John 6:4

4 and the passover was nigh, the feast of the Jews.

John 6:4 Meaning and Commentary

John 6:4

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
] This was the third passover, since our Lord's baptism, and entrance on his public ministry; see ( John 2:13 ) ( 5:1 ) . Whether Christ went up to this feast is not certain; some think he did not; but from what is said in ( John 7:1 ) , it looks as if he did: how nigh it was to the feast, cannot well be said. Thirty days before the feast, they began to talk about it; and especially in the last fifteen days, they made preparations for it, as being at hand ^F2; and if there was now so long time to it, there was time enough for Jesus to go to it.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F2 T. Bab. Pesach. fol. 6. 1. Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Shekalim, c. 3. sect. 1.

John 6:4 In-Context

2 and there was following him a great multitude, because they were seeing his signs that he was doing on the ailing;

3 and Jesus went up to the mount, and he was there sitting with his disciples,

4 and the passover was nigh, the feast of the Jews.

5 Jesus then having lifted up [his] eyes and having seen that a great multitude doth come to him, saith unto Philip, `Whence shall we buy loaves, that these may eat?' --

6 and this he said, trying him, for he himself had known what he was about to do.