John 6:52

52 The Jews therefore contended among themselves, saying, How can he give us this flesh to eat?

John 6:52 Meaning and Commentary

John 6:52

The Jews therefore strove among themselves
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.

John 6:52 In-Context

50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.

51 I am the living bread which has come down out of heaven: if any one shall have eaten of this bread he shall live for ever; but the bread withal which I shall give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

52 The Jews therefore contended among themselves, saying, How can he give us this flesh to eat?

53 Jesus therefore said to them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Unless ye shall have eaten the flesh of the Son of man, and drunk his blood, ye have no life in yourselves.

54 He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood has life eternal, and I will raise him up at the last day:

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'give us flesh.'