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John 6:20

in John 6

But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

KJV

But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

This verse in John 6

Commentary

17 notes on this verse

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on John · Written before 1274.

Secondly, we see Christ encouraging them against two dangers. First, they are encouraged against the danger to the faith in their intellect when he says, It is I, to eliminate their doubts: "Look at my hands and my feet! It is really me" (Lk 24:39). …

This site's exposition

walking on the sea

on John 6:19-21

Three or four miles out, in a rising wind, Jesus comes to them walking on the sea and they are terrified. It is I renders ego eimi, the two words of John 8:58. They were willing to take Him aboard, and the boat at once reached the shore.

This site's exposition

do not be afraid

When Jesus says It is I, Aquinas says He takes away their doubt about who has come to them on the sea. Matthew 14:27 and Mark 6:50 add a call to take courage before these words. John gives the shorter form.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers4 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

(Hom. xliii. 1) And at last He appears quite unexpectedly: They see Jesus walking upon the sea, drawing nigh. He reappears after His retirement, teaching them what it is to be forsaken, and stirring them to greater love; His reappearance manifesting His power. They were disturbed, were afraid, it is said. Our Lord comforts them: But He saith unto them, It is I, be not afraid.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

(Hom. xliii. 1) Or take another explanation. This miracle seems to me to be a different one, from the one given in Matthew: for there they do not receive Him into the ship immediately, whereas here they doh: and there the storm lasts for some time, whereas here as soon as He speaks, there is a calm. He often repeats the same miracle in order to impress it on men's minds.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on the Gospel of John 43 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

He stilled the storm, that He might make known to them His power.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on the Gospel of John 43 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"It is I, be not afraid." As He spake the word, He cast out fear from their souls. But at another time not so; wherefore Peter said "Lord, if it be Thou, bid me to come unto Thee." (Matt. xiv. 28.) Whence then was it that at that time they did not straightway admit this, but now were persuaded? It was because then the storm continued to toss the bark, but now at His voice the calm had come.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 1107.

proposed

Observe the three miracles here; the first, His walking on the sea; the second, His stilling the waves; the third, His putting them immediately on shore, which they were some distance off, when our Lord appeared. When either men or devils try to terrify us, let us hear Christ saying, It is I, be not afraid, i. e. I am ever near you, God unchangeable, immoveable; let not any false fears destroy your faith in Me. Observe too our Lord did not come when the danger was beginning, but when it was ending. He suffers us to remain in the midst of dangers and tribulations, that we may be proved thereby, and flee for succour to Him Who is able to give us deliverance when we least expect it. When man's understanding can no longer help him, then the Divine deliverance comes. If we are willing also to receive Christ into the ship, i. e. to live in our hearts, we shall find ourselves immediately in the place, where we wish to be, i. e. heaven.
9 more voices on this verse

The Medieval Church4 voices

A commentator

Bonaventure

Commentary on John, Chapter 6 · Written in the 13th century.

proposed

"But he said to them: It is I," namely, who protect you: "do not be afraid." When the Lord is present, there is nothing to fear, according to that verse of the Psalm: "The Lord is my protector: of whom shall I be afraid?" And …

A commentator

Bede

COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.14 · Written before 735.

proposed

He says only "I am." He trusts that they will easily recognize his voice, which was so familiar to them. Or, more probably, he shows that he was the same who said to Moses, "Say to the children of Israel, the one who is has …

A commentator

Bede

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 735.

proposed

(in Matt. c. xiv.) He does not say, I am Jesus, but only I am. He trusts to their easily recognising a voice, which was so familiar to them, or, as is more probable, He shows that He was the same who said to Moses, I am that I am (Exod. 3:14)

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on John · Written before 1107.

proposed

When they were in danger, He appears before them and by His word drives away their fear, and produces calm upon the sea, and thus creates a twofold calm—He quiets the disturbance in their souls and the tumult on the sea. And now many of …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

), It is I, be not afraid! Nothing is more powerful to convince sinners than that word, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest; nothing more powerful to comfort saints than this, " I am Jesus whom thou lovest; it is I that love thee, and seek thy good; be not afraid of me, nor of the storm." When trouble is nigh Christ is nigh.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens

But he saith to them, it is I, be not afraid. See Gill on Mat 14:27.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

At once He departed, and left them. He wanted no such honors as these. He had come, "not to be ministered unto, but, to minister and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:28.) We see the same spirit and frame of mind all through our Lord's earthly ministry. From His cradle to His grave He was "clothed with humility." (1 Pet. 5:5.) He was born of a poor woman, and spent the first thirty years of His life in a carpenter's house at Nazareth. He was followed by poor companions—many of them no better than fishermen.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

It is I; be not afraid--Matthew (Mt 14:27) and Mark (Mr 6:50) give before these exhilarating words, that to them well-known one, "Be of good cheer!"
At once He departed, and left them. He wanted no such honors as these. He had come, "not to be ministered unto, but, to minister and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:28.) We see the same spirit and frame of mind all through our Lord's earthly ministry. From His cradle to His grave He was "clothed with humility." (1 Pet. 5:5.) He was born of a poor woman, and spent the first thirty years of His life in a carpenter's house at Nazareth. He was followed by poor companions—many of them no better than fishermen. He was poor in his manner of living—"The foxes had holes, and the birds of the air their nests—but the Son of man had not where to lay his head" (Matt. 8:20.) When He went on the Sea of Galilee, it was in a borrowed boat. When He rode into Jerusalem, it was on a borrowed donkey. When He was buried, it was in a borrowed tomb. "Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor." (2 Cor. 8:9.) The example is one which ought to be far more remembered than it is. How common are pride, and ambition, and high-mindedness! How rare are humility and lowly-mindedness! How few ever refuse greatness when offered to them! How many are continually seeking great things for themselves, and forgetting the injunction—"Seek them not!" (Jer. 45:5.) Surely it was not for nothing that our Lord, after washing the disciples' feet, said—"I have given you an example that you should do as I have done." (John 13:15.) There is little, it may be feared, of that feet-washing spirit among Christians. But whether men will hear or forbear, humility is the queen of the graces. "Tell me," it has been said, "how much humility a man has, and I will tell you how much religion he has." Humility is the first step toward heaven, and the true way to honor. "He that humbles himself shall be exalted." (Luke 18:14.)

The words behind it

8 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Isaiah 41:10

    Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…

    it leads to

    • Joshua 1:9

      Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

    • Isaiah 43:1–2

      Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your…

    • Romans 8:31

      What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

    • Deuteronomy 31:6–8

      Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

    • Philippians 4:13

      I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

  • Through

    Isaiah 44:8

    Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I know not one.”

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 43:10

      “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed,…

    • 1 Samuel 2:2

      There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God.

    • Deuteronomy 4:35

      You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him.

Where this verse is studied

About John

The Feeding of the Multitude — Gustave Doré (engraving), public domain
The Feeding of the Multitude — Gustave Doré (engraving), public domain
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, John; Bede, COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.14; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on John, Chapter 6; Brooke Foss Westcott, The Gospel according to St. John; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of John 43; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on John and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on John.