John 6:31 Meaning and Explanation
“Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The crowd cites the manna: he gave them bread from heaven to eat.
What Does John 6:31 Mean?
The crowd quotes Scripture (Psalm 78:24; Exodus 16) to frame their challenge: our fathers ate manna in the desert, bread from heaven, every morning for forty years. One afternoon of barley loaves, they imply, hardly compares.
They handle the right text and miss its subject — a danger for every reader of Scripture. The manna was never an end in itself; it was a daily rehearsal of dependence, pointing past itself. Jesus will take their own quotation and open it: the giver is the Father, the tense is present, and the true bread is standing in front of them.
John 6:31 in the Original Language
man (מָן), 'manna' -- from the Hebrew question man hu, 'What is it?', Israel's puzzled name for the bread (Exodus 16:15).
Frequently Asked Questions About John 6:31
What does John 6:31 mean?
The crowd cites the manna: he gave them bread from heaven to eat.