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John 6:52

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 6:52 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
John 6:52 — American Standard Version

Context — John 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
50This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
52The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves.
54He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
← John 6:51John 6:53 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Jews therefore strove among themselves, etc.] Fell to cavilling and disputing one among another; some understanding Christ, and others not; some being for him, and vindicated what he said; and others being against him, and who were the majority, objected, saying how can this man give us his flesh to eat? which is to be understood, not physically, but as morally impossible and unlawful; since, with the Jews, it was not lawful to eat the flesh of any creature alive, and much less the flesh of man; for the Jews understood Christ of a corporeal eating of his flesh, being strangers to a figurative or spiritual eating of it by faith, in which sense he meant it.”
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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
“Jews strove among themselves--arguing the point together. How can, &c.--that is, Give us His flesh to eat? Absurd.”
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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
“Observe the degrees: the Jews are tried here; the disciples, Joh 6:60-66, the apostles, Joh 6:67. John 6:53”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“strove: Joh 6:41, Joh 7:40-43, Joh 9:16, Joh 10:19 How: Joh 3:4, Joh 3:9, Joh 4:11; Act 17:32; Co1 2:14 John 6:53”
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Related study paths

Read John 6 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification