John 6:31

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 6:31 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.
John 6:31 — American Standard Version

Context — John 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Our fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, etc.] Which was a sort of food prepared by angels in the air, and rained down from thence about the tents of the Israelites; it was a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground; it was like a coriander seed, and the colour of it was the colour of bdellium: it was so called, either from hnm, “to prepare”, because it was prepared, and got ready for the Israelites; or from the first words that were spoken upon sight of it, wh ˆm, “what is it?” for they knew not what it was: and this the Jewish fathers fed upon all the while they were in the wilderness, till they came to Canaan’s land, and they only; it was food peculiar to them: “our…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Our fathers did eat manna, &c.--insinuating the inferiority of Christ's miracle of the loaves to those of Moses: "When Moses claimed the confidence of the fathers, 'he gave them bread from heaven to eat'--not for a few thousands, but for millions, and not once only, but daily throughout their wilderness journey."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Our fathers - The Jews who were led by Moses through the wilderness. Did eat manna - This was the name given by the Jews to the food which was furnished to them by God in their journey. It means literally, “What is this?” and was the question which they asked when they first saw it, Exodus 16:14-15. It was small like frost, and of the size of coriander-seed, and had a sweetish taste like honey. It fell in great quantities, and was regarded by the Jews as proof of a continued miracle during forty years, and was incontestable evidence of the interposition of God in favor of their fathers. The manna which is sold in the shops of druggists is a different substance from this. It is obtained from…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Our fathers ate manna - This sign Moses gave them. He gave them bread from heaven - From the lower sublunary heaven; to which Jesus opposes the highest heaven: in which sense he says seven times, Joh 6:32-33, Joh 6:38, Joh 6:50, Joh 6:58, Joh 6:62, that he himself came down from heaven. John 6:32”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“fathers: Joh 6:49; Exo 16:4-15, Exo 16:35; Num 11:6-9; Deu 8:3; Jos 5:12; Neh 9:20; Psa 105:40 He gave: Neh 9:15; Psa 78:24, Psa 78:25; Co1 10:3; Rev 2:17 John 6:32”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification