John 8:34 kjv
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
John 8:34 nkjv
Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
John 8:34 niv
Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
John 8:34 esv
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
John 8:34 nlt
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
John 8 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 6:16 | Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves... to sin, resulting in death? | Illustrates the master-slave relationship with sin and its ultimate outcome. |
| Rom 6:20 | For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. | Paul directly equates those outside Christ as slaves to sin. |
| Tit 3:3 | For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures... | Confirms the universal human condition of being enslaved before salvation. |
| 2 Pet 2:19 | for by what a person is overcome, he is also enslaved. | States the principle of spiritual slavery: whatever defeats you, masters you. |
| John 8:36 | So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. | Jesus' promise of genuine freedom, highlighting His role in liberation. |
| Gal 5:1 | It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. | Emphasizes Christ's work of freeing believers from bondage, including sin's. |
| Rom 8:2 | For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. | Shows how Christ's work liberates from the dominion of sin. |
| 2 Cor 3:17 | Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. | Links spiritual freedom directly to the presence of the Holy Spirit. |
| Rom 6:18 | and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. | Contrasts slavery to sin with becoming a servant of righteousness. |
| Rom 6:22 | But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification... | The transformed state: freed from sin, enslaved to God. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Reveals the ultimate consequence of being a servant of sin. |
| Jas 1:15 | Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it brings forth death. | Explains the progression and ultimate outcome of unaddressed sin. |
| John 8:44 | You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father... | Reveals the true master of those who practice sin apart from God. |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning... | Direct statement that continuous sin identifies one with the devil. |
| Lk 4:18 (Isa 61:1) | The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to proclaim good news... to proclaim release to the captives... | Jesus' mission to bring liberation from spiritual captivity. |
| Isa 49:9 | Saying to those bound, 'Go forth,' and to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' | Prophetic announcement of deliverance from bondage. |
| Gen 4:7 | If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it. | Depicts sin as an entity that seeks to dominate and enslave. |
| Isa 59:2 | But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you... | Shows sin's effect in separating and alienating from God. |
| Rom 7:23 | but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin... | Paul's struggle with the pervasive power of indwelling sin, illustrating its enslaving nature even for a believer. |
| Rom 7:24 | Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? | The cry for deliverance from sin's bondage, setting up the answer in Christ. |
| Acts 3:19 | Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. | The path to freedom and release from the grip of sin. |
| Eph 2:1 | And you were dead in your offenses and sins... | Describes the spiritual state of humanity prior to receiving God's life, highlighting being held captive by sin. |
| Heb 2:15 | and to set free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. | Points to another form of spiritual slavery that Christ liberates from, rooted in sin. |
John 8 verses
John 8 34 Meaning
John 8:34 states that anyone who habitually practices sin is a slave to sin. This powerful declaration from Jesus contrasts sharply with the claim of the Jewish people that they had never been enslaved. Jesus unveils a spiritual bondage, far more profound than any physical captivity, revealing that persistent transgression leads to a state of being owned and controlled by sin itself, thereby stripping one of true liberty.
John 8 34 Context
John 8:34 is embedded within a heated debate between Jesus and the Jewish people in the Temple treasury. This larger discourse (John 8:31-59) focuses on the nature of truth, freedom, spiritual parentage, and witness. Prior to this verse, Jesus tells those who believed in Him that if they continue in His word, they will know the truth, and the truth will make them free (John 8:31-32). The Jewish interlocutors, despite having experienced physical servitude historically (e.g., in Egypt, Babylon) and living under Roman occupation, adamantly assert their unwavering freedom due to their lineage as "Abraham's descendants" (John 8:33). Jesus's statement in verse 34 directly challenges their national and religious pride, shifting the focus from physical lineage and political autonomy to a deeper, spiritual reality of freedom and bondage. He reveals that their true master is not Rome or any earthly power, but sin itself, a truth they were either unaware of or unwilling to acknowledge.
John 8 34 Word analysis
- Jesus: The divine Son of God, speaking with ultimate authority. His identity as the Christ lends full weight to His pronouncements.
- answered them: A direct response to their denial of being enslaved, reframing the definition of "freedom."
- Verily, verily (ἀμὴν ἀμὴν -
amēn amēn): "Truly, truly" or "Amen, amen." This is an emphatic double affirmation, characteristic of Jesus in John's Gospel. It signals that what follows is an absolutely certain and profoundly significant truth that demands attention. It underscores His divine authority and the unwavering nature of His declaration. - I say unto you: A declarative statement, an authoritative pronouncement, indicating a teaching of deep importance directly from the Master.
- Whosoever (πᾶς ὁ -
pas ho): "Every one," "anyone who." This term emphasizes universality. The truth applies to any person, without exception or distinction of lineage or status, whether Jew or Gentile, religious leader or common person. It highlights that the state of spiritual slavery is a universal human condition outside of Christ. - committeth sin (ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν -
ho poion tēn hamartian): This is a continuous present participle, literally "the one doing the sin" or "the one practicing sin." It doesn't refer to an occasional, accidental lapse or a single act (hamartano), but implies a habitual practice, a pattern of life, a lifestyle of transgression. It describes someone whose default mode of operation, or whose fundamental allegiance, is characterized by engaging in sin.ἁμαρτία(hamartia): "Sin," meaning missing the mark, falling short of God's holy standard, deviation from His law and character.ποιῶν(poion): "Doing" or "making," denoting active, continuous participation.
- is the servant of sin (δοῦλός ἐστι τῆς ἁμαρτίας -
doulos esti tēs hamartias):δοῦλος(doulos): "Slave" or "bond-servant." This term denotes complete subjugation and ownership, not merely a hired hand. Adouloshas no rights of his own; his will, time, and life belong entirely to his master. He is compelled to obey.ἐστι(esti): "is," indicating an intrinsic state of being.τῆς ἁμαρτίας(tēs hamartias): "of sin." Sin is personified as a tyrannical master.- Words-group Analysis: "committeth sin is the servant of sin": This phrase reveals a profound spiritual dynamic. It posits that a consistent pattern of sinful behavior doesn't merely lead to consequences but signifies a deeper, internal reality: sin itself has become the master. The individual is not just performing acts of sin but is controlled, compelled, and owned by it. There's a master-slave relationship where sin dictates actions, thoughts, and allegiances. This slavery results in a lack of true moral freedom and an inability to choose what is truly good and righteous without external intervention. The one "doing" sin is thus defined by his master, sin.
John 8 34 Bonus section
This verse carries a profound implication for understanding human inability apart from divine intervention. It speaks to a condition of spiritual incapacity where, without Christ, individuals are powerless to truly free themselves from the dominion of sin, no matter how much they might desire it or how morally upright they perceive themselves to be. The concept of sin as a "master" implies not just behavioral patterns but an inherent, pervasive corruption that binds the will. This bondage is distinct from simply making wrong choices; it is a state of being enslaved by an inner force. It explains why outward moral efforts often fail to bring inner freedom and reinforces the absolute necessity of Christ's liberating work as described in the gospel. This statement serves as a stark call for self-reflection on one's true allegiance.
John 8 34 Commentary
John 8:34 is a pivotal statement clarifying the true nature of bondage. Jesus redirects the discussion from physical or national servitude to the spiritual dominion of sin over the human will. By declaring "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin," He highlights that living a life characterized by ongoing sin (not just occasional sin) signifies a state where sin acts as a master, dictating one's actions and fundamentally robbing one of true freedom. This is a condition of spiritual captivity where one's will is no longer genuinely free to choose righteousness but is compelled by sinful desires. The solution, implicitly and explicitly throughout John 8, is liberation through the Son, Jesus Christ, who alone can break this enslaving power (John 8:36).