Paragraph 6:41–42
This paragraph tells how the people who were listening to Jesus reacted to what he said. They were not happy.
6:41a
At this: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as At this can also be translated as “therefore.” Here are other ways to translate this word:
Then (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
So (English Standard Version)
-or-
Therefore (New American Standard Bible)
the Jews began to grumble about Jesus: Jesus’ listeners were not happy about what Jesus had said. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
The Jews began to criticize Jesus (God’s Word)
-or-
So those who opposed Jesus began to grumble about him
the Jews: Probably everyone in the crowd was a Jew. (Some English translations therefore translate the term as “the people”). However, it is not likely that everyone would complain about Jesus. John uses the term the Jews to refer to Jewish leaders (see 1:19), Jews from the area of Jerusalem (see 11:19), and to Jews in general (see 2:6). Here, John seems to be using the term to refer to those people who were hostile (opposed) to Jesus.
Here are some ways to translate this term following that understanding:
the Jews who were hostile to Jesus (NET Bible)
-or-
Some of the Judeans (TLV)
6:41b
I am the bread that came down from heaven: Refer back to your translation of 6:33a–35a. Use the same expressions for bread and came down from heaven there and here.
General Comment on 6:41a–b
In some languages it may be natural to use indirect speech here. For example:
The people started grumbling because Jesus had said that he was the bread that had come down from heaven. (Contemporary English Version)
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