John 8 26

John 8:26 kjv

I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

John 8:26 nkjv

I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."

John 8:26 niv

"I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world."

John 8:26 esv

I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him."

John 8:26 nlt

I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful."

John 8 verses

John 8 26 Meaning

Jesus asserts that He possesses abundant truth to declare and judgments to render regarding His Jewish interlocutors. However, His immediate focus is to faithfully convey only what He has heard from the Father, who sent Him, because the Father is inherently true and the ultimate source of all divine revelation.

John 8 26 Context

John 8:26 is situated in a highly confrontational discourse between Jesus and "the Jews" (referring to the hostile religious authorities). Following the setting of the Feast of Tabernacles and Jesus' declaration as "the Light of the World" (8:12), the chapter escalates a debate concerning His identity, origin, and the validity of His testimony. The authorities challenge Jesus' self-testimony, arguing it is invalid without an external witness (8:13). Jesus responds by asserting the unique truthfulness of His testimony due to His divine origin and knowledge of where He came from and where He is going (8:14). He claims His Father also bears witness of Him (8:18). This verse comes after Jesus states, "You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one" (8:15) but then immediately adds, "And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true" (8:16). He then highlights their inability to know both Him and the Father because they do not know Him (8:19). The Jews misunderstand His hints about His destination, even considering suicide (8:22), leading Jesus to differentiate His heavenly origin from their earthly one (8:23). He warns that if they do not believe He is "I AM," they will die in their sins (8:24). Their question, "Who are You?" (8:25), sets the stage for 8:26, where Jesus expresses the overwhelming volume of divine truth and judgment He could unload but chooses to speak only what the True One (Father) has conveyed.

John 8 26 Word analysis

• I have much to say: The Greek `πολλὰ ἔχω λέγειν` (polla echō legein) suggests a weighty abundance of declarations. It's not just "many words," but "many important things" or "a great deal" that He possesses and could articulate. This implies deep knowledge of their hearts, motives, and ultimate destiny.
• and to judge: `καὶ κρίνειν` (kai krinein) is significant. This term refers to the act of discerning, evaluating, and passing a verdict. While Jesus said He judges no one yet (Jn 8:15) in terms of condemnation at this stage, He clearly possesses the authority and knowledge to discern their spiritual state and declare righteous judgment, which His words inherently do. He distinguishes between this immediate judgmental declaration and the ultimate eschatological judgment.
• concerning you: `περὶ ὑμῶν` (peri hymōn) is direct and personal. Jesus isn't speaking hypothetically but directly to their spiritual blindness, unbelief, and opposition, which He details extensively throughout the rest of John chapter 8 (e.g., their being "of your father the devil" in 8:44).
• but He who sent Me: `ἀλλ' ὁ πέμψας με` (all' ho pempsas me). This is a foundational theme in John's Gospel, emphasizing Jesus' divine commission. The Greek `πέμπω` (pempō) conveys being commissioned or delegated by a superior authority, establishing Jesus as the Father's legitimate representative. This highlights His unique relationship with the Father and the origin of His authority.
• is true: `ἀληθής ἐστιν` (alēthēs estin). This identifies the Sender (God the Father) as inherently `ἀληθής` (alēthēs), meaning utterly truthful, dependable, faithful, and reliable in His character and words. This provides the ultimate validation for Jesus' testimony and His words, contrasting sharply with the spiritual deceit that pervades the human sphere, particularly that of His adversaries.
• and what I heard from Him: `κἀγὼ ἃ ἤκουσα παρ' αὐτοῦ` (kagō ha ēkousa par' autou). This phrase establishes Jesus' absolute fidelity as a divine messenger. He does not invent His message but faithfully relays precisely what He has `ἤκουσα` (ēkousa, "heard") directly from the Father. This underscores His submission and perfect obedience, making Him the perfect witness. It refutes any claim that He speaks on His own human authority or is fabricating doctrine.
• these I speak to the world: `ταῦτα λαλῶ εἰς τὸν κόσμον` (tauta lalō eis ton kosmon). Jesus' mission extends beyond His immediate audience. `λαλῶ` (lalō) refers to a general manner of speaking or proclaiming, emphasizing the communication of this revealed truth. The term `κόσμον` (kosmon, "world") indicates the universal scope of His message, intended for all humanity, not exclusively for the Jewish nation. His purpose is to illuminate and save, though the "world" often rejects Him (Jn 1:10).

Words-group by words-group analysis data:

• "I have much to say and to judge concerning you": This initial clause highlights Jesus' divine omniscience and judicial authority over humanity, specifically those confronting Him. It indicates His full awareness of their spiritual condition and the damning implications of their unbelief. The phrase suggests a profound well of divine knowledge and the potential for a severe condemnation, which He graciously holds back to reiterate His mission as a faithful revealer of the Father.
• "but He who sent Me is true": This conjunction `ἀλλά` (alla, "but") pivots the discourse from Jesus' personal authority and judgment to the infallible character of His divine Sender. This clause fundamentally validates Jesus' entire mission and message by grounding it in the inherent, unwavering truthfulness of God the Father, thereby reinforcing His own veracity as the Father's representative. It's a statement that not only identifies God as His Sender but also certifies His very nature as reliable.
• "and what I heard from Him, these I speak to the world": This final segment declares Jesus' role as the perfect medium for divine revelation. It affirms that His communication is not self-initiated but directly derived from His intimate communion with the Father. The choice to speak "to the world" with this message demonstrates that the Father's truth, conveyed through the Son, is universally relevant and available to all, forming the basis of faith or judgment for humanity.

John 8 26 Bonus section

The immediate implication of Jesus' statement in John 8:26 is that if the Jews had known Him, they would have also known the Father (Jn 8:19). Their failure to comprehend Jesus' origin and the source of His teaching (8:27: "They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father") reveals their spiritual blindness and serves as a powerful polemic against their perceived spiritual superiority and their self-professed knowledge of God based solely on their Abrahamic lineage (which Jesus addresses pointedly later in the chapter, 8:39-47). This verse also introduces the recurring Johannine theme of the Father's 'truth' (ἀλήθεια - alētheia) being transmitted through the Son, contrasting it with human falsehood or misunderstanding. The weight of "much to say and to judge" hints at the severe future consequences of their persistent unbelief and their rejection of God's perfect truth spoken through His Son.

John 8 26 Commentary

In John 8:26, Jesus asserts His profound divine knowledge and judicial authority, revealing that He possesses ample cause and justification to deliver severe pronouncements and judgments against His unbelieving adversaries. However, He immediately qualifies this, stating that His current purpose is not to exhaustively pronounce every potential judgment but rather to faithfully communicate only what He has heard from God the Father. This pivot is critical: Jesus prioritizes His role as the truthful witness, relying on the Father's inherent truthfulness and the authenticity of His divine commission. By declaring, "He who sent Me is true," Jesus grounds the validity and trustworthiness of His own message in the unwavering reliability of God Himself. His words are not His own human interpretations but direct, revealed truth from the only God who cannot lie, thus offering the world the sure path to salvation through belief in Him as the Sent One.