John 6:26 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus tells the crowd plainly: they seek him not because they perceived the signs, but because they ate their fill of the loaves.
What Does John 6:26 Mean?
With the double 'Verily, verily' that marks his weightiest sayings, Jesus answers the crowd's motive rather than their question. They saw the miracle but missed the sign — they came back for full stomachs, not for what the bread revealed about its giver.
It is a searching word for every generation: it is possible to pursue Jesus for his benefits and never for himself. The loaves were meant to be a window; the crowd made them a wall. Yet notice that he says this to their faces — honest diagnosis is itself mercy, the first step in retraining a hunger toward what can truly satisfy it.
John 6:26 in the Original Language
chortazo (χορτάζω), 'were filled' -- to eat one's fill, to be fed to satisfaction, a word first used of animals foddered on grass.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 6:26
What does John 6:26 mean?
Jesus tells the crowd plainly: they seek him not because they perceived the signs, but because they ate their fill of the loaves.