The Meaning of John 6:26 Explained

John 6:26

KJV: Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

YLT: Jesus answered them and said, 'Verily, verily, I say to you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were satisfied;

Darby: Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say to you, Ye seek me not because ye have seen signs, but because ye have eaten of the loaves and been filled.

ASV: Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Jesus  answered  them  and  said,  Verily,  verily,  I say  unto you,  Ye seek  me,  not  because  ye saw  the miracles,  but  because  ye did eat  of  the loaves,  and  were filled. 

What does John 6:26 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus" introductory words identified another very important statement (cf. John 6:32; John 6:47; John 6:53). He did not answer their question ( John 6:25) and tell them that He had walked across the surface of the lake. He did not want them to follow Him primarily because He could do miracles. He understood that their interest in Him was mainly because of His ability to provide for them physically. They were not interested in Him because they identified Him as the God-man but because Jesus could fill their stomachs. Many people today are only interested in Jesus because of the benefits He may give them. Jesus proceeded to explain what the miracle they had witnessed signified.

Context Summary

John 6:22-29 - Insincere Seekers Of Truth
The mention in John 6:23 of Christ's giving thanks, recalls the vivid impression made by that solemn act, and the great importance which those who witnessed it attached to it. When the multitudes, disembarking on the other side of the Lake found Jesus there, though they knew that He had not accompanied His disciples in the one boat that left the farther shore on the previous night, His presence had the effect of an apparition. See John 6:25. Our Lord's answer to the question of the crowd deals with the motive that dictated it. He exposed the spurious and carnal impulses that actuated them, and contrasted the satisfaction of natural hunger, John 6:26, with that true and effectual seeking which leads to the nourishment of the spirit, John 6:27. What a difference between these people, with their gross aspirations and carnal desires, and the spiritual Israel, which could say with the psalmist, "My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God!" All the labor described in John 6:27 is to maintain a pure heart and exercise an appropriating faith. God sealed Christ by His declaration at the water of baptism and the miracles which were wrought through the Father's power, John 14:10. [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 6:26

Not because ye saw signs [ουχ οτι ειδετε σημεια]
Second aorist active indicative of the defective verb οραω — horaō They had seen the “signs” wrought by Jesus (John 6:2), but this one had led to wild fanaticism (John 6:14) and complete failure to grasp the spiritual lessons. But because ye ate of the loaves Second aorist active indicative of εστιω — esthiō defective verb. Ye were filled First aorist passive indicative of χορταζω — chortazō from χορτος — chortos (grass) as in John 6:10, to eat grass, then to eat anything, to satisfy hunger. They were more concerned with hungry stomachs than with hungry souls. It was a sharp and deserved rebuke. [source]
The miracles [σημεῖα]
Both the insertion of the definite article and the translation miracles in the A.V. tend to obscure the true sense of the passage. Jesus says: You do not seek me because you saw signs. What you saw in my works was only marvels. You did not see in them tokens of my divine power and mission. [source]
Were filled [ἐχορτάσθητε]
See on Matthew 5:6; see on Luke 15:16. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 6:26

John 6:12 And when they were filled [ως δε ενεπληστησαν]
First aorist (effective) passive indicative of εμπιμπλημι — empimplēmi old verb to fill in, to fill up, to fill completely. They were all satisfied. The Synoptics have εχορταστησαν — echortasthēsan like John 6:26 Gather up Second aorist active imperative of συναγω — sunagō to gather together. Broken pieces From κλαω — klaō to break. Not crumbs or scraps on the ground, but pieces broken by Jesus (Mark 6:41) and not consumed. Be lost Second aorist middle subjunctive of απολλυμι — apollumi with ινα — hina in purpose clause. Only in John. There was to be no wastefulness in Christ‘s munificence. The Jews had a custom of leaving something for those that served. [source]
John 6:24 When the multitude therefore saw [οτε ουν ειδεν ο οχλος]
Resumption and clarification of the complicated statements of John 6:22. That Jesus was not there Present indicative retained in indirect discourse. They still did not understand how Jesus had crossed over, but they acted on the basis of the plain fact. They themselves got into Second aorist active indicative of εμβαινω — embainō followed by εις — eis (both εν — en and εις — eis together as often in N.T.). Seeking Jesus Present active participle of ζητεω — zēteō They had a double motive apart from the curiosity explained in John 6:22. They had clearly not given up the impulse of the evening before to make Jesus king (John 6:15) and they had hopes of still another bountiful repast at the hands of Jesus as he said (John 6:26). [source]
John 6:30 For a sign [σημειον]
Predicate accusative, as a sign, with τι — ti (what). As if the sign of the day before was without value. Jesus had said that they did not understand his signs (John 6:26). That we may see, and believe thee Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the second aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive of οραω — horaō and the first aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive of πιστευω — pisteuō “that we may come to see and come to have faith in thee.” It is hard to have patience with this superficial and almost sneering mob. What workest thou? They not simply depreciate the miracle of the day before, but set up a standard for Jesus. [source]
John 6:36 That ye have seen me [οτι και εωρακατε με]
It is not certain that με — me is genuine. If not, Jesus may refer to John 6:26. If genuine, some other saying is referred to that we do not have. Note και — kai (also or even). And yet believe not Use of και — kai = and yet. [source]
Philippians 3:12 Not that [ουχ οτι]
To guard against a misunderstanding as in John 6:26; John 12:6; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Phlippians 4:11, Phlippians 4:17. [source]

What do the individual words in John 6:26 mean?

Answered them - Jesus and said Truly I say to you you seek Me not because you saw signs but you ate of the loaves were satisfied
Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ζητεῖτέ με οὐχ ὅτι εἴδετε σημεῖα ἀλλ’ ἐφάγετε ἐκ τῶν ἄρτων ἐχορτάσθητε

Ἀπεκρίθη  Answered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποκρίνομαι  
Sense: to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
εἶπεν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Ἀμὴν  Truly 
Parse: Hebrew Word
Root: ἀμήν  
Sense: firm.
λέγω  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ζητεῖτέ  you  seek 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ζητέω  
Sense: to seek in order to find.
με  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
εἴδετε  you  saw 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
σημεῖα  signs 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: σημεῖον  
Sense: a sign, mark, token.
ἐφάγετε  you  ate 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἐσθίω  
Sense: to eat.
ἄρτων  loaves 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἄρτος  
Sense: food composed of flour mixed with water and baked.
ἐχορτάσθητε  were  satisfied 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: χορτάζω  
Sense: to feed with herbs, grass, hay, to fill, satisfy with food, to fatten.