John 8:39 kjv
They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
John 8:39 nkjv
They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.
John 8:39 niv
"Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do what Abraham did.
John 8:39 esv
They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,
John 8:39 nlt
"Our father is Abraham!" they declared. "No," Jesus replied, "for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example.
John 8 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 8:39 | "They answered him, 'Abraham is our father.'" | Abraham's descent |
| John 8:33 | "We are Abraham's descendants..." | Spiritual vs. physical descent |
| Gal 3:29 | "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring..." | Belonging to Christ signifies true lineage |
| Rom 4:11 | "...a sign of that righteousness he had yet to receive. He is the father of all who believe..." | Abraham father of believers |
| Rom 9:7-8 | "...nor because they are his offspring have they all been so called children of God..." | Not all physical descendants are true |
| Matt 3:9 | "And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'" | Repentance for empty claims |
| Gen 22:17 | "...I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars..." | Abraham's promise of descendants |
| Gen 26:4-5 | "...and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me..." | Obedience as key |
| John 8:56 | "Your father Abraham rejoiced greatly at the thought of seeing my day..." | Abraham's foreknowledge |
| John 1:14 | "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us..." | Jesus' divine nature |
| Heb 11:17-19 | "By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac..." | Abraham's faith and obedience |
| John 8:38 | "I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence..." | Jesus' intimate knowledge of God |
| 1 John 2:4 | "Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar..." | Obedience as proof of knowledge |
| Rom 2:28-29 | "A person is not truly a Jew if he is one only outwardly..." | Inner vs. outward covenant |
| John 8:44 | "You belong to your father the devil..." | False spiritual lineage |
| John 8:42 | "Jesus said to them, 'If God were your father, you would love me...'" | Love for Jesus as evidence |
| Isa 58:1-2 | "Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet..." | Calling out the people's sins |
| Jer 7:1-7 | "This is the message I received from the Lord:" | Warnings against false security |
| Col 1:13 | "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves," | Deliverance through Christ |
| Luke 1:17 | "...and he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah..." | Preparation for the Lord |
| John 8:47 | "Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. You do not belong because you do not hear.” | Hearing God's words |
John 8 verses
John 8 39 Meaning
Jesus states that His listeners should have recognized His divine origin if they understood Abraham's true children. He emphasizes that Abraham's actions, specifically his obedience to God's word, marked him as Abraham's true descendant. Jesus implies His listeners lack this understanding and the spiritual connection to Abraham that genuine faith provides.
John 8 39 Context
In John chapter 8, Jesus is in Jerusalem at the temple, teaching the people. He declares His divine identity and authority, claiming to be the light of the world and that He speaks God's words. The Jewish leaders challenge Him, asserting their lineage from Abraham. This exchange occurs within a broader narrative of conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities, who question His claims, His teachings, and His authority. The historical context is the time of Jesus' ministry in Judea, under Roman occupation, with complex internal religious and political dynamics among the Jewish people. The specific audience likely includes both believers and the Jewish leadership who were often in opposition to Jesus.
John 8 39 Word Analysis
- You (Greek: hymeis) - Plural pronoun, referring to the group of Jews Jesus is addressing, particularly those who have challenged Him.
- seek (Greek: zēteite) - Present active indicative of zēteō, meaning to search for, desire, try to find, aim at. Implies an active pursuit or a habitual state of trying to accomplish something.
- to do (Greek: poiein) - Present active infinitive of poieō, meaning to do, make, perform, cause. Indicates an ongoing action or intention.
- your (Greek: hymōn) - Possessive pronoun, referring to the Jews’ actions and motivations.
- father (Greek: pateros) - Genitive masculine singular of pater, father. Refers to the one from whom someone is descended or from whom authority originates. Here, it relates to Abraham.
- what (Greek: ha) - Neuter plural relative pronoun, referring to the deeds or things they are trying to do.
- you (Greek: hymeis) - Again, referring to the Jews addressed.
- have seen (Greek: heōrakate) - Perfect active indicative of horaō, to see, perceive, behold, observe. Implies a past action with present results or a sustained state of having seen.
- in (Greek: para) - Preposition indicating presence with or by.
- my (Greek: emou) - Possessive pronoun, referring to Jesus.
- Father (Greek: Patros) - Genitive masculine singular of Pater, Father. Refers to God the Father, the ultimate source and authority.
- Words/Deeds (Greek: erga) - Nominative plural neuter of ergon, work, deed, action. Jesus is contrasting the works He has seen His Father doing with the listeners' own actions.
- words: In many translations and theological interpretations, this phrase is understood as "works" or "deeds," aligning with the contrast Jesus often makes between His works and their rejection of Him, and referencing Jesus’ constant participation in the Father's will and actions. (John 5:19, 30). The Greek word erga (works) is implied through the context and common parallel verses.
John 8 39 Bonus Section
The contrast between physical lineage and spiritual lineage is a recurring theme in John's Gospel. Jesus distinguishes between being born "of blood" or "of the flesh" (physical birth, John 1:13) and being born "of God" (spiritual rebirth). This verse fits into the argument that true relationship with God, and thus true spiritual heritage, is determined not by ancestry or tradition alone, but by faith and obedience that aligns with God’s will and embraces Jesus Himself. Abraham is presented as the exemplar of faith and obedience, a spiritual father to all who follow his example by believing in God’s promises, including the ultimate promise seen in Christ.
John 8 39 Commentary
Jesus highlights the superficial understanding of their heritage that the Jewish leaders possess. They claim Abraham as their father based on physical descent. However, Jesus reveals that true sonship of Abraham is defined by an inner reality – adherence to God's word, demonstrated through Abraham's life of obedience. Abraham’s faith and actions, particularly his obedience unto death (as in the binding of Isaac), are the criteria. Jesus is contrasting the outward, physical claim with the inward, spiritual reality. To be Abraham’s true seed means to do the works of Abraham, which flowed from his faith and obedience to God’s directives. By pointing to what he has seen his Father doing, Jesus connects His own identity and actions to divine authority and true lineage. The implication is clear: their rejection of Jesus means they are not truly Abraham's children in the spiritual sense that matters to God.