The Meaning of John 6:57 Explained

John 6:57

KJV: As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

YLT: 'According as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, he also who is eating me, even that one shall live because of me;

Darby: As the living Father has sent me and I live on account of the Father, he also who eats me shall live also on account of me.

ASV: As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

As  the living  Father  hath sent  me,  and I  live  by  the Father:  so  he that eateth  me,  even he  shall live  by  me. 

What does John 6:57 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus traced the eternal life that the believer receives when he or she trusts in Jesus back through the Son to the living God (cf. John 5:21; John 5:24-27). This helps us see that eternal life is essentially God"s life that He imparts to believers. It also clarifies Jesus" central role as the mediator of eternal life from the Father to humankind.

Context Summary

John 6:52-59 - Eat And Live
In John 6:57 our Lord gives the secret of His inner life. At the beginning of His ministry He told the tempter that man did not live by bread alone, but by God's Word. Here He goes further and says that He lived not only by the words of God, but by God Himself. There is also this other truth, that each of us is called to exercise toward Christ the same attitude and dependence that He exercised toward the Father. It is impossible by one illustration to set forth the eternal facts of the spiritual world. Metaphor has to be heaped on metaphor. Already our Lord had dealt with the symbol of manna and bread; He now goes further in order to emphasize the truth that the power to communicate life can only be acquired through death. Our Lord, therefore, describes the bread of the soul-life as His flesh, which he would give for the life of the world. Obviously flesh is that which has passed through death. But it should always be borne in mind that the Christian soul does not dwell exclusively on the death of Jesus, but on the life of Him who died. It is the risen and ascended Christ, who died for our sins but whom God exalted to His right hand, that should fill our thoughts. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 6

1  Jesus feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes
15  Thereupon the people would have made him king;
16  but withdrawing himself, he walks on the sea to his disciples;
26  reproves the people flocking after him, and all the fleshly hearers of his word;
32  declares himself to be the bread of life to believers
66  Many disciples depart from him
68  Peter confesses him
70  Judas is a devil

Greek Commentary for John 6:57

The living Father [ο ζων πατηρ]
Nowhere else in the N.T., but see John 5:26 and “the living God” (Matthew 16:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16). The Father is the source of life and so “I live because of the Father” He that eateth me Still bolder putting of the mystical appropriation of Christ (John 6:51, John 6:53, John 6:54, John 6:56). Because of me The same idea appears in John 14:19: “Because I live ye shall live also.” See John 11:25. Jesus Christ is our ground of hope and guarantee of immortality. Life is in Christ. There is no real difficulty in this use of δια — dia with the accusative as with δια τον πατερα — dia ton patera just before. It occurs also in John 15:3. As the Father is the fount of life to Christ, so Christ is the fount of life to us. See 1 John 4:9 where δια — dia is used with the genitive (δι αυτου — di' autou) as the intermediate agent, not the ground or reason as here. [source]
The living Father [ὁ ζῶν πατὴρ]
A phrase found nowhere else in the New Testament. On living and live, see John 1:4. [source]
By the Father [διὰ τὸν πατέρα]
Wrong. Render, because of, as Rev. Because the Father is the living One. So, because of me, instead of by me. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 6:57

John 13:18 That the scripture might be fulfilled [Τατ τε σχριπτυρε μιγτ βε φυλφιλλεδ]
See the same clause in John 17:12. Purpose clause with αλλ ινα η γραπη πληρωτηι — hina and first aorist passive subjunctive of ινα — plēroō This treachery of Judas was according to the eternal counsels of God (John 12:4), but none the less Judas is responsible for his guilt. For a like elliptical clause see John 9:3; John 15:25. The quotation is from the Hebrew of Psalm 41:9. He that eateth Present active participle of old verb to gnaw, to chew, to eat, in N.T. only in John (John 6:54, John 6:56, John 6:57, John 6:58; John 13:18) and Matthew 26:38. lxx has here ο τρωγων — ho esthiōn Lifted up his heel against me First aorist active indicative of επηρεν επ εμε την πτερναν αυτου — epairō επαιρω — Pterna old word for heel, only here in N.T. The metaphor is that of kicking with the heel or tripping with the heel like a wrestler. It was a gross breach of hospitality to eat bread with any one and then turn against him so. The Arabs hold to it yet. [source]
John 13:18 He that eateth [πληροω]
Present active participle of old verb to gnaw, to chew, to eat, in N.T. only in John (John 6:54, John 6:56, John 6:57, John 6:58; John 13:18) and Matthew 26:38. lxx has here ο τρωγων — ho esthiōn Lifted up his heel against me First aorist active indicative of επηρεν επ εμε την πτερναν αυτου — epairō επαιρω — Pterna old word for heel, only here in N.T. The metaphor is that of kicking with the heel or tripping with the heel like a wrestler. It was a gross breach of hospitality to eat bread with any one and then turn against him so. The Arabs hold to it yet. [source]
John 14:19 But ye behold me [υμεις δε τεωρειτε με]
Emphatic position of υμεις — humeis (ye) in contrast to the blind, unseeing world. Cf. John 13:33; John 16:10, John 16:16. Because I live, ye shall live also This is our blessed guarantee of immortal, eternal life, the continued living of Jesus. He is the surety of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22), the Risen Christ Jesus. He had said it before (John 6:57). [source]
John 20:21 Even so send I you [καγω πεμπω υμας]
Jesus has often spoken of the Father‘s sending him using both αποστελλω — apostellō and πεμπω — pempō Here he employs both words in practically the same sense. Jesus still bears the Commission of the Father (perfect active indicative). For this balanced contention (as … so) see John 6:57; John 10:15. This is the first of the three commissions given by the Risen Christ (another on the mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; 1 Corinthians 15:6), another on the Mount of Olives (Luke 24:44-51; Acts 1:3-11). [source]
John 6:54 He that eateth [ο τρωγων]
Present active participle for continual or habitual eating like πιστευετε — pisteuete in John 6:29. The verb τρωγω — trōgō is an old one for eating fruit or vegetables and the feeding of animals. In the N.T. it occurs only in John 6:54, John 6:56, John 6:58; John 13:18; Matthew 24:38. Elsewhere in the Gospels always εστιω — esthiō or επαγον — ephagon (defective verb with εστιω — esthiō). No distinction is made here between επαγον — ephagon (John 6:48, John 6:50, John 6:52, John 6:53, John 6:58) and τρωγω — trōgō (John 6:54, John 6:56, John 6:57, John 6:58). Some men understand Jesus here to be speaking of the Lord‘s Supper by prophetic forecast or rather they think that John has put into the mouth of Jesus the sacramental conception of Christianity by making participation in the bread and wine the means of securing eternal life. To me that is a violent misinterpretation of the Gospel and an utter misrepresentation of Christ. It is a grossly literal interpretation of the mystical symbolism of the language of Jesus which these Jews also misunderstood. Christ uses bold imagery to picture spiritual appropriation of himself who is to give his life-blood for the life of the world (John 6:51). It would have been hopeless confusion for these Jews if Jesus had used the symbolism of the Lord‘s Supper. It would be real dishonesty for John to use this discourse as a propaganda for sacramentalism. The language of Jesus can only have a spiritual meaning as he unfolds himself as the true manna. [source]
Hebrews 12:9 And live [καὶ ζήσομεν]
Have true life; not limited to the future life. Comp. John 5:26; John 6:57; 1 John 5:11; Revelation 11:11; Acts 16:28; Romans 6:11; Romans 14:8; 1 John 4:9, and see on living God, Hebrews 3:12. [source]
1 John 3:5 Was manifested []
See on John 21:1. Including Christ's whole life on earth and its consequences. The idea of manifestation here assumes the fact of a previous being. John various terms to describe the incarnation. He conceives it with reference to the Father, as a sending, a mission. Hence ὁ πέμψας με Hethat sent me (John 4:34; John 6:38; John 9:4; John 12:44, etc.): ὁ πέμψας με πατήρ theFather that sent me (John 5:37; John 8:18; John 12:49, etc.): with the verb ἀποστέλλω tosend as an envoy, with a commission; God sent ( ἀπέστειλεν ) His Son (John 3:17; John 10:36; 1 John 4:10; compare John 6:57; John 7:29; John 17:18). With reference to the Son, as a coming, regarded as a historic fact and as an abiding fact. As a historic event, He came ( ἧλθεν , John 1:11); this is He that came ( ὁ ἐλθὼν , 1 John 5:6). Came forth ( ἐξῆλθον ; John 8:42; John 16:27, John 16:28; John 17:8). As something abiding in its effects, am come, hath come, is come, marked by the perfect tense: Light is come ( ἐλήλυθεν , John 3:19). Jesus Christ is come ( ἐληλυθότα , 1 John 4:2). Compare John 5:43; John 12:46; John 18:37). In two instances with ἥκω Iam come, John 8:42; 1 John 5:20. Or with the present tense, as describing a coming realized at the moment: whence I come ( ἔρχομαι , John 8:14); compare John 14:3, John 14:18, John 14:28; also Jesus Christ coming ( ἐρχόμενον , 2 John 1:7). With reference to the form: in flesh ( σάρξ ). See John 1:14; 1 John 4:2; 2 John 1:7. With reference to men, Christ was manifested (1 John 1:2; 1 John 3:5, 1 John 3:8; John 1:31; John 21:1, John 21:14).|To take away ( ἵνα ἄρῃ )|See on John 1:29.|Our sins ( τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν )|Omit ἡυῶν ourCompare John 1:29, τὴν ἁμαρτίαν , the sin. The plural here regards all that is contained in the inclusive term the sin: all manifestations or realizations of sin.|In Him is no sin ( ἁμαρτία ἐν αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστιν )|Lit., in Him sin is not. He is essentially and forever without sin. Compare John 7:18.| [source]

What do the individual words in John 6:57 mean?

As sent Me the living Father and I live because of the Father also the [one] feeding on he also will live because of Me
καθὼς ἀπέστειλέν με ζῶν Πατὴρ κἀγὼ ζῶ διὰ τὸν Πατέρα καὶ τρώγων κἀκεῖνος ζήσει δι’ ἐμέ

ἀπέστειλέν  sent 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποστέλλω 
Sense: to order (one) to go to a place appointed.
με  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ζῶν  living 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
Πατὴρ  Father 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
κἀγὼ  and  I 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative 1st Person Singular
Root: κἀγώ  
Sense: and I.
ζῶ  live 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
διὰ  because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
Πατέρα  Father 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
  the  [one] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τρώγων  feeding  on 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τρώγω  
Sense: to gnaw, crunch, chew raw vegetables or fruits (as nuts, almonds).
κἀκεῖνος  he  also 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κἀκεῖνος  
Sense: and he, he also.
ζήσει  will  live 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
δι’  because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
ἐμέ  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.