When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

JOHN 6:15KJV
Know the Bible

John 6:15 (KJV)

What does John 6:15 mean?

John 6:15 describes how Jesus, realizing that the crowd wanted to seize him and make him their king by force, withdrew by himself to a mountain to be alone. The verse shows Jesus intentionally avoiding the crowd’s plans and choosing solitude instead of accepting a political kingship.

In this scene, Jesus has just performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand, and the people are excited by what he has done. Sensing their intentions, Jesus does not allow himself to be made king according to their expectations. Instead, he leaves the crowd and goes up a mountain alone, showing that his mission is different from what the people wanted.

The Greek behind John 6:15

  • The word "take...by force" is ἁρπάζω (harpazō), which means to seize or snatch away. This word shows the crowd’s eagerness and even aggression in wanting to make Jesus king, not just a polite offer but a forceful action.
  • The word "king" is βασιλεύς (basileus), meaning a ruler or monarch. The crowd’s desire was for a political leader, likely expecting Jesus to fulfill their hopes for a national deliverer.
  • The word "departed" is ἀνεχώρησεν (anechōrēsen), which often means to withdraw or retreat. This highlights Jesus’ deliberate choice to remove himself from the situation rather than confront or correct the crowd directly.

Why John 6:15 matters

  • John 6:15 clarifies that Jesus did not come to be a political king or to meet the crowd’s expectations for a worldly leader, even when people tried to force that role on him.
  • The verse connects to the larger theme in John’s Gospel of Jesus’ identity and mission being different from what people expected, emphasizing his purpose was spiritual, not political.
  • This moment sets up the events that follow, showing Jesus’ control over his own actions and his commitment to God’s plan, not human agendas.

Where else these words appear

“take” Greek G726 · used in 13 verses

  • Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
  • John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
  • 2 Corinthians 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

“departed” Greek G402 · used in 14 verses

  • Matthew 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
  • Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
  • Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

“alone” Greek G3441 · used in 46 verses

  • Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
  • Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
  • 1 Corinthians 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

“mountain” Greek G3735 · used in 65 verses

  • Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
  • Mark 9:9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.
  • John 6:3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.