King James Bible
"And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?"
The crowd discovers Jesus in Capernaum after he had miraculously walked on water to reach his disciples, while they had traveled by boat. This follows the feeding of the five thousand, and their pursuit shows their determination to find Jesus, though they remain unaware of how he arrived. By addressing Jesus as 'Rabbi' (teacher), they show respect and acknowledge his authority. This formal greeting indicates they seek instruction, though their upcoming dialogue reveals they desire more miraculous bread rather than spiritual teaching. Their question expresses confusion about Jesus's arrival, as they knew he hadn't boarded the boats with his disciples. This puzzlement sets up Jesus's forthcoming discourse about seeking eternal rather than perishable food, as he perceives their material motives.