John 8 43

John 8:43 kjv

Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

John 8:43 nkjv

Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

John 8:43 niv

Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.

John 8:43 esv

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

John 8:43 nlt

Why can't you understand what I am saying? It's because you can't even hear me!

John 8 verses

John 8 43 Meaning

Jesus here explains to the Jewish leaders why they fail to comprehend His teachings: it is not due to a lack of clarity in His words, but rather an deep-seated spiritual inability within themselves. Their hearts are so resistant to His message of truth and light that they cannot tolerate listening to it, much less understanding or accepting it. This verse highlights a profound spiritual deafness and antagonism that prevents them from recognizing divine truth.

John 8 43 Context

This verse is part of a deeply confrontational and protracted dialogue between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders and certain Jews in the Temple. In John 8, Jesus asserts His divine identity, authority, and connection to the Father, proclaiming Himself as the light of the world and revealing truths about freedom from sin. The Jewish interlocutors repeatedly challenge His claims, accusing Him of blasphemy, having a demon, and being illegitimate. They proudly boast of their lineage from Abraham and claim God as their Father. Jesus progressively unmasks their spiritual blindness and their true parentage, culminating in the declaration of John 8:43-47. The immediate preceding verses see Jesus affirming that those who hear His word are children of God, while those who seek to kill Him prove they are not. Thus, the verse explains why they respond with such animosity and disbelief – their spiritual condition precludes them from receiving divine truth.

John 8 43 Word analysis

• Why: Greek τί (ti), an interrogative particle seeking a reason or cause. Jesus poses a question, but it functions more as a rhetorical challenge, prompting them to consider the underlying spiritual issue for their lack of comprehension. It's a pointer to their internal state.

• do you not understand: Greek οὐ γινώσκετε (ou ginōskete).

  • οὐ (ou): A strong negative particle, signifying an absolute lack or impossibility.
  • γινώσκετε (ginōskete): From γινώσκω (ginoskō), meaning to know, recognize, understand, perceive, or experience. It often implies a personal, experiential knowledge, not just intellectual assent. Jesus points to a deep, experiential spiritual knowledge that they lack, far beyond mere cognitive apprehension. It signifies they fail to spiritually discern or recognize the nature and truth of His message.

• My speech: Greek τὴν λαλιάν τὴν ἐμήν (tēn lalian tēn emēn).

  • λαλιάν (lalian): From λαλιά (lalia), meaning speech, talk, way of speaking, dialect. Unlike λόγος (logos), which refers to the word or message itself, λαλιά focuses on the manner, form, or style of speech. They are not merely failing to grasp individual words or propositions (logos), but they miss the very essence, tone, and authority inherent in His unique manner of expressing divine truth. His manner of speech, though perhaps outwardly simple, carried a profound spiritual authority that they could not receive. It also implies they find His whole discourse objectionable, not just a particular statement.
  • τὴν ἐμήν (tēn emēn): "My" (emphatic possession). It emphasizes that this specific "speech" is His and therefore distinct, divine in origin and content.

• because: Greek ὅτι (hoti), a conjunction introducing the causal explanation for their incomprehension. It links their lack of understanding directly to their inability to hear.

• you cannot hear: Greek οὐ δύνασθε ἀκούειν (ou dynasthe akouein).

  • οὐ δύνασθε (ou dynasthe): From οὐ (ou - not) and δύναμαι (dynamai - to be able, have power, can). This indicates a genuine inability or incapacity, not merely an unwillingness or choice. It’s a spiritual disability rooted in their condition.
  • ἀκούειν (akouein): To hear, to listen. In the New Testament, "to hear" often carries a richer meaning than just perceiving sound; it includes "to understand," "to obey," or "to respond appropriately." Here, it signifies a spiritual deafness or an inability to "listen with reception," meaning they are unable to truly process, absorb, or embrace the spiritual implications of His words. They cannot tolerate hearing it in a way that leads to conviction or change, due to their internal opposition.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Why do you not understand My speech: This phrase reveals Jesus's diagnosis of their condition. It's a lack of profound spiritual insight, not an intellectual deficiency in processing language. They are failing to perceive the divine nature and truth embedded in the way He speaks. Their problem isn't the message's clarity, but their inability to apprehend its deeper reality.

• because you cannot hear: This phrase provides the underlying reason for their lack of understanding. The inability is fundamental and spiritual. It's not just a cognitive blockage, but a heart-level resistance that makes them literally unable to "stand" or "receive" what Jesus says. Their spiritual ears are shut, or what they hear is repulsive to their core being. This suggests their moral and spiritual state has rendered them incapable of properly engaging with the divine message.

John 8 43 Bonus section

The choice of λαλιά (lalia) rather than λόγος (logos) for "speech" is significant. While λόγος generally refers to the content or logical message, λαλιά can refer to the dialect, idiom, or manner of speaking. This nuance suggests that the Jewish leaders found not just the content of Jesus's words offensive, but also His authority and the very form in which He delivered His message, perhaps perceiving Him as a commoner (Jn 7:15) or as one without traditional rabbinic training, yet speaking with unparalleled authority (Mt 7:29). They found His "common" or "unauthorized" manner of speech, pregnant with divine power, utterly unbearable to their elitist and rigid spiritual ears. Their inability to hear reflects a heart condition of willful ignorance and pride that refuses to submit to divine truth.

John 8 43 Commentary

John 8:43 succinctly encapsulates the spiritual tragedy of those who reject Christ. Jesus is not merely lamenting a communication barrier but is diagnosing a spiritual ailment within His hearers. Their failure to understand His "speech" (lalia), meaning His entire manner of divine discourse, stems from their profound "inability to hear" (ou dynasthe akouein). This hearing is not simply auditory perception, but a spiritual receptivity that leads to comprehension and acceptance. They cannot hear because their spiritual faculties are either dulled or actively resistant to divine truth. This inability is directly connected to their spiritual lineage and will, as the subsequent verse (Jn 8:44) reveals. They find Jesus's truth intolerable and unbearable because it directly challenges their cherished beliefs, self-righteousness, and allegiance to a different father. Thus, the verse explains why many encounter God's truth with indifference or hostility: an internal spiritual disposition that prevents true understanding and joyful reception.