^6:60Then many of his disciples, when they heard these things,⁹⁹ said, “This is a difficult¹⁰⁰ saying!¹⁰¹ Who can understand it?”¹⁰²^6:61When Jesus was aware¹⁰³ that his disciples were complaining¹⁰⁴ about this, he said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended?¹⁰⁵

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Footnotes

99 The words “these things” are not present in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, and must be supplied for the English reader.
100 Or “hard,” “demanding.”
101 Or “teaching”; Grk “word.”
102 Or “obey it”; Grk “hear it.” The Greek word ἀκούω (akouō) could imply hearing with obedience here, in the sense of “obey.” It could also point to the acceptance of what Jesus had just said, (i.e., “who can accept what he said?” However, since the context contains several replies by those in the crowd of hearers that suggest uncertainty or confusion over the meaning of what Jesus had said (6:42; 6:52), the meaning “understand” is preferred here.
103 Grk “When Jesus knew within himself.”
104 Or “were grumbling.”
105 Or “Does this cause you to no longer believe?” (Grk “cause you to stumble?”) Does this cause you to be offended? It became apparent to some of Jesus’ followers at this point that there would be a cost involved in following him. They had taken offense at some of Jesus’ teaching (perhaps the graphic imagery of “eating his flesh” and “drinking his blood,” and Jesus now warned them that if they thought this was a problem, there was an even worse cause for stumbling in store: his upcoming crucifixion (John 6:61b–62). Jesus asked, in effect, “Has what I just taught caused you to stumble? What will you do, then, if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before?” This ascent is to be accomplished through the cross; for John, Jesus’ departure from this world and his return to the Father form one continual movement from cross to resurrection to ascension.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?”

Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this offend you?

NLTNew Living Translation

Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”

Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Thus many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, “This saying is hard! Who can understand it?” But Jesus, because he knew within himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended?

KJV 1900King James Version

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

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