John 8 41

John 8:41 kjv

Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

John 8:41 nkjv

You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father?God."

John 8:41 niv

You are doing the works of your own father." "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."

John 8:41 esv

You are doing the works your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father ? even God."

John 8:41 nlt

No, you are imitating your real father." They replied, "We aren't illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father."

John 8 verses

John 8 41 Meaning

John 8:41 encapsulates a pivotal moment in Jesus' heated exchange with the Jewish leaders. Jesus states that their actions demonstrate their true spiritual parentage, declaring they are doing "the works your father did." They defensively retort, denying any illegitimate birth ("We are not born of sexual immorality") and firmly asserting their unique relationship with God ("We have one Father—God"). The verse highlights a profound disagreement over spiritual identity, contrasting Jesus' discernment of their spiritual fruit with their insistence on physical and theological lineage.

John 8 41 Context

This verse is part of a sustained, escalating debate between Jesus and certain Jews (likely the Jewish authorities, John 8:13). The discourse, spanning John 8:12-59, revolves around profound questions of identity, truth, freedom, and divine sonship. Jesus asserts his unique relationship with the Father and his divine origin (8:12, 8:23, 8:29, 8:38). He contrasts physical lineage (Abraham's descendants) with true spiritual freedom and parentage (8:31-36). When Jesus tells them their desire is to kill him and their "works" stem from their father (8:37-40), He is essentially implying a paternity other than Abraham or God.

Historically and culturally, the Jewish people greatly valued their direct physical descent from Abraham and their covenantal relationship with God as His chosen people, which often included viewing God as their collective Father (Deut 32:6; Isa 63:16). The suggestion of another father, especially one whose works were to kill the truth-teller (Jesus), was an outrageous insult and a challenge to their deepest sense of identity. Their immediate defensive response ("We are not born of sexual immorality") not only proudly asserted their legitimacy but also possibly cast a veiled aspersion on Jesus' own birth, responding insult for insult in their agitated state.

John 8 41 Word analysis

• ποιεῖτε (poieite) – "You are doing/performing": This is a present active indicative verb, emphasizing continuous action, not just a single event. It signifies a lifestyle or persistent pattern of behavior. Jesus points to their ongoing conduct and intentions, specifically their desire to kill Him (John 8:40), as the definitive evidence of their true spiritual nature.
• ἔργα (erga) – "works/deeds": Refers to actions or accomplishments. Here, Jesus uses "works" to define character. These are not merely neutral acts but significant manifestations of their inner being and spiritual allegiance. The specific "works" include seeking to kill Jesus and rejecting His truth (John 8:40, 44).
• τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν (tou patros hymōn) – "your father": While grammatically singular, it functions collectively. Jesus has already implied their true, non-divine father (8:38), and will explicitly name him as the devil in 8:44. This challenges their presumed fatherhood by Abraham and, more profoundly, by God.
• Ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἐκ πορνείας ἐγεννήθημεν (Hēmeis ouk ek porneias egennēthēmen) – "We are not born of sexual immorality":
  • πορνείας (porneias) – "sexual immorality/fornication/prostitution": This term carries both literal and figurative meanings crucial for understanding the response.
    1. Literal: It is a proud assertion of their legitimate Jewish birth, contrasting their origin with any potential illegitimacy. This might also be an underhanded accusation against Jesus, hinting at contemporary rumors about His birth, perhaps referencing a widely circulating insinuation of His illegitimacy due to Mary's pregnancy before marriage (Matt 1:18-19).
    2. Figurative/Spiritual: In Old Testament prophecy, "sexual immorality" or "harlotry" frequently metaphorically described Israel's idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness to God (e.g., Jer 3:6-9; Ezek 16; Hos 1-3). Their denial, in this sense, rejects any implication of spiritual impurity, claiming exclusive faithfulness to God.
  • ἐγεννήθημεν (egennēthēmen) – "we were born": A passive aorist verb, highlighting their origin and the circumstances of their birth. They assert purity at their foundation.
• ἕνα πατέρα ἔχομεν, τὸν Θεόν (hena patera echomen, ton Theon) – "We have one Father—God": A bold, theological declaration of their monotheistic belief and direct spiritual relationship with God. They assert this against Jesus' perceived slur, attempting to dismiss his accusations by reaffirming what they believe is an indisputable spiritual fact. They claim God as their exclusive Father, failing to recognize that accepting Jesus, God's unique Son, is essential to truly being children of God.

Words-group analysis:

• "You are doing the works your father did.": This statement by Jesus links their current hostile behavior—seeking to kill Him and rejecting the truth—directly to their spiritual paternity. Their actions, not their ancestry claims, reveal their true lineage. Jesus points to an identity forged in behavior rather than just physical heritage or religious profession. This sets up the revelation of their true father in John 8:44 as the devil, a murderer and liar from the beginning.
• "We are not born of sexual immorality.": This defensive and possibly accusatory retort operates on multiple levels. On one hand, it's a statement of Jewish pride in their legitimate, pure lineage. On the other, it could be a deliberate insult aimed at Jesus's own contested birth (from a Jewish perspective, Mary was pregnant before Joseph and her were together). Figuratively, it rejects Jesus' veiled accusation of spiritual harlotry (idolatry or unfaithfulness to God), affirming their self-perception of faithfulness to God alone.
• "We have one Father—God.": This declaration underscores their profound conviction that God alone is their Father. It represents their rejection of any suggested spiritual illegitimacy or alternative paternity. They claim an exclusive relationship with the one true God, ironically failing to grasp that their very rejection of Jesus, God's unique Son, compromises that claim. They misunderstand that spiritual fatherhood by God requires acceptance of God's revealed truth through His Son.

John 8 41 Bonus section

This verse highlights the profound distinction Jesus draws between physical descent and spiritual reality. For the Jews, their heritage as Abraham's physical children and God's chosen people provided a presumed spiritual safety net. Jesus, however, dismantles this, revealing that true sonship with God is defined not by bloodline or religious profession, but by one's relationship to truth, the reception of His word, and the resultant works (actions and character). The exchange also foreshadows the critical importance of a spiritual new birth (John 3:3-7) to enter God's kingdom and truly become children of God. The blindness of Jesus' interlocutors underscores that pride in external heritage can be a significant barrier to discerning spiritual truth and recognizing the true source of evil influence in one's life.

John 8 41 Commentary

John 8:41 encapsulates the tragic irony of a people meticulously holding onto their historical and religious identity, yet failing to recognize their spiritual state when confronted by God Incarnate. Jesus challenges their actions, demonstrating that their behavior – particularly their murderous intent towards Him – aligns not with Abraham or God, but with a different, malevolent "father." Their defensive response of not being born "of sexual immorality" simultaneously defends their literal legitimacy as Israelites and might even be a veiled counter-attack on Jesus's own parentage, a significant slight in ancient Jewish society. However, on a deeper, spiritual level, their rejection of Jesus, the very truth from God, means they are indeed acting as "children of spiritual harlotry," alienated from God by their unbelief and resistance. Their claim "We have one Father—God" is profoundly true in the abstract, yet devastatingly false in their present spiritual condition, as their refusal to love or believe the Son fundamentally severs their true relationship with the Father (John 14:6-7, 1 John 2:23).