# John 6.38

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 36. <span class="rl-speech">But I said unto you, that ye have seen me, and yet believe not.</span> 37. <span class="rl-speech">All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.</span>
>
> **38. <span class="rl-speech">For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.</span>**
>
> 39. <span class="rl-speech">And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.</span> 40. <span class="rl-speech">For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.</span> (John 6:36-40, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 36. <span class="rl-speech">But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don’t believe.</span> 37. <span class="rl-speech">All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.</span>
>
> **38. <span class="rl-speech">For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.</span>**
>
> 39. <span class="rl-speech">This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day.</span> 40. <span class="rl-speech">This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”</span> (John 6:36-40, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 36. <span class="rl-speech">But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.</span> 37. <span class="rl-speech">All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.</span>
>
> **38. <span class="rl-speech">For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.</span>**
>
> 39. <span class="rl-speech">And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.</span> 40. <span class="rl-speech">And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.</span> (John 6:36-40, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 36. <span class="rl-speech">but I said to you, that ye also have seen me, and ye believe not;</span> 37. <span class="rl-speech">all that the Father doth give to me will come unto me; and him who is coming unto me, I may in no wise cast without,</span>
>
> **38. <span class="rl-speech">because I have come down out of the heaven, not that I may do my will, but the will of Him who sent me.</span>**
>
> 39. <span class="rl-speech">'And this is the will of the Father who sent me, that all that He hath given to me I may not lose of it, but may raise it up in the last day;</span> 40. <span class="rl-speech">and this is the will of Him who sent me, that every one who is beholding the Son, and is believing in him, may have life age-during, and I will raise him up in the last day.'</span> (John 6:36-40, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

_No Strong's-tagged lexicon matches found in this passage. (Lexicon coverage is curated, ~159 of the most apologetically-loaded Greek/Hebrew terms.)_

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Jesus is Not a Human Sacrifice (Defeater)](/codex/jesus-is-not-a-human-sacrifice-defeater/)
- [No One Can Die For Another Objection Defeater](/codex/no-one-can-die-for-another-objection-defeater/)

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 6.26-65](/codex/john-6-26-65/)
- [Redemption](/codex/g0629-apolytrosis/)
- [Theandric Activities](/codex/theandric-activities/)

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