And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

JOHN 6:4KJV
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John 6:4 (KJV)

What does John 6:4 mean?

John 6:4 places the events that follow near the Jewish feast of Passover. John gives readers a time of year and a setting: a major annual celebration was approaching as Jesus prepared to feed a large crowd.

John is narrating the scene rather than recording someone’s speech. Passover recalled Israel’s departure from slavery in Egypt, including the night when God spared Israelite households marked with lambs’ blood. Jewish people celebrated the feast in the spring.

The Greek behind John 6:4

  • “passover” — πάσχα (pascha): The Greek word names the Passover celebration. It is also used for the Passover lamb, though here John uses it for the approaching feast.

Why John 6:4 matters

  • The feast gives the feeding account a meaningful background. After Jesus feeds the crowd, people mention the bread their ancestors ate in the wilderness (John 6:31), another part of the story following Israel’s departure from Egypt.

  • The verse marks a point in the sequence of Jesus’ public activity. John has already mentioned a Passover in John 2:13; the approaching feast in John 6:4 shows that time has passed between those occasions.

  • John’s wording helps readers unfamiliar with Jewish customs recognize the occasion. He calls Passover “a feast of the Jews,” identifying it as a Jewish celebration.

Where else these words appear

“feast” Greek G1859 · used in 25 verses

  • Matthew 26:5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
  • John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
  • John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

“passover” Greek G3957 · used in 27 verses

  • Matthew 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
  • Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
  • John 11:55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

“nigh” Greek G1451 · used in 30 verses

  • Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
  • John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
  • Acts 9:38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.