6:61a–b

This verse is one long sentence in Greek and in the Berean Standard Bible. It contains two clauses. The first clause gives the reason for why Jesus asked the question in the second clause. In some languages it may be more natural to put the clauses in separate sentences. Or you may want to make it clearer that Jesus asked the question in 6:61b because of what he knew in 6:61a.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

Jesus was aware that his disciples were criticizing his message. So Jesus asked them, “Did what I say make you lose faith? (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus knew that his disciples were grumbling. So he asked, “Does this bother you? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Without being told, Jesus knew that they were grumbling about this, so he said to them, “Does this make you want to give up? (Good News Translation)

6:61a

Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching: This clause gives the reason that Jesus asks the question in 6:61b. Even though he did not hear what the disciples said in 6:60b–c, he knew what they said.

Aware: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Aware is more literally “knowing in himself.” It indicates that Jesus knew without anyone telling him. For example:

Without being told, Jesus knew (Good News Translation)
-or-
No one told Jesus, but he knew

grumbling: The Greek verb that Berean Standard Bible translates as grumbling is the same one that was used in 6:41a. Use the same verb in both verses.

6:61b

Does this offend you?: This is a rhetorical question that Jesus used as a rebuke. He also used this question to introduce another rhetorical question in the next verse. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as offend means to cause someone to be angry, or to lose faith. Here Jesus was asking his disciples if his teaching made them so angry that they would stop following him. (And many of his disciples did stop following him. See verse 66.)

There are at least two ways to translate this rhetorical question:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

Did what I say make you lose faith? (God’s Word)
-or-
Does this make you want to give up? (Good News Translation)
-or-
Are you angry about this teaching?

• Use a statement. For example:

You should not be offended.
-or-
Do not be angry.

Translate this rhetorical question in a way that is natural in your language.

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