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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 6:42 They were asking, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, 'I have come down from heaven?'"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/6-42.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/43_Jhn_06_42.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 6:42 - Jesus the Bread of Life" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="They were asking, Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, 'I have come down from heaven?'" /><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/6-42.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/6-42.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 42</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="/ad2.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/6-41.htm" title="John 6:41">◄</a> John 6:42 <a href="/john/6-43.htm" title="John 6:43">►</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> They said, &#8220Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, &#8216I came down from heaven&#8217?&#8221 <a href="/nlt/john/6.htm">New Living Translation</a> They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” <a href="/esv/john/6.htm">English Standard Version</a> They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” <a href="/bsb/john/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’” <a href="/blb/john/6.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And they were saying, "Is this not Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does He say, 'I have come down from heaven?'" <a href="/kjv/john/6.htm">King James Bible</a> And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? <a href="/nkjv/john/6.htm">New King James Version</a> And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” <a href="/nasb_/john/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And they were saying, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” <a href="/nasb/john/6.htm">NASB 1995</a> They were saying, &#8220Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, &#8216I have come down out of heaven &#8216?&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/john/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And they were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” <a href="/lsb/john/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” <a href="/amp/john/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a> They kept saying, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now [have the arrogance to] say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” <a href="/csb/john/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> They were saying, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’? ” <a href="/hcsb/john/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> They were saying, &#8220Isn&#8217t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, I have come down from heaven?&#8221 <a href="/asv/john/6.htm">American Standard Version</a> And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come down out of heaven? <a href="/cev/john/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> They were asking each other, "Isn't he Jesus, the son of Joseph? Don't we know his father and mother? How can he say that he has come down from heaven?" <a href="/erv/john/6.htm">English Revised Version</a> And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come down out of heaven? <a href="/gwt/john/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> They asked, "Isn't this man Jesus, Joseph's son? Don't we know his father and mother? How can he say now, 'I came from heaven'?" <a href="/gnt/john/6.htm">Good News Translation</a> So they said, "This man is Jesus son of Joseph, isn't he? We know his father and mother. How, then, does he now say he came down from heaven?" <a href="/isv/john/6.htm">International Standard Version</a> They kept saying, "This is Jesus, the son of Joseph, isn't it, whose father and mother we know? So how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" <a href="/msb/john/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> They were asking, ?Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ?I have come down from heaven??? <a href="/net/john/6.htm">NET Bible</a> and they said, "Isn't this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" <a href="/nheb/john/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he say, 'I have come down out of heaven?'" <a href="/wbt/john/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And they said, Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? <a href="/wey/john/6.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> They kept asking, "Is not this man Joseph's son? Is he not Jesus, whose father and mother we know? What does he mean by now saying, 'I have come down out of Heaven'?" <a href="/web/john/6.htm">World English Bible</a> They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he say, ‘I have come down out of heaven?’” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the Son of Joseph, whose father and mother we have known? How then does this One say, I have come down out of Heaven?” <a href="/blb/john/6.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And they were saying, "Is this not Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does He say, 'I have come down from heaven?'" <a href="/ylt/john/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and they said, 'Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we have known? how then saith this one -- Out of the heaven I have come down?' <a href="/slt/john/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And they said, Is not this Jesus, Joseph's son, whose father and mother we know? how then says he, That I have come down from heaven?<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And they said: Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then saith he, I came down from heaven? <a href="/cpdv/john/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And they said: “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? Then how can he say: ‘For I descended from heaven?’ ” <a href="/nabre/john/6.htm">New American Bible</a> and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” <a href="/nrsvce/john/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And they said, Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how can he say, I have come down from heaven? <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/6.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And they were saying, “Is not this Yoseph's son, whose father and mother we know? How does this man say, 'I have come down from Heaven?' “<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/6.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And they said: Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How, then, does he say, I came down from heaven? <a href="/godbey/john/6.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> and they continued to say, Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how does He now say; <FR>I have come down from heaven?<Fr> <a href="/haweis/john/6.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how then saith this man, That I came down from heaven? <a href="/mace/john/6.htm">Mace New Testament</a> is not this, said they, Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how comes he then to say, I came down from heaven? <a href="/wey/john/6.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> They kept asking, "Is not this man Joseph's son? Is he not Jesus, whose father and mother we know? What does he mean by now saying, 'I have come down out of Heaven'?" <a href="/worrell/john/6.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the Son of Joseph, Whose father and mother we know? How doth He now say, <FR>'I have come down out of Heaven'?<Fr> <a href="/worsley/john/6.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And they said to one another, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we knew? How then does He say, <FR>I came down from heaven?<Fr> <a href="/parallel/john/6-42.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=2050" 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> …41At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: elegon (V-IIA-3P) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">They were asking,</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">“Is</a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: houtos (DPro-NMS) -- This; he, she, it. ">this</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: Ouch (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.">not</a> <a href="/greek/2424.htm" title="2424: Iēsous (N-NMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.">Jesus,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- 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/5207.htm" title="5207: huios (N-NMS) -- A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a son, used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.">son</a> <a href="/greek/2501.htm" title="2501: Iōsēph (N-GMS) -- Joseph, a proper name. Of Hebrew origin; Joseph, the name of seven Israelites.">of Joseph,</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: hou (RelPro-GMS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">whose</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3962.htm" title="3962: patera (N-AMS) -- Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a father.">father</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</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/3384.htm" title="3384: mētera (N-AFS) -- A mother. Apparently a primary word; a mother.">mother</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmeis (PPro-N1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">we</a> <a href="/greek/1492.htm" title="1492: oidamen (V-RIA-1P) -- To know, remember, appreciate. ">know?</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/3568.htm" title="3568: nyn (Adv) -- A primary particle of present time; now; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.">then</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legei (V-PIA-3S) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">can He say,</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because."></a> <a href="/greek/2597.htm" title="2597: katabebēka (V-RIA-1S) -- To go down, come down, either from the sky or from higher land, descend. From kata and the base of basis; to descend.">‘I have come down</a> <a href="/greek/1537.htm" title="1537: Ek (Prep) -- From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.">from</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3772.htm" title="3772: ouranou (N-GMS) -- Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.">heaven?’”</a> 43“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied.…<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/13-55.htm">Matthew 13:55-56</a> “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? / Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?” <a href="/luke/4-22.htm">Luke 4:22</a> All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked. <a href="/mark/6-3.htm">Mark 6:3</a> Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him. <a href="/john/7-27.htm">John 7:27-28</a> But we know where this man is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from.” / Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “You know Me, and you know where I am from. I have not come of My own accord, but He who sent Me is true. You do not know Him, <a href="/john/1-45.htm">John 1:45-46</a> Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” / “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. <a href="/john/8-19.htm">John 8:19</a> “Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.” <a href="/john/8-41.htm">John 8:41-42</a> You are doing the works of your father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.” / Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me. <a href="/john/9-29.htm">John 9:29-30</a> We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man is from.” / “That is remarkable indeed!” the man said. “You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. <a href="/john/10-33.htm">John 10:33</a> “We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, make Yourself out to be God.” <a href="/john/19-5.htm">John 19:5</a> When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” <a href="/isaiah/53-2.htm">Isaiah 53:2-3</a> He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. / He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. <a href="/psalms/69-8.htm">Psalm 69:8</a> I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons, <a href="/micah/5-2.htm">Micah 5:2</a> But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. <a href="/isaiah/11-1.htm">Isaiah 11:1</a> Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. <a href="/jeremiah/23-5.htm">Jeremiah 23:5</a> Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he said, I came down from heaven?Is not.<a href="/john/7-27.htm">John 7:27</a> Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.<a href="/matthew/13-55.htm">Matthew 13:55,56</a> Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? … <a href="/mark/6-3.htm">Mark 6:3</a> Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/6-41.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/john/6-41.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/4-5.htm">Joseph</a> <a href="/luke/4-23.htm">Joseph's</a> <a href="/john/5-38.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/john/4-31.htm">Mean</a> <a href="/john/3-4.htm">Mother</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/6-50.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/john/6-43.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/19-38.htm">Joseph</a> <a href="/acts/7-13.htm">Joseph's</a> <a href="/john/7-9.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/john/7-36.htm">Mean</a> <a href="/john/9-2.htm">Mother</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>They were asking, This phrase indicates a collective questioning among the people, likely the Jewish leaders or the crowd following Jesus. It reflects a common theme in the Gospels where Jesus' identity and authority are frequently questioned. This skepticism is rooted in a misunderstanding of Jesus' divine nature and mission.“Is this not Jesus, The name "Jesus" was common in first-century Judea, derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning "Yahweh is salvation." The familiarity of His name underscores the ordinariness of His human appearance, which contrasts with His divine nature.the son of Joseph, Joseph, a carpenter from Nazareth, was Jesus' legal father, though not His biological one. This reference highlights the people's perception of Jesus as merely a human being with a known earthly lineage, ignoring the miraculous nature of His birth as described in <a href="/matthew/1-18.htm">Matthew 1:18-25</a> and <a href="/luke/1-26.htm">Luke 1:26-38</a>.whose father and mother we know? This statement reflects the community's familiarity with Jesus' family, emphasizing their inability to see beyond His human origins. It also points to the cultural importance of family lineage and reputation in Jewish society, which often determined one's social standing and credibility.How then can He say, The question reveals the crowd's struggle to reconcile Jesus' claims with their understanding of His background. It highlights a recurring theme in the Gospels: the tension between human perception and divine revelation.‘I have come down from heaven?’” This claim of heavenly origin is central to Jesus' identity as the Son of God. It echoes Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's divine nature, such as <a href="/isaiah/9-6.htm">Isaiah 9:6</a> and <a href="/micah/5-2.htm">Micah 5:2</a>. The statement also prefigures Jesus' later teachings about His pre-existence and mission, as seen in <a href="/john/8-58.htm">John 8:58</a> and <a href="/john/17-5.htm">John 17:5</a>. The crowd's inability to accept this claim underscores the spiritual blindness that Jesus often encountered.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a> Central figure in the passage, claiming divine origin, which challenges the understanding of His earthly identity. 2. <a href="/topical/j/joseph.htm">Joseph</a> Earthly father of Jesus, known to the people questioning Jesus' claim. 3. <a href="/topical/m/mary.htm">Mary</a> Earthly mother of Jesus, also known to the people. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_crowd.htm">The Crowd</a> The group of people questioning Jesus' claim of heavenly origin, representing skepticism and misunderstanding. 5. <a href="/topical/c/capernaum.htm">Capernaum</a> The setting of this discourse, a place where Jesus performed many miracles and taught extensively.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_jesus'_dual_nature.htm">Understanding Jesus' Dual Nature</a> Jesus is both fully God and fully man. His claim of coming down from heaven speaks to His divine nature, while His known family roots affirm His humanity. <a href="/topical/t/the_challenge_of_familiarity.htm">The Challenge of Familiarity</a> Familiarity can breed contempt or skepticism. The crowd's knowledge of Jesus' earthly family blinded them to His divine mission. We must guard against letting our preconceived notions limit our understanding of God's work. <a href="/topical/f/faith_beyond_sight.htm">Faith Beyond Sight</a> True faith requires seeing beyond the physical and familiar. The crowd struggled to accept Jesus' divine claims because they relied solely on their physical understanding. <a href="/topical/p/prophetic_fulfillment.htm">Prophetic Fulfillment</a> Jesus' life and claims fulfill Old Testament prophecies. Recognizing this helps us see the continuity of God's redemptive plan. <a href="/topical/r/responding_to_skepticism.htm">Responding to Skepticism</a> When faced with skepticism about our faith, we can look to Jesus' example of patience and truth-telling, trusting God to reveal His truth in His time.<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/heaven_entry_requirement.htm">What is the requirement to go to heaven?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_'i_am_the_bread_of_life'_mean.htm">What did Jesus mean by 'I am the Bread of Life'?</a> <a href="/q/key_teachings_events_in_matthew.htm">What are the key teachings and events in Matthew?</a> <a href="/q/what_supports_jesus's_resurrection.htm">What evidence supports Jesus Christ's resurrection?</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>(42) Is not this Jesus?--Here is something definite. He has spoken of being the Bread of Life, and of the Bread from Heaven. Putting together <a href="/john/6-33.htm" title="For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.">John 6:33</a>; <a href="/john/6-35.htm" title="And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.">John 6:35</a>; <a href="/john/6-38.htm" title="For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.">John 6:38</a>, they in effect quote His words. But His natural descent and birth was in its outer facts well known, though all its mysteries were still stored in the mother's heart, and waiting for the human life's completion before they should be revealed. "Jesus Bar-Joseph" would be the name by which He was commonly called; Joseph and Mary had been known, probably, to many in the crowd; attention had now for more than a year been fixed on Him; and the genealogies would have been searched and local inquiries made. All these indications point to an ordinary life in a Galilean village. It is human, and therefore they think it cannot be divine. They can conceive a coming in the clouds of heaven: that would be a miracle and tell of God; but the birth of a child is no miracle! the existence of life itself--and such an existence, and such a life--is no sign! All this they cannot read. "How does He then say, I am come down from heaven?" (Comp. <a href="/john/6-38.htm" title="For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.">John 6:38</a> and Note on <a href="/john/7-27.htm" title="However, we know this man from where he is: but when Christ comes, no man knows from where he is.">John 7:27</a>.)<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 42. - They were saying (ἔλεγον) - the one to the other, murmuring in critical and angry mood, and not necessarily in his hearing; for he did not reply to their express assertion, and proceeded rather to enlarge and reiterate the great theme which he had already deduced in the hearing of his disciples. Weiss (vol. 3:6) thinks that John has here introduced an amplification which belongs to a totally different connection. Is not this Jesus, the Son of Joseph - (cf. <a href="/john/1-46.htm">John 1:46</a>; <a href="/luke/4-22.htm">Luke 4:22</a>). We cannot argue from this passage whether Joseph was living still or had died. The murmuring is explicable on either hypothesis. The traditionary impression is that "Joseph" had fallen asleep. Either hypothesis is compatible with the language - whose father and mother we know? They may have merely meant "whose reputed parentage is well understood," without implying that either one or other no longer lived. The fact of his parentage was admitted. This is an apparent point blank contradiction to the descent of his humanity from heaven. The supposition of the truth of the immaculate and supernatural birth of Jesus is perfectly compatible with the ignorance of the "Jews" about it. This deep mystery of love could not be made matter of public discourse, nor do our narratives suggest that the fact itself was promulgated until after the Resurrection. Whatever was apprehended by the sacred society of the hill country of Judaea, or laid up in the breasts of Joseph and Mary and of the few who pondered these strange things in their holy circle at Nazareth, we know not. The synoptic narratives, though they assert the mystery, do not give the smallest indication that it was ever referred to. or made an article of faith, by Jesus himself The difficulty that besets this passage is rather the silence of John, both here and elsewhere, concerning the manner of the Lord's birth. He, who knew the mother of Jesus, and must have been acquainted with the language of Matthew and Luke, says nothing in vindication of the words of the Lord. Here was an opportunity for putting the "Jews" in the wrong, by endorsing the synoptic account which he did not embrace. We have already seen (cf. notes, <a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a>; <a href="/john/3-1.htm">John 3:1-6</a>) that the underlying presupposition of the miraculous birth is the best explanation of his own words. Still his silence is remarkable. It is best accounted for by the fact that he was evermore looking to the moral, spiritual significance of all the miracles he records, as well as of those to which he vaguely refers. He is content with the words of Jesus. They are the surest explanation of the synoptic narrative. The Jews, on the basis of their general knowledge, are struck with consternation. How (now) therefore doth he say, I have come down out of heaven? This was not an irrational nor a malignant criticism. This question must have been asked by those who heard for the first time the stupendous claim. It would not seem that these interrogations were put in the heating of our Lord. His "answer" goes back to the "question" as it shaped itself in the hearts of the disciples, and involves some of the deepest truths which he had previously communicated to Nicodemus. He demands and must have a new humanity, a regenerated audience, subjects for his kingdom who are born anew or from above. He who came down from heaven insists that his true disciples must become what he is - heaven born, must have a life out of heaven. They must be "of God," they must "hear" and "learn of the Father," must be drawn by Divine hands, if they would or should come to him. No lip-homage, no fickle desire for the Messianic kingdom, would satisfy him. <a href="/commentaries/john/6-42.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>They were asking, ἔλεγον (elegon) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. “Is ἐστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. this οὗτός (houtos) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> This; he, she, it. not Οὐχ (Ouch) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3756.htm">Strong's 3756: </a> No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. Jesus, Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2424.htm">Strong's 2424: </a> Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites. the ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <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. son υἱὸς (huios) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5207.htm">Strong's 5207: </a> A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship. of Joseph, Ἰωσήφ (Iōsēph) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2501.htm">Strong's 2501: </a> Joseph, a proper name. Of Hebrew origin; Joseph, the name of seven Israelites. whose οὗ (hou) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> Who, which, what, that. father πατέρα (patera) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3962.htm">Strong's 3962: </a> Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. mother μητέρα (mētera) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3384.htm">Strong's 3384: </a> A mother. Apparently a primary word; a 'mother'. we ἡμεῖς (hēmeis) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 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. know? οἴδαμεν (oidamen) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1492.htm">Strong's 1492: </a> To know, remember, appreciate. 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! then νῦν (nyn) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3568.htm">Strong's 3568: </a> A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate. can He say, λέγει (legei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ‘I have come down καταβέβηκα (katabebēka) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2597.htm">Strong's 2597: </a> To go down, come down, either from the sky or from higher land, descend. From kata and the base of basis; to descend. from Ἐκ (Ek) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1537.htm">Strong's 1537: </a> From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. heaven?’” οὐρανοῦ (ouranou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3772.htm">Strong's 3772: </a> Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/6-42.htm">John 6:42 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/6-42.htm">John 6:42 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/6-42.htm">John 6:42 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/6-42.htm">John 6:42 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/6-42.htm">John 6:42 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/6-42.htm">John 6:42 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/6-42.htm">John 6:42 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/6-42.htm">John 6:42 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/6-42.htm">John 6:42 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/6-42.htm">John 6:42 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/6-42.htm">NT Gospels: John 6:42 They said Isn't this Jesus the son (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/6-41.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 6:41"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 6:41" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/6-43.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 6:43"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 6:43" /></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>