Then many of his disciples, when they heard these things, ¹  said, “This is a difficult ²  saying! ³  Who can understand it?” ⁴ 

biblegateway Joh 6:60

Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?"

Therefore, when many of His disciples heard this, they said, "This teaching is hard! Who can accept it?"

Thus many of his disciples, [when they] heard [it], said, "This saying is hard! Who can understand it?

biblegateway Joh 6:60

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

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"

bibleoremus Joh 6:60

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?"

On hearing them, many of his disciples exclaimed, “This is more than we can stand! How can anyone listen to such talk?”

biblegateway Joh 6:60

Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this , said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this], said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

biblegateway Joh 6:60

Then many of his disciples, when they heard these things, ¹  said, “This is a difficult ²  saying! ³  Who can understand it?” ⁴ 

¹ tn 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.

² tn Or “hard,” “demanding.”

³ tn Or “teaching”; Grk “word.”

⁴ tn Or “obey it”; Grk “hear it.” The Greek word ἀκούω (akouw) 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.