“Sir,” they said,
The term "Sir" here is a respectful address, indicating the crowd's recognition of Jesus as a teacher or someone of authority. In the cultural context of first-century Judea, addressing someone as "Sir" (Greek: "Kyrie") was a common way to show respect. This reflects the crowd's acknowledgment of Jesus' authority, even if they do not fully understand His divine nature. The use of "they said" indicates a collective response, showing that the crowd is unified in their request, which follows Jesus' teaching about the bread of life.

“give us this bread”
The request for "this bread" follows Jesus' discourse on the bread of life, where He contrasts the manna given to the Israelites in the wilderness with the true bread from heaven. The crowd's request echoes the Israelites' desire for physical sustenance, as seen in Exodus 16. However, Jesus is speaking of spiritual nourishment, pointing to Himself as the source of eternal life. This phrase highlights the common misunderstanding of Jesus' teachings, where the crowd is focused on physical needs rather than spiritual truths.

at all times.”
The phrase "at all times" indicates a desire for continual provision, similar to the daily manna provided to the Israelites. This reflects a misunderstanding of Jesus' message, as they are seeking a perpetual physical supply rather than recognizing the spiritual sustenance He offers. The request for constant provision also reveals a deeper human longing for security and assurance, which Jesus addresses by offering Himself as the eternal source of life. This connects to the promise of eternal life found in John 6:35, where Jesus declares Himself the bread of life, satisfying spiritual hunger and thirst forever.

1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching about the true bread from heaven, which is Himself.

2. The Crowd
The people who followed Jesus after the feeding of the 5,000. They are seeking more physical sustenance and are intrigued by Jesus' teachings.

3. Capernaum
The location where this discourse takes place, a town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

4. The Feeding of the 5,000
A miraculous event that precedes this discourse, where Jesus fed a large crowd with five loaves and two fish.

5. The Bread of Life Discourse
A significant teaching moment where Jesus explains the spiritual significance of the bread from heaven.Understanding Spiritual Hunger
Just as physical hunger drives us to seek food, spiritual hunger should drive us to seek Christ, the true bread of life.

The Temporal vs. the Eternal
The crowd sought physical bread, but Jesus offers something far greater—eternal life through Him.

Faith in Christ's Provision
Trust in Jesus as the source of all spiritual nourishment, believing that He satisfies our deepest needs.

Daily Dependence on Jesus
Just as we need daily physical sustenance, we should seek daily spiritual nourishment through prayer and Scripture.

Recognizing Jesus as the Bread of Life
Acknowledge Jesus as the essential source of life and sustenance, beyond any earthly provision.(34) Lord, evermore give us. . . .--Comp. Note on John 4:15. It would be better to read Sir for "Lord" here, as there. They, as the Samaritan woman, think of the satisfaction of physical need. They do not realise that man does not live by bread alone. The manna fell from heaven and gave life to their fathers; He has spoken of bread of God coming in the same way, and giving life. He has given them bread on earth, which they ate yesterday, but they hunger again to-day. Could He give them "evermore this bread?"

Verse 34. - They said therefore to him, Lord! His hearers have clearly been more impressed than ever with the extraordinary claims of the speaker. They have risen from the "Rabbi" of ver. 26 to "Kyrie," which implies, as the "Kyrie," or "Sir," or "Lord" of John 4:15, some advance in their tone of deference. The request that follows is neither ironical nor sarcastic, nor need it be as carnal in its spirit as the similar language of the woman of Samaria (John 4:15). They have some dim notion of "doing the works of God," and of some heavenly satisfaction given to their earthly wants. It may be that they imagine some material thing coming down out of heaven, more potent and lasting than the historic manna. Lord, evermore - "at all times," "continuously" - give us this bread, of which you speak, and which as Son of man you are able to bestow, which will not be limited in quantity, which will prove to be the elixir of life, the food of the eternal life, and which will satisfy all our hunger, abolish our poverty, make us indifferent to death. A great prayer this, which Christ showed himself not unwilling to answer in his own way.

Parallel Commentaries ...


“Sir,”
Κύριε (Kyrie)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

they said,
Εἶπον (Eipon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“give
δὸς (dos)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

us
ἡμῖν (hēmin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

this
τοῦτον (touton)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

bread
ἄρτον (arton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 740: Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.

at all times.”
πάντοτε (pantote)
Adverb
Strong's 3842: Always, at all times, ever. From pas and hote; every when, i.e. At all times.


John 6:34 NIV
John 6:34 NLT
John 6:34 ESV
John 6:34 NASB
John 6:34 KJV

John 6:34 BibleApps.com
John 6:34 Biblia Paralela
John 6:34 Chinese Bible
John 6:34 French Bible
John 6:34 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: John 6:34 They said therefore to him Lord always (Jhn Jo Jn)