 6:51"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 6:51" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/6-53.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 6:53"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 6:53" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>