John 8 27

John 8:27 kjv

They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

John 8:27 nkjv

They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.

John 8:27 niv

They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.

John 8:27 esv

They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father.

John 8:27 nlt

But they still didn't understand that he was talking about his Father.

John 8 verses

John 8 27 Meaning

John 8:27 states the immediate failure of Jesus' Jewish listeners to grasp the true identity and authority Jesus was continually proclaiming. Despite Jesus explicitly referencing the source of His teaching and actions, they failed to recognize that "He was speaking to them about the Father," referring to His unique and intimate relationship with God, distinguishing Him as the divine Son. Their lack of comprehension indicates a profound spiritual blindness to Jesus' divine origin and unique mission.

John 8 27 Context

John 8 records a heated and complex discourse between Jesus and various groups of Jews, primarily the Pharisees, at the Temple during the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles). The discussion began with the episode of the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:1-11, though textual reliability is debated for this section), transitioning into Jesus declaring Himself as the "Light of the World" (Jn 8:12). Throughout the chapter, Jesus makes profound claims about His origin, His relationship with God, and His unique identity, challenging the traditional understanding of the Jewish leaders. He asserts that He speaks "nothing on His own authority" (Jn 8:28) and that the Father sent Him. The Jewish leaders continuously misunderstand or deliberately misinterpret His words, leading to accusations and counter-accusations regarding His origin, authority, and ultimate identity. Verse 27 highlights their consistent inability to grasp the core truth of Jesus' claims – His direct, unique, and filial relationship with God the Father, from whom He received His teaching and authority. This spiritual inability persists through the chapter, culminating in their attempts to stone Him (Jn 8:59).

John 8 27 Word analysis

• They: Refers to the Jewish interlocutors, primarily the Pharisees and other religious leaders who were questioning Jesus' authority and claims (cf. Jn 8:13). This collective pronoun signifies a prevalent spiritual blindness among those in religious authority at the time.
• did not understand (οὐκ ἔγνωσαν - ouk egnōsan):
  • ouk: Greek negative particle, meaning "not" or "did not."
  • egnōsan: Aorist active indicative form of γιγνώσκω (gignōskō), meaning "to know," "to come to know," "to understand," or "to recognize." The aorist tense implies a definitive failure to grasp the meaning in the moment. It signifies more than a mere lack of information; it points to a profound failure of comprehension, a refusal or inability to truly perceive or discern the spiritual truth of what Jesus was saying. It implies an experiential and relational knowing, not just intellectual assent.
• that He was speaking (ὅτι ... ἔλεγεν - hoti ... elegen):
  • hoti: "that," introduces the content of what was not understood.
  • elegen: Imperfect active indicative of λέγω (legō), "to say" or "to speak." The imperfect tense suggests ongoing or continuous speech, indicating that Jesus was repeatedly speaking or habitually speaking about the Father, yet they continually failed to understand.
• to them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Dative plural pronoun, emphasizing that Jesus was addressing them directly. The message was presented clearly and personally, yet they missed its import.
• about the Father (τὸν Πατέρα - ton Patera):
  • ton: Greek definite article, meaning "the." It specifies the unique Father of Jesus, not just "a father" or "God" in a general sense.
  • Patera: Accusative singular of πατήρ (patēr), "Father." For Jesus, this signifies His unique, divine relationship with God as His actual Father, implying co-existence, shared nature, and intimate knowledge. This was the precise point of scandal and incomprehension for many of His listeners who saw God as the Father of Israel, but not of an individual in such a distinct and divine manner.

Words-group analysis:

• "They did not understand": This phrase captures the spiritual inability and blindness of the listeners. It is a critical statement in John's Gospel, where "knowing" (γινώσκω) is often equated with true faith and salvation, while not understanding signifies rejection or an unregenerate state. Their lack of comprehension wasn't intellectual deficiency but a spiritual block or hardened heart preventing them from recognizing the divine truth.
• "He was speaking... about the Father": This highlights the consistent theme of Jesus' teaching: His unique and intimate relationship with God as the Father, the source of His authority, words, and works. For the Jews, accustomed to referring to God as the Lord (Yahweh) or Elohim, Jesus' consistent emphasis on "the Father" and "My Father" carried implications of equality and unique Sonship that challenged their strictly monotheistic framework without a divine Son.

John 8 27 Bonus section

• The irony in John 8:27 is palpable: Jesus consistently reveals the Father, the ultimate source of truth, yet those hearing Him directly remain blind. This foreshadows His later teaching that "No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him" (Mt 11:27). Their lack of understanding of "the Father" means they inherently failed to grasp the core of Jesus' person and mission.
• This verse underpins the polemical tension between Jesus and the Jewish authorities regarding who their true "father" is. Later in the chapter (Jn 8:44), Jesus directly accuses them of having "the devil as their father" precisely because they fail to understand or receive the words that come from His true Father. Their inability to understand Him on this foundational point reveals their true spiritual lineage.

John 8 27 Commentary

John 8:27 is a succinct yet profound encapsulation of a central theme in John's Gospel: the world's, and particularly Israel's, spiritual inability to recognize Jesus' true identity as the Son of God sent from the Father. This verse reveals not just a casual misunderstanding but a deep-seated spiritual incomprehension. Jesus consistently spoke about His origin, His divine relationship, and the fact that He did nothing on His own authority but everything in perfect obedience to the Father (Jn 8:28). Yet, His audience, despite hearing the words, failed to perceive the divine truth embedded in His claims. Their ouk egnōsan (did not understand/recognize) suggests a refusal to acknowledge the clear implications of Jesus' words about ton Patera (the Father), which denoted a unique filial connection rather than merely a generic reference to God as Creator or Father of the nation. This spiritual blindness stems from their unwilligness to truly hear Jesus' words (Jn 8:43, 47), which points to a moral and spiritual failure rather than a purely intellectual one. They interpreted His words through the lens of their preconceptions, thus missing the eternal reality He presented. This is a critical distinction, as true understanding of Jesus comes only by revelation and a receptiveness of heart, not mere intellectual assent to doctrines. For example, like someone hearing about light, yet refusing to open their eyes to see it, their failure to understand stemmed from an inner spiritual resistance to Jesus' claims of divinity.