John 6:63
New International Version
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.

New Living Translation
The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

English Standard Version
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Berean Standard Bible
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

Berean Literal Bible
It is the Spirit giving life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.

King James Bible
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

New King James Version
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

New American Standard Bible
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life.

NASB 1995
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

NASB 1977
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Legacy Standard Bible
The Spirit is the One who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Amplified Bible
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh conveys no benefit [it is of no account]. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life [providing eternal life].

Christian Standard Bible
The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Spirit is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

American Standard Version
It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.

Contemporary English Version
The Spirit is the one who gives life! Human strength can do nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are from that life-giving Spirit.

English Revised Version
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Life is spiritual. Your physical existence doesn't contribute to that life. The words that I have spoken to you are spiritual. They are life.

Good News Translation
What gives life is God's Spirit; human power is of no use at all. The words I have spoken to you bring God's life-giving Spirit.

International Standard Version
It's the Spirit who gives life; the flesh accomplishes nothing. The words that I've spoken to you are spirit and life.

Majority Standard Bible
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

NET Bible
The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help! The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

New Heart English Bible
It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

Webster's Bible Translation
It is the spirit that reviveth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Weymouth New Testament
It is the spirit which gives Life. The flesh confers no benefit whatever. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and are Life.

World English Bible
It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
It is the Spirit that is giving life; the flesh does not profit anything; the sayings that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life;

Berean Literal Bible
It is the Spirit giving life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.

Young's Literal Translation
the spirit it is that is giving life; the flesh doth not profit anything; the sayings that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life;

Smith's Literal Translation
It is the spirit making alive; the flesh profits nothing: the words which I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I have spoken to you, are spirit and life.

Catholic Public Domain Version
It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh does not offer anything of benefit. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

New American Bible
It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

New Revised Standard Version
It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
It is the spirit that gives life; the body is of no account; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“The Spirit is The Life Giver; the body does not benefit anything. The words that I speak with you are spirit and life.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
It is the spirit that makes alive; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I speak to you are spirit and life.

Godbey New Testament
The Spirit is the One who creates life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken unto you are spirit and life.

Haweis New Testament
The Spirit is the life-giving power; the flesh contributeth nothing: the declarations which I make to you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Mace New Testament
it is the action of the mind that vivifies, that of the body profits nothing: the words that I have delivered to you, spiritually understood, give life.

Weymouth New Testament
It is the spirit which gives Life. The flesh confers no benefit whatever. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and are Life.

Worrell New Testament
It is the Spirit That giveth life; the flesh profits nothing: the words which I have spoken to you are spirit, and they are life.

Worsley New Testament
The spirit is the principle of life, the flesh availeth nothing: now the words that I speak unto you are spirit, and therefore life.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Many Disciples Turn Back
62Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before? 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)…

Cross References
Romans 8:2
For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.

2 Corinthians 3:6
And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Galatians 5:16-25
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. / For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. / But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ...

John 3:6
Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:45
So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam a life-giving spirit.

Romans 8:10-11
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. / And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones. / He led me all around among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, and indeed, they were very dry. / Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” “O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only You know.” ...

Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

John 14:17
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.

1 John 5:6
This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth.

Proverbs 4:20-22
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. / Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. / For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.


Treasury of Scripture

It is the spirit that vivifies; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.

the spirit.

Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

1 Corinthians 15:45
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

the flesh.

Romans 2:25
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

Romans 3:1,2
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? …

1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord…

the words.

John 6:68
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

John 12:49,50
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak…

Deuteronomy 32:47
For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

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Avail Benefit Counts Flesh Giver Gives Life Profit Profiteth Profits Quickeneth Quickens Reviveth Sayings Speak Spirit Value Whatever Words
John 6
1. Jesus feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes.
15. Thereupon the people would have made him king;
16. but withdrawing himself, he walks on the sea to his disciples;
26. reproves the people flocking after him, and all the fleshly hearers of his word;
32. declares himself to be the bread of life to believers.
66. Many disciples depart from him.
68. Peter confesses him.
70. Judas is a devil.














The Spirit gives life
The Greek word for "Spirit" here is "πνεῦμα" (pneuma), which can mean breath, wind, or spirit. In the context of this verse, it refers to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who is the source of spiritual life and regeneration. The Holy Spirit is essential for understanding and receiving the truths of God, as He illuminates the mind and heart. This phrase emphasizes the transformative power of the Spirit, contrasting the life-giving nature of the Spirit with the limitations of human effort.

the flesh profits nothing
The term "flesh" in Greek is "σάρξ" (sarx), often used in the New Testament to denote human nature in its fallen state, apart from divine influence. This phrase underscores the futility of relying on human strength or wisdom for spiritual matters. In a historical context, this would have been a radical statement, challenging the Jewish reliance on the law and physical lineage for righteousness. It serves as a reminder that true spiritual benefit and eternal life cannot be achieved through human means but only through the Spirit.

The words I have spoken to you
The Greek word for "words" is "ῥήματα" (rhemata), which refers to spoken words or sayings. Jesus emphasizes the authority and divine origin of His teachings. His words are not mere human instructions but carry the weight and power of divine revelation. In the scriptural context, Jesus' teachings are the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and the embodiment of God's will for humanity.

are spirit and they are life
The phrase "are spirit" indicates that Jesus' words are infused with the Holy Spirit's power, making them alive and active. The Greek word for "life" is "ζωή" (zoe), which refers to eternal life, the divine life that God imparts to believers. This life is not just an extension of physical existence but a new quality of life that begins now and continues into eternity. Jesus' words, therefore, are not just informative but transformative, offering a pathway to eternal life through faith and obedience.

(63) It is the spirit that quickeneth.--The word "quickeneth," though it has almost passed from everyday use, will probably hold its place in theological use, and convey for the most part the true meaning. If it is retained here, it must, however, be noted that it is a compound of the word rendered "life" at the close of the verse. "It is the spirit that giveth life . . . the words . . . are spirit and are life." These words are immediately connected with the thought of the Ascension, which was to precede the gift of the Spirit. (Comp. John 7:39; John 16:7 et seq.). We are to find in them, therefore, a deeper meaning than the ordinary one that His teaching is to be, not carnally, but spiritually under-stood. They think of a physical eating of His flesh, and this offends them; but what if they, who have thought of bread descending from heaven, see His body ascending into heaven? They will know then that He cannot have meant this. And the Descent of the Spirit will follow the Ascension of the Son, and men full of the Holy Spirit will have brought to their remembrance all these words (John 14:26), and they will then know what the true feeding on Him is, and these very words which He has spoken will carry their lessons to the inmost being, and be realised, not simply in a spiritual sense, but as spirit and as life.

Verse 63. - It is the spirit that quickeneth (the τὸ, though omitted by אָ, is retained by all the principal editors); the flesh profiteth nothing; i.e. the "flesh" taken by itself, and apart from the life-giving Spirit which is its principium. The antithesis between "flesh" and "spirit" occurs frequently in the Gospel, and is one of the great points of Pauline doctrine. The Lord does not introduce the pronoun μου to τὸ πνεῦμα or σάρξ. The statement is generalized, though having special reference to himself, or to the spirit and flesh of the Son of man. "Flesh," in neither St. Paul nor St. John, means the sensuous nature as opposed to the intellectual nature; nor does it mean the "body" as antithetic to the "soul" - the organized material frame, to which the Jews were attributing so much and felt to be the guarantee and seal of his spiritual efficiency (Meyer) - but the "creaturely nature," the "humanity" per se in all its parts. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Christ qua his humanity was fashioned by the Spirit, and the Spirit dwelt upon him with iron measurable potence. "The Logos became flesh," but that flesh itself was so ordered and prepared by the Holy Spirit as that it should sustain this lofty companionship. Christ's own flesh, his nature, his humanity per se, and apart from the fulness of the Spirit, profiteth nothing. The mere human life, however spotless and ideal, could not be "eaten," i.e. could not be assimilated, though to some extent it might be imitated; but imitation is not faith. The "glory" that the apostles saw "of the Only Begotten of the Father, the fulness of grace and truth," in and through that wondrous life of Christ, was the glory given to his humanity by the creative Spirit. Apart from this consideration, a manducation of his flesh, even were it physically possible, was useless. It was not possible to participate in his humanity save through the Holy Spirit which generated him and regenerates us. The sentence doubtless points back to the original constitution of man, the specialty of whose life is that it was inbreathed by the Lord God himself. The use of the saying here was to make it still more clear that he gave his flesh to eat, not through any physical process, not through any sacramental rite, but through the Spirit to our spirit. Mr. Sadler, who takes the strong sacramental view of the entire passage, says, however, wisely and forcibly here, "Even flesh cannot be given to a corpse." We receive the gift, we know the love of God, whether sacramentally or not, through the Spirit. Christ does not deny or retract the statement, "Except ye eat the flesh," etc. He simply shows in what sense he meant the whole mutual indwelling of himself and his people to be understood. The Spirit is the Quickener. The Spirit is the life-fashioning, life-pre-serving Energy. The flesh, the human manifestation, apart from the Spirit which makes that human life the centre of Divine effluence, the focus for its Divine energy, profiteth nothing. Some have taken these words (like Chrysostom) as a contrast between a spiritual and literal interpretation of Christ's words. Luther and many Lutherans have urged the contrast between a right celebration and a merely material use of the sacrament. So more or less Augustine and Olshausen. Canon Westcott seems to limit the original meaning of "flesh" and "spirit," the one to the visible, temporal, corporeal only, and the other to the unseen eternal order of things, and he does not give to "flesh" here the fulness of meaning which it bears in the New Testament; but he says that this utterance is not limited to either of the views just referred to, though it may include them. Archdeacon Watkins remarks, "They think of a physical eating of his flesh, and this offends them; but what if they, who have thought of bread descending from heaven, see his body ascending into heaven? They will know then he cannot have meant this. The descent of the Spirit will follow the ascent of the Son." The words that I have spoken unto you are spirit and are life. The words which I have now uttered, these teachings of mine concerning myself, are (not merely "spiritual" or "life-giving," but) spirit and life, i.e. the way and method in which the Spirit can convey to you the life eternal. The words which I have spoken at all times have been the effulgence of my glory, the effluence of my Spirit. The seed of the kingdom is the Word of God. The contact of the Divine Spirit with the human spirit is not through teeth and palate, but through mental and moral processes. "Thou hast the words of eternal life," said Peter (ver. 68). Christ thus works his way back again to the receptivity of the mind and heart of his disciples. Believing is not only "coming," but, as he has before implied, it is the identical process which he has called "eating his flesh and drinking his blood." Christ's words are the ministry of himself, because the chief method of communicating his life-giving Spirit. In John 15:4, 7 the Lord used both expressions, "I" and "my words," in identical relations: "Abide in me, and I in you;" "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you," etc.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The
Τὸ (To)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Spirit
πνεῦμά (pneuma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

gives life;
ζωοποιοῦν (zōopoioun)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2227: To make that which was dead to live, cause to live, quicken. From the same as zoon and poieo; tovitalize.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

flesh
σὰρξ (sarx)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4561: Flesh, body, human nature, materiality; kindred.

profits
ὠφελεῖ (ōphelei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5623: To help, benefit, do good, be useful (to), profit. From the same as opheleia; to be useful, i.e. To benefit.

nothing.
οὐδέν (ouden)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

The
τὰ (ta)
Article - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

words
ῥήματα (rhēmata)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4487: From rheo; an utterance, ; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

have spoken
λελάληκα (lelalēka)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

to you
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

spirit
πνεῦμά (pneuma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

they are
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

life.
ζωή (zōē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2222: Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life.


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NT Gospels: John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life (Jhn Jo Jn)
John 6:62
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