ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

John 6.63-64

Book: John · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"61. But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said unto them, Doth this cause you to stumble? 62. What then if ye should behold the Son of man ascending where he was before?"

"63. It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life. 64. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who it was that should betray him."

"65. And he said, For this cause have I said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of the Father. 66. Upon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." (John 6:61-66, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"61. But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62. Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?"

"63. It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life. 64. But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would betray him."

"65. He said, “For this cause I have said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father.” 66. At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." (John 6:61-66, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"61. When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? offend: or, scandalize, or, cause you to stumble 62. What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?"

"63. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him."

"65. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." (John 6:61-66, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"61. And Jesus having known in himself that his disciples are murmuring about this, said to them, 'Doth this stumble you? 62. if then ye may behold the Son of Man going up where he was before?"

"63. the spirit it is that is giving life; the flesh doth not profit anything; the sayings that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life; 64. but there are certain of you who do not believe;' for Jesus had known from the beginning who they are who are not believing, and who is he who will deliver him up,"

"65. and he said, 'Because of this I have said to you, No one is able to come unto me, if it may not have been given him from my Father.' 66. From this [time] many of his disciples went away backward, and were no more walking with him," (John 6:61-66, 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

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 (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • 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 for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.