So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Despite having just witnessed Jesus miraculously feed thousands, they demand another sign, framing it as a need to see and believe. This isn't just a request for proof; it's a subtle dismissal of His prior miracles and a direct challenge to His authority, implying He's not superior to Moses unless He performs something greater.
So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having just witnessed Jesus miraculously feed thousands, the crowd is now demanding another sign, comparing it to Moses feeding their ancestors with manna. They question Jesus' authority and ask what divine work he performs to prove his claims, as they focus on earthly sustenance rather than his spiritual message. This exchange reveals their desire for a Messiah who meets their physical needs, rather than one who offers eternal life.
Jesus just fed 5,000 people with a few loaves and fish. You'd think they'd be convinced, right? But instead, they ask for another sign. What's going on here?
A Pattern of Impatience
The crowd's question, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?" (John 6:30) is a prime example of a generation seeking spectacle over substance. Despite witnessing the incredible miracle of the loaves and fishes just moments before, they're not moved to genuine faith.
They bring up Moses and the manna, comparing Jesus's miracle to a past event. But Jesus flips their comparison, revealing a profound difference.
More Than Just Food
Ask a follow-up
The crowd's appeal to the manna from Moses isn't just a historical reference; it's a way to devalue Jesus's miracle and question His authority. They imply, "Moses gave us bread from heaven, so what greater thing can YOU do?"
Understand the original words
man · Hebrew Noun
A miraculous substance provided by God to sustain the Israelites during their forty years in the desert, symbolizing God's providential care and prefiguring the ultimate provision of Christ.
ouranos · Greek Noun
The theological concept of the place where God dwells, often contrasted with earth; it signifies the supernatural realm, divine authority, and the origin of spiritual truth.
The crowd's demand for a sign, immediately after witnessing the feeding of the 5,000, highlights their focus on physical sustenance and earthly power, contrasting sharply with Jesus's mission to provide spiritual, eternal life.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering followers, including the miracle of feeding the 5,000 which immediately precedes this encounter.
c. 1st Century AD
Jewish Expectation of the Messiah
Many Jews anticipated a Messiah who would be a political and military leader, like Moses, to liberate them from Roman rule and restore Israel's glory.
c. 1st Century AD
Demand for Signs
It was common for Jewish religious leaders and crowds to demand miraculous signs ('semeion') as proof of divine authority or messianic claims.
c. 1st Century AD
Manna as a Sign of Moses
The miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness by Moses was a significant sign of God's power and Moses's authority, frequently referenced by Jews.
This passage describes the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness, directly referenced by the Jews in John 6:31 as a sign from God through Moses, highlighting their demand for similar, tangible proof from Jesus.
Matthew 12:38Here, the Pharisees also demand a sign from Jesus, showing a recurring theme of skepticism and the need for visible proof, mirroring the crowd's demand in John 6:30 despite recent miracles.
Isaiah 7:14This prophecy of the virgin birth is a significant sign God gave for the Messiah's coming, and the crowd's demand for a sign in John 6:30 echoes the Old Testament expectation for divine authentication.
John 6:14This verse immediately precedes the crowd's demand and records their conclusion that Jesus was 'the Prophet who is to come into the world' after witnessing the feeding of the five thousand, making their subsequent demand for *another* sign particularly striking and revealing their lack of true understanding.
Deuteronomy 8:3Jesus’s response in John 6:31-35, contrasting the manna with the true bread from heaven, implicitly connects to the wilderness feeding narrative and Deuteronomy's emphasis that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word from God, pointing to a deeper sustenance than physical food.
barnesJohn 6:30: "They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?"
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…
vincentJohn 6:30: "They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?"
ThereforeSince He had claimed to be the One sent of God.
Despite having just witnessed Jesus miraculously feed thousands, they demand another sign, framing it as a need to see and believe. This isn't just a request for proof; it's a subtle dismissal of His prior miracles and a direct challenge to His authority, implying He's not superior to Moses unless He performs something greater.
Having just witnessed Jesus miraculously feed thousands, the crowd is now demanding another sign, comparing it to Moses feeding their ancestors with manna. They question Jesus' authority and ask what divine work he performs to prove his claims, as they focus on earthly sustenance rather than his spiritual message. This exchange reveals their desire for a Messiah who meets their physical needs, rather than one who offers eternal life.
Having just witnessed Jesus miraculously feed thousands, the crowd is now demanding another sign, comparing it to Moses feeding their ancestors with manna. They question Jesus' authority and ask what divine work he performs to prove his claims, as they focus on earthly sustenance rather than his spiritual message. This exchange reveals their desire for a Messiah who meets their physical needs, rather than one who offers eternal life.
"So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”" — Despite having just witnessed Jesus miraculously feed thousands, they demand another sign, framing it as a need to see and believe. This isn't just a request for proof; it's a subtle dismissal of…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026