John 6:60
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
John 6:60 in other translations
| BSB | On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?” |
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| WEB | Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?” |
| ASV | Many therefore of his disciples, when they heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it? |
| YLT | many, therefore, of his disciples having heard, said, ‘This word is hard; who is able to hear it?' |
| DARBY | Many therefore of his disciples having heard it said, This word is hard; who can hear it? |
| BBE | Then, hearing this, a number of his disciples said, This is a hard saying; who is able to take in such teaching? |
| Webster | Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it? |
What does John 6:60 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 6:60-65
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
This is an hard saying. The word hard here means offensive, disagreeable --that which they could not bear. Some have understood it to mean "difficult to be understood," but this meaning does not suit the connection. The doctrine which he delivered was opposed to their prejudices; it seemed to be absurd, and they therefore rejected it.
Saying. Rather doctrine or speech--Greek, logos. It does not refer to any particular part of the discourse, but includes the whole.
Who can hear it? That is, who can hear it patiently--who can stay and listen to such doctrine or believe it. The effect of this is stated in Jn 6:66. The doctrines which Jesus taught that were so offensive appear to have been,
1st. That he was superior to Moses.
2nd. That God would save all that he had chosen, and those only.
3rd. That he said he was the bread that came from heaven.
4th. That it was necessary to partake of that; or that it was necessary that an atonement should be made, and that they should be saved by that. These doctrines have always been among the most offensive that men have been called on to believe, and many, rather than trust in them, have chosen to draw back to perdition.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 6:60-65
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
John 6:60 in the original Greek
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for John 6:60
- John 6:66
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
- John 8:43
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
- John 8:31
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
- Matthew 11:6
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
- John 6:41-42
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
- 2 Peter 3:16
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
- Hebrews 5:11
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- John 6:59
These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
- John 6:60
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
- John 6:61
When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
John 6:60 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y muchos de sus discípulos oyéndo lo, dijeron: Dura es esta palabra: ¿quién la puede oir? |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Plusieurs donc de ses disciples, l’ayant entendu, dirent: Cette parole est dure; qui peut l’entendre? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Viele nun von seinen Jüngern, die es gehört hatten, sprachen: Diese Rede ist hart; wer kann sie hören? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Hæc dixit in synagoga docens, in Capharnaum. |