John 6:30

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

They said therefore to him, What sign show you then, that we may see, and believe you? what do you work?

American King James Version (AKJV)

They said therefore to him, What sign show you then, that we may see, and believe you? what do you work?

American Standard Version (ASV)

They said therefore unto him, What then doest thou for a sign, that we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou?

Basic English Translation (BBE)

So they said, What sign do you give us, so that we may see and have faith in you? What do you do?

Webster's Revision

They said therefore to him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

World English Bible

They said therefore to him, "What then do you do for a sign, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you do?

English Revised Version (ERV)

They said therefore unto him, What then doest thou for a sign, that we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou?

Clarke's John 6:30 Bible Commentary

What sign - Τι σημειον, What miracle; so the word is evidently used, John 2:11, John 2:23, and in many other places.

That we may see, and believe thee - That, having seen the miracle, we may believe thee to be the promised Messiah. They had already seen the miracle of the five loaves, and did not believe; and it was impossible for them to see any thing more descriptive of unlimited power and goodness. Even miracles themselves are lost on persons whose hearts are fixed on the perishing things of the world, and whose minds are filled with prejudice against the truth.

Barnes's John 6:30 Bible Commentary

What sign showest thou? - On the word sign, compare the notes at Isaiah 7:14. What miracle dost thou work to prove that thou art the Messiah? They had just seen the miracle of the loaves in the desert, which was sufficient to show that he was the Messiah, and it would seem from the preceding narrative that those who crossed the lake to see him supposed that he was the Christ. It seems wonderful that they should so soon ask for further evidence that he was sent from God; but it is not improbable that this question was put by other Jews, rulers of the synagogue, who happened to be present, and who had not witnessed his miracles. Those men were continually asking for signs and proofs that he was the Messiah. See Matthew 12:38-39; Mark 8:11; Luke 11:29. As Jesus claimed the right of teaching them, and as it was manifest that he would teach them differently from what they supposed Moses to teach, it was natural to ask him by what authority he claimed the right to be heard.

Wesley's John 6:30 Bible Commentary

6:30 What sign dost thou? - Amazing, after what they had just seen!