John 8 33

John 8:33 kjv

They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

John 8:33 nkjv

They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?"

John 8:33 niv

They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

John 8:33 esv

They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"

John 8:33 nlt

"But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, 'You will be set free'?"

John 8 verses

John 8 33 Meaning

John 8:33 records the Jewish audience's defensive response to Jesus' promise of spiritual freedom. They asserted their inherent freedom based on their physical descent from Abraham, believing this lineage automatically granted them a privileged status, free from any form of enslavement, particularly spiritual bondage. They failed to grasp Jesus' concept of truth setting one free from the deeper enslavement of sin, mistaking His spiritual declaration for a claim of political or physical liberation, which they believed they already possessed.

John 8 33 Context

John chapter 8 is a prolonged dialogue between Jesus and various Jewish groups, initiated during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. The discussion quickly pivots from Jesus declaring Himself the "light of the world" (v. 12) to intense debate about His origin, His relationship with the Father, and His identity. Following His assertion that His teaching would lead to knowing the truth, which would set people free (v. 31-32), the "Jews who had believed in Him" (v. 31), though their faith appears superficial, object with the declaration in verse 33. This verse directly introduces the theme of spiritual bondage versus true freedom, laying the groundwork for Jesus' stark teachings about being children of God versus children of the devil. Historically, at this time, Judea was under Roman occupation, though the Jewish people maintained significant internal autonomy under the Sanhedrin. Their boast of never being enslaved highlights a disconnect between their physical reality and their self-perception, or perhaps their denial of spiritual bondage.

John 8 33 Word analysis

• "They answered him" (Ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ - Apekritēsan autō): This refers to the group of Jews mentioned in verse 31, "Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him," though the following interchange suggests their "belief" was more a superficial assent or curiosity rather than true transformative faith. Their quick objection shows immediate resistance and misunderstanding.
• "We are Abraham's offspring" (Σπέρμα Ἀβραάμ ἐσμεν - Sperma Abraam esmen):
  • σπέρμα (sperma): Literally "seed," "sperm," hence "offspring" or "descendant."
  • This claim was fundamental to Jewish identity and privilege. They believed direct lineage from Abraham, God's chosen patriarch, secured their special covenant status and favor with God, distinguishing them from Gentiles. They saw this as an unshakeable guarantee of their spiritual standing and immunity to servitude. This highlights the importance placed on physical, ethnic identity.
• "and have never been enslaved to anyone" (καὶ οὐδενὶ δεδουλεύκαμεν πώποτε - kai oudeni dedouleukamen pōpote):
  • δεδουλεύκαμεν (dedouleukamen): From δουλεύω (douleuō), meaning "to be a slave," "to serve," "to be in bondage." The perfect tense emphasizes a continuous state of not having been enslaved.
  • This is a contentious statement. Historically, Israel had been enslaved in Egypt, then conquered and subjected by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and at that very moment, were under Roman dominion, paying tribute to Caesar.
  • Historical/Cultural Context: This claim likely represents one of three things:
    1. Hyperbole/Collective Memory: They might interpret "enslaved" not as periodic political subjugation or tribute, but as never having lost their distinct religious and cultural identity under foreign rule, or never having all individuals enslaved simultaneously as in Egypt.
    2. Focus on Individual vs. Nation: They might be denying personal slavery for all time, or asserting that God had always preserved a remnant or allowed national sovereignty to be restored.
    3. Spiritual Blindness/Denial: More profoundly, they may be willfully ignorant or in denial about their spiritual enslavement to sin and the Law, as well as the current Roman political reality. They assert political autonomy while paying Roman taxes and being judged by Roman law.
  • Polemics: This statement reveals their deeply ingrained belief that their Abrahamic lineage made them impervious to spiritual bondage and placed them above the need for a savior who offers freedom. It challenges Jesus' implicit (and soon explicit) claim that they were, in fact, slaves, but of a different master – sin.
• "How can you say, 'You will become free'?" (Πῶς σὺ λέγεις, Ἐλεύθεροι γενήσεσθε - Pōs sy legeis, Eleutheroi genēsesthe):
  • Ἐλεύθεροι (Eleutheroi): "Free" (plural, nominative masculine/feminine).
  • γενήσεσθε (genēsesthe): Future indicative, "you will become" or "you will be made."
  • Their question reveals a complete misunderstanding of Jesus' previous statement in verse 32 about the "truth setting them free." They interpret "freedom" solely in political or physical terms, seeing Jesus' offer as redundant or insulting because they perceive themselves as already perfectly free through their heritage. They do not comprehend a spiritual dimension of freedom. This shows their pride and spiritual self-sufficiency.

John 8 33 Bonus section

• Irony of their claim: At the time of this conversation, Judea was a province of the Roman Empire. The Jews paid taxes to Rome and were subject to Roman authority. Their claim of "never been enslaved to anyone" is a stark example of historical amnesia, a selective reading of their own past, or a definition of "enslavement" so narrow that it failed to encompass their contemporary reality. This historical fact deepens the irony of their proud assertion and highlights their delusion about their true status.
• "Abraham's offspring" vs. "Children of Abraham": Jesus distinguishes between "offspring" (sperma), which implies physical descent, and "children" (tekna) which implies moral resemblance and a sharing of values. He later challenges them, saying, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did" (John 8:39), implying that spiritual paternity requires moral conformity, not just physical heritage. This distinction is crucial to understanding Jesus' redefinition of true sonship in the New Covenant.
• Types of Freedom: This verse highlights a common human misunderstanding of freedom. Humans often define freedom externally (e.g., freedom from oppression, poverty, illness), while Jesus offers internal, spiritual freedom (freedom from sin's power, guilt, spiritual death, and ultimately, the tyranny of self). This inner freedom, though unseen, has radical implications for a person's life, peace, and ultimate destiny.

John 8 33 Commentary

John 8:33 encapsulates the fundamental clash between the Jewish audience's ethnocentric and worldly understanding of freedom and identity, and Jesus' profound spiritual truth. The Jews' boast, "We are Abraham's offspring and have never been enslaved to anyone," reveals a deep spiritual blindness rooted in nationalistic pride and a selective memory of their own history. They believed that their physical lineage from Abraham guaranteed their covenant standing and immunity from spiritual bondage. This was a core tenet of their self-perception, believing it conferred an automatic state of righteousness and freedom.

However, Jesus was speaking of a radically different kind of enslavement – not to earthly powers, but to sin (John 8:34), to the spiritual adversary, and ultimately, to death. He offered true freedom that transcends political status, economic conditions, or physical location. This freedom, as He had just declared, came from abiding in His word, knowing the truth, and being set free by the Son (John 8:31-32, 36). Their incredulous question, "How can you say, 'You will become free'?" underscores their failure to grasp the spiritual dimension of Jesus' teaching. They perceived no need for liberation, oblivious to their own chains of moral and spiritual compromise, highlighted by their ongoing desire to kill Jesus (John 8:37). The exchange powerfully demonstrates that true freedom is not a matter of birth or national heritage, but a spiritual deliverance granted by Christ.