InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEUT JOB YEHO (JOS) HERO (JDG) RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG YOEL (JOEL) MIC ISA ZEP HAB YIR (JER) LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBAD DAN EZEK EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL 2 PS WIS TOB MAN BAR G DAN G ESD L ESD ESG JDT 3 MAC SIR 1 MAC 2 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL LAOD PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
InterlinearVerse Yhn C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21
Yhn 6 V1 V4 V7 V10 V13 V16 V19 V22 V25 V28 V31 V34 V37 V40 V43 V46 V49 V55 V58 V61 V64 V67 V70
◄ ← YHN (JHN) 6:52 ↓ → ► ║ ≡ ©
People tagged in the matching LV passage: Jesus Christ
Dictionary: Jesus
OET-LV Therefore the Youdaiōns were_quarrelling with one_another saying:
How is_ this one _able to_give to_us the flesh of_him to_eat?
OET (OET-RV) At this point, the religious leaders began to argue with each other, “How could this man give us his flesh to eat?”
In this section Jesus spoke in figurative language about how he himself is the source of eternal life. He called himself “the bread of life” and said that people must “eat” his flesh and “drink” his blood. These words caused a lot of argument.
This paragraph continues Jesus’ extended metaphor comparing himself to bread/food. The people did not understand what he meant by eating the bread/food. In Jesus’ response he talked about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Church groups understand the meaning of what Jesus said in different ways. Here are the two major interpretations:
Jesus used the words “eat” and “drink” figuratively. He meant that people must believe in the Son of Man and receive him personally so that they would have life. He is spiritual food and spiritual drink, giving spiritual life and strength to those who trust him.
Jesus was referring to communion and so the words “eat” and “drink” should be understood more literally. He meant that people must take communion to have spiritual life and strength.
Some of the disciples that heard Jesus understood his words literally. And today, church groups understand this passage in different ways. So it is recommended that you translate it more literally. Do not explain Jesus’ expressions in your translation.
At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves,
¶ Then the Jewish people argued intensely between themselves,
¶ Then the people who were listening quarreled very much with each other.
At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves: The word argue indicates that the people did not understand the metaphor of eating the bread. They began to argue with one another about what Jesus might mean.
Here are other ways to translate this clause:
Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. (NLT)
This started an angry argument among them. (GNT)
the Jews: As in 6:41a, the phrase the Jews probably refers to the people who opposed Jesus at that time. Translate this phrase in a way that indicates that it is the same group as in 6:41a.
“How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
some asking, “How can this person say that he will give us his flesh to eat?”
Some said, “He cannot give us his flesh/body to eat, can he? Of course not.”
How can this man give us His flesh to eat?: This is a rhetorical question. It makes this a strong statement that giving one’s own flesh to eat is impossible, something that people cannot even think about. Jesus did not mean that they should eat his body, but the people thought that he might have said that. And that possibility disturbed them.
Even though the question is rhetorical, it also implies a real question: “Whatever does he mean?” or “What can he be talking about?” There are several ways to translate this rhetorical question:
Use a rhetorical question. For example:
How can he give us his flesh to eat? (CEV)
Use a strong statement or exclamation. For example:
He cannot give us his flesh to eat!
Use two sentences, one making the implied question explicit. For example:
It is not possible for him to give us his flesh to eat. What is he talking about?
this man: The Greek word that the BSB translates as this man is more literally “this one.” The people were not speaking with respect. They were referring to Jesus in an insulting way. Use an expression that is natural in your language. For example:
this person
this one
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche
οὖν & οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐμάχοντο Οὖν πρός ἀλλήλους οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι λέγοντες Πῶς δύναται οὗτος ἡμῖν δοῦναι τήν σάρκα αὐτοῦ φαγεῖν)
Here, the Jews refers to the Jewish leaders. See how you translated this term in 1:19.
Note 2 topic: writing-quotations
ἐμάχοντο & πρὸς ἀλλήλους οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι λέγοντες
˓were˒_quarrelling & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐμάχοντο Οὖν πρός ἀλλήλους οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι λέγοντες Πῶς δύναται οὗτος ἡμῖν δοῦναι τήν σάρκα αὐτοῦ φαγεῖν)
Consider natural ways of introducing direct quotations in your language. Alternate translation: [then the Jews began to argue among themselves, and they said]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion
πῶς δύναται οὗτος ἡμῖν δοῦναι τὴν σάρκα φαγεῖν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐμάχοντο Οὖν πρός ἀλλήλους οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι λέγοντες Πῶς δύναται οὗτος ἡμῖν δοῦναι τήν σάρκα αὐτοῦ φαγεῖν)
The Jewish leaders are using the form of a question to emphasize that they are reacting negatively to what Jesus has said about his flesh. If this might be misunderstood in your language, you could translate these words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [There is no way that this one is able to give us his flesh to eat!]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
τὴν σάρκα
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐμάχοντο Οὖν πρός ἀλλήλους οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι λέγοντες Πῶς δύναται οὗτος ἡμῖν δοῦναι τήν σάρκα αὐτοῦ φαγεῖν)
John records the Jews using flesh to refer to Jesus’ whole physical body. If this might confuse your readers, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [his body]
OET-LV Therefore the Youdaiōns were_quarrelling with one_another saying:
How is_ this one _able to_give to_us the flesh of_him to_eat?
OET (OET-RV) At this point, the religious leaders began to argue with each other, “How could this man give us his flesh to eat?”
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.
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