Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:6
And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
6. to prove him ] This need not mean more than to try whether he could suggest any way out of the difficulty; but the more probable meaning is to test his faith, to try what impression Christ’s words and works have made upon him.
he himself ] without suggestions from others.
would do ] Or, was about to do.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To prove him – To try him; to see if he had faith, or if he would show that he believed that Jesus had power to supply them.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. This he said to prove him] To try his faith, and to see whether he and the other apostles had paid proper attention to the miracles which they had already seen him work; and to draw their attention more particularly to that which he was now about to perform. This is an observation of the evangelist himself, who often interweaves his own judgment with the facts he relates, which St. Matthew rarely ever does. The other evangelists say that, previously to this miracle, he continued to instruct and heal the multitudes till it was near the close of the day. Mt 14:14-15; Mr 6:34-35; Lu 9:11-12.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Now this he said to try what Philip would say, for he was himself resolved what to do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And this he said to prove him,…. Or “tempting him”, trying his faith, and not only his, but the rest of the disciples; not as ignorant of it himself, but in order to discover it to him and them, and to prepare them for the following miracle; and that it might appear the more illustrious and marvellous:
for he himself knew what he would do; Christ had determined to work a miracle, and feed the large number of people that were with him, with that small provision they had among them; and being God omniscient, he knew that he was able to do it, and that he was determined to do it, and it would be done; but he was willing first to try the faith of his apostles.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
To prove him ( ). Present active participle of , testing him, not here in bad sense of tempting as so often (Mt 4:1).
What he would do ( ). Indirect question with change of tense to imperfect. As in 2:25 so here John explains why Jesus put the question to Philip.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
To prove [] . Literally, proving. See on Mt 6:13. Wyc., tempting.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And this he said to prove him:- (touto de elegan periazon auton) “Yet this he said testing him,” not for a suggestion, idea, or information, but to test his faith and spiritual maturity, Joh 14:8-9.
2) “For he himself knew what he would do.” (autos gar edei ti emellen poiein) “Because he himself already knew what he was about to do,” to comfort the distress of the mass of the approaching throng, for whom he was moved with compassion. This indicates the blending of the human and Divine elements of our Lord’s personality, Mat 14:14.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(6) And this he said to prove him.This gives us a glimpse into the educational method of the great Teacher. There is for Him no difficulty. He of Himself knows what He is about to do. But Philip had, we may think, been present at Cana of Galilee, and had seen the wine multiplied to supply the needs of all. Other signs had spoken to the eye, and a fuller teaching had spoken to the ear. How far had either spoken to the spirit? He had felt the Divine Presence in separate instances. Had he realised it as a law of life, holding for every need that could arise? The student has learnt individual facts, but has he laid hold of the principle which underlies them? The one is from without, and depends upon the teacher; the other is from within, and is the true education of the man himself. He has been taught; he is now to be examined.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And this he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.’
Jesus’ question to Philip was a test. He had been listening to what the disciples had been saying and thus sought to test Philip to see what he would say. This is a quite reasonable assumption. Jesus clearly had a purpose in what He was about to do, for it illustrates the purpose of His coming and reinforces His claim to have come from God. It is not really probable that He would do such a thing on the spur of the moment.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Joh 6:6. This he said to prove him: To try what idea he conceived of his divine power, as well as to give him an opportunity of observing more attentively what followed.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Ver. 6. And this he said to prove him ] To discover him to himself: for what a man is in truth is what he is in a temptation. See Trapp on “ Mat 14:17 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
6. ] He knew: by this St. John must be understood not only to rescue our Lord from the imputation of asking counsel of Philip, but to refer the miraculous act, on His part, to His purpose of exhibiting Himself as the Son of Man the Life of the World in the flesh.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
to prove = proving, i.e. putting him to the test. knew. Greek. oida. App-132. See note on Joh 1:26.
would do = was about to do.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
6.] He knew:-by this St. John must be understood not only to rescue our Lord from the imputation of asking counsel of Philip, but to refer the miraculous act, on His part, to His purpose of exhibiting Himself as the Son of Man the Life of the World in the flesh.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 6:6
Joh 6:6
And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.-He said this to try Philip and prepare him for what he intended to do.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
prove: Gen 22:1, Deu 8:2, Deu 8:16, Deu 13:3, Deu 33:8, 2Ch 32:31
Reciprocal: Num 11:22 – General Eze 37:3 – can Heb 5:11 – we
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
Prove is from PEIRAZO, and Thayer’s definition at this plate is, “to try, make trial of, test.” He then explains his definition to mean, “For the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself.” Jesus did not have to use any such means for his own information (chapter 2:24, 25), but wished to make it a test for the sake of an example. It was a test of faith, for the apostles had previously seen Jesus perform miracles as great as feeding a multitude.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 6:6. Now this he said proving him: for he himself knew what he was about to do. Why Philip was addressed is a question often raised. The mention of the circumstance may be only the graphic touch of an eye-witness, and there may be nothing important in the Masters choice of the disciple whose faith He is to try. Yet it is more likely that some special reason did exist. Philip may have had something to do with making provision for the wants of the company of disciples: this is not inconsistent with chap. Joh 12:6. Or there may have been something in the character of Philips mind that led to the special selection of him for trial; and the incident related in Joh 12:22 has been appealed to as showing a tendency on his part to a caution that might become excessive and obstructive to the development of faith. A more correct explanation may be that, intending to manifest Himself as the fulfilment of what is written in the law, Jesus turns first to one who had confessed Him as the subject of the law and the prophets (Joh 1:45). He would test him, and try whether he had entered into the full meaning of his own confession.