John 6 · Verse 66

John 6:66

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
John 6:66, King James Version

John 6:66 in other translations

BSBFrom that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.
WEBAt this, many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.
ASVUpon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
YLTFrom this time many of his disciples went away backward, and were no more walking with him,
DARBYFrom that time many of his disciples went away back and walked no more with him.
BBEBecause of what he said, a number of the disciples went back and would no longer go with him.
WebsterFrom that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

What does John 6:66 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 6:66-71
66-71. From that time, &c.--or, in consequence of this. Those last words of our Lord seemed to have given them the finishing stroke--they could not stand it any longer. walked no more--Many a journey, it may be, they had taken with Him, but now they gave Him up finally!

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 66. Many of his disciples. Many who had followed him professedly as his disciples and as desirous of learning of him. Jn 6:60.

Went back. Turned away from him and left him. From this we may learn,

1st. Not to wonder at the apostasy of many who profess to be followers of Christ. Many are induced to become his professed followers by the prospect of some temporal benefit, or under some public excitement, as these were; and when that temporal benefit is not obtained, or that excitement is over, they fall away.

2nd. Many may be expected to be offended by the doctrines of the gospel. Having no spirituality of mind, and really understanding nothing of the gospel, they may be expected to take offence and turn back. The best way to understand the doctrines of the Bible is to be a sincere Christian, and aim to do the will of God, Jn 7:17.

3rd. We should examine ourselves. We should honestly inquire whether we have been led to make a profession of religion by the hope of any temporal advantage, by any selfish principle, or by mere excited animal feeling. If we have it will profit us nothing, and we shall either fall away of ourselves, or be cast away in the great day of judgment.

(a) "went" Zeph 1:6, Lk 9:62, He 10:38

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 66 Many of his disciples went back - They no longer associated with him, nor professed to acknowledge him as the Messiah. None of these were of the twelve. Christ had many others who generally attended his ministry, and acknowledged him for the Messiah.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 6:66-71
When we admit into our minds hard thoughts of the words and works of Jesus, we enter into temptation, which, if the Lord in mercy prevent not, will end in drawing back. The corrupt and wicked heart of man often makes that an occasion for offence, which is matter of the greatest comfort. Our Lord had, in the foregoing discourse, promised eternal life to his followers; the disciples fastened on that plain saying, and resolved to cleave to him, when others fastened on hard sayings, and forsook him. Christ's doctrine is the word of eternal life, therefore we must live and die by it. If we forsake Christ, we forsake our own mercies. They believed that this Jesus was the Messiah promised to their fathers, the Son of the living God. When we are tempted to backslide or turn away, it is good to remember first principles, and to keep to them. And let us ever remember our Lord's searching question; Shall we go away and forsake our Redeemer? To whom can we go? He alone can give salvation by the forgiveness of sins. And this alone brings confidence, comfort, and joy, and bids fear and despondency flee away. It gains the only solid happiness in this world, and opens a way to the happiness of the next.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

John 6:66 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐκekFromG1537
τούτουtoutouthat [time]G3778
πολλοὶpolloimanyG4183
τῶνtōntheG3588
μαθητῶνmathētōndisciplesG3101
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
ἀπῆλθονapēlthonwent awayG565
εἰςeistoG1519
τὰtatheG3588
ὀπίσωopisōbackG3694
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐκέτιouketino longerG3756
μετ᾽met᾽withG3326
αὐτοῦautouHimG846
περιεπάτουν.¶periepatounwere walking.G4043

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 6:66

  • Luke 9:62

    And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

  • 1 John 2:19

    They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

  • John 6:60

    Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

  • Hebrews 10:38

    Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

  • 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 19:22

    But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

  • 2 Timothy 4:10

    For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

  • John 6:64

    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.

  • Zephaniah 1:6

    And them that are turned back from the Lord; and those that have not sought the Lord, nor enquired for him.

  • 2 Timothy 1:15

    This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

  • 2 Peter 2:20-22

    For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

  • Matthew 13:20-21

    But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
of his.
60; 8:31; Zep 1:6; Mt 12:40-45; 13:20,21; 19:22; 21:8-11; 27:20-25
Lu 9:62; 2Ti 1:15; 4:10; Heb 10:38; 2Pe 2:20-22; 1Jo 2:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 6:65

    And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

  • John 6:66

    From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

  • John 6:67

    Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Read all of John 6

John 6:66 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Desde esto, muchos de sus discípulos volvieron atrás, y ya no andaban con él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Dès lors plusieurs de ses disciples se retirèrent; et ils ne marchaient plus avec lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Von da an gingen viele seiner Jünger zurück und wandelten nicht mehr mit ihm.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et dicebat: Propterea dixi vobis, quia nemo potest venire ad me, nisi fuerit ei datum a Patre meo.