John 8 37

John 8:37 kjv

I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

John 8:37 nkjv

"I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.

John 8:37 niv

I know that you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.

John 8:37 esv

I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.

John 8:37 nlt

Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there's no room in your hearts for my message.

John 8 verses

John 8 37 Meaning

Jesus acknowledges the physical descent of the Jewish leaders from Abraham but immediately highlights a profound spiritual disconnect: despite their proud heritage, they actively harbor murderous intent toward Him. The core reason for this hostility is their hardened rejection of His word, which finds no receptivity or lodgment within them, thus leading them away from the truth and toward violent opposition.

John 8 37 Context

This verse occurs amidst a tense debate between Jesus and Jewish leaders, particularly the Pharisees, during the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem. The broader context of John chapter 8 follows Jesus' assertion as the "Light of the World" and His challenge to those who claim to follow Him to "continue in my word" (Jn 8:12, 31). This led to a discussion about truth, freedom, and discipleship. When Jesus promised freedom through the truth, the Jewish leaders defensively declared, "We are Abraham's offspring and have never been enslaved to anyone" (Jn 8:33), resting their identity and presumed righteousness solely on their physical lineage. Jesus then countered this, differentiating between physical and spiritual lineage, stating that only those who obey His word are truly free and are "children of Abraham" in a spiritual sense. John 8:37 is a direct response to their claims, sharply pointing out the glaring contradiction between their physical heritage and their inner spiritual rebellion. Historically, Jewish identity was strongly tied to being a descendant of Abraham and inheriting the covenant promises, leading to a strong sense of pride and an often uncritical reliance on their ancestry for spiritual standing. Jesus' words were a direct challenge to this deeply held cultural and religious conviction, establishing a new criterion for belonging to God's people: acceptance of His word.

John 8 37 Word analysis

• οἶδα (oida) - "I know": This is not just intellectual knowledge (ginōskō), but a deep, intuitive, and experiential knowing. Jesus possesses absolute insight into their physical lineage and, more profoundly, their inner disposition. It highlights His divine omniscience.
• ὅτι (hoti) - "that": A declarative conjunction, introducing the undisputed fact of their ancestry.
• σπέρμα (sperma) Ἀβραάμ (Abraam) - "Abraham's offspring": Literally "seed of Abraham." This acknowledges their biological, genealogical connection to Abraham, which was their central claim to spiritual privilege. It was a source of immense pride and identity. Jesus validates this physical reality before moving to the spiritual.
• ζητεῖτέ (zētete) - "you seek": An active, continuous action. It denotes persistent searching, planning, and desiring to bring something about. It’s not just a momentary thought but a deep-seated intention.
• ἀποκτεῖναι (apokteinai) - "to kill": A violent and ultimate act. This word lays bare the extremity of their hostility, exposing the murderous intent lurking beneath their religious arguments. This polemic highlights the complete disconnect between their religious pretense and their inner depravity.
• ὅτι (hoti) - "because": Introduces the reason for their murderous intent, establishing a direct causal link.
• ὁ (ho) ἐμός (emos) λόγος (logos) - "My word": "My" emphasizes possession; "logos" refers to Jesus' teaching, His message, His divine communication, and, in a broader Johannine sense, even His very person and being as the Word of God incarnate.
• οὐ (ou) χωρεῖ (chōrei) - "does not find a place" / "has no room": Chōrei means "to make room for," "to hold," "to advance," "to receive." The negative ou signifies that Jesus' message is not welcomed, received, or allowed to take root and flourish within their hearts and minds. It suggests a resistant, closed spiritual posture, a deliberate rejection rather than mere lack of comprehension.
• ἐν (en) ὑμῖν (hymin) - "in you": "In you" refers to their inner being, their hearts, minds, and spirits. The rejection is internal and personal, revealing a fundamental spiritual opposition to Jesus and His truth.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:

• "I know that you are Abraham's offspring": Jesus, with divine insight, affirms their biological lineage to Abraham, which they vehemently upheld as the basis of their spiritual privilege. This establishes common ground before confronting their deeper issue, highlighting Jesus' objective truthfulness.
• "yet you seek to kill Me": The emphatic "yet" (implied in the Greek conjunctions) introduces a stark and tragic paradox. Despite their claim to the heritage of a faithful patriarch, their actions reflect extreme hatred and murderous intent towards God's Son. This accusation is profound and directly challenges their religious self-perception.
• "because My word finds no place in you": This phrase provides the ultimate reason for their hostility. Their desire to kill Jesus is not arbitrary but stems directly from their impenetrable rejection of His truth. It is not an intellectual misunderstanding, but a volitional refusal to allow His life-giving message to dwell or take root within their spirits, leaving them barren and hostile. The contrast with "If you continue in my word..." (Jn 8:31) is poignant.

John 8 37 Bonus section

This verse initiates a significant polemical exchange that culminates in Jesus' declaration that their true father is the devil (Jn 8:44), not Abraham. The contrast between physical lineage and spiritual identity becomes a central theme throughout John 8. The word chōrei (has no room/place) often carries connotations of capacity or progression; here, it suggests a complete spiritual blockage. Their hearts are full of something else—their own traditions, pride, or perhaps prejudice against Jesus' claims—leaving no space for His divine revelation. This rejection of the logos is fundamentally a rejection of God Himself and foreshadows the escalating conflict that will lead to Jesus' crucifixion.

John 8 37 Commentary

John 8:37 lays bare the profound spiritual schism between outward religious observance and inward spiritual reality. Jesus grants the Jewish leaders their cherished physical identity as Abraham's descendants, only to immediately confront them with the chilling paradox of their murderous intentions. Their ancestry, which they considered their salvation, was insufficient and, tragically, irrelevant in the face of their present spiritual disposition. The core issue is not intellectual error but a hardened, wilful rejection of Jesus' truth (His "word"). His teaching finds no reception or room to dwell within them, implying a closed, hostile heart rather than merely a misunderstanding. This verse exposes the ultimate danger of outward religiosity without inward spiritual receptivity, demonstrating that a refusal to receive God's word directly leads to an alignment against God's Son. Practically, it warns against relying on external heritage or performance while internally resisting God's living truth; true spiritual sonship is characterized by humble reception of Christ's word.