The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

JOHN 6:22KJV
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John 6:22 (KJV)

What does John 6:22 mean?

John 6:22 describes what the crowd knew about Jesus’ departure from the shore. They had seen the disciples leave without him, and they knew there had been only one boat available. Their observations set up their search for Jesus on the following day.

John tells the story from the crowd’s point of view. After the nighttime crossing in verses 16–21, the reader knows more about Jesus’ journey than the people left on the shore do. The sentence continues into verses 23–24, where the crowd acts on what they have observed.

Why John 6:22 matters

  • The crowd had a reason to look for Jesus near the place where they had eaten. Verse 22 records that they had not seen him board the disciples’ boat.

  • The crowd’s later question has a background. When they find Jesus across the sea, they ask, “when camest thou hither?” (verse 25). John has already shown why his presence there would puzzle them.

  • John distinguishes the boat the crowd had watched from boats that arrived later. Verse 23 introduces other boats coming from Tiberias; those boats were not part of the departure the crowd had seen.

Where else these words appear

“went” Greek G4897 · used in 2 verses

  • John 18:15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.

“boat” Greek G4142 · used in 5 verses

  • Mark 3:9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
  • Mark 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
  • John 6:23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

“following” Greek G1887 · used in 17 verses

  • Matthew 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
  • John 12:12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
  • Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

“entered” Greek G1684 · used in 18 verses

  • Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
  • Matthew 15:39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.
  • Luke 5:3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.