Ancestors is literally “fathers,” but in the present passage both male and female ancestors are clearly meant.

For the story of manna see 16. The term manna is usually transliterated in texts of the Scripture, but it is possible to introduce a description, for example, “food called manna” or “grain-sized food called manna.” A marginal note would be useful here, or this information may be given in a glossary.

Just as the scripture says is literally “just as it has been written,” a set formula for the introduction of a quotation from the Old Testament. He gave them bread from heaven to eat is not an exact rendering of any one passage in the Old Testament, though the UBS Greek New Testament cites Psalms 78.24 and 105.40.

In some languages one cannot use the expression “the Scriptures say,” for “writings” do not “speak.” Sometimes one can say “in the Holy Writings there are words about” or “in the Holy Writings one may read how he gave them bread from heaven to eat.”

The Scripture quotation He gave them bread from heaven to eat is interpreted by the crowd to mean that Moses gave them bread, and therefore the people desire a miracle greater than the one Moses performed. Jesus corrects that interpretation in verse 32. However, rather than introduce “Moses” as the subject of “gave them bread from heaven to eat,” it is better to preserve the ambiguous pronominal reference “he.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .