John 8:47 kjv
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
John 8:47 nkjv
He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."
John 8:47 niv
Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
John 8:47 esv
Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."
John 8:47 nlt
Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don't listen because you don't belong to God."
John 8 47 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 8:31 | "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.' " | Jesus connects belief with holding to His teaching. |
| John 8:37 | "I know that you are Abraham's descendants; yet, you are eager to kill me, because no one in you embraces my message." | Jesus identifies a disconnect between Abraham's lineage and their reception of His word. |
| John 8:44 | "You belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning..." | Jesus contrasts allegiance to God with allegiance to the devil, evident in listening. |
| John 10:27 | "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." | Jesus likens His followers to sheep who recognize and obey His voice. |
| 1 John 4:6 | "We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception." | The Apostle John echoes Jesus' statement, linking knowing God with listening to His messengers. |
| Acts 17:11 | "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." | The Bereans exemplify receptive listening by diligently checking teachings against Scripture. |
| Luke 11:28 | "But Jesus said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'" | Jesus pronounces a blessing on those who not only hear but also act on God's word. |
| Deut. 28:1 | "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth." | The Old Testament law directly links obedience to God's voice with blessings. |
| Ps. 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | God's word is presented as a guiding principle, implying a need to listen. |
| Isa. 55:3 | "Listen, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." | God calls for listening as the means to enter into His covenant promises. |
| Jer. 7:23 | "But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I command you, that it may be well with you.’" | God explicitly commands listening and obedience as the foundation of the relationship. |
| 1 Sam. 15:22 | "But Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." | Samuel confronts Saul with the superior value of obedience over ritual sacrifice, emphasizing listening. |
| Rom. 10:17 | "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." | Faith is established through hearing the word of God. |
| Heb. 3:7-8 | "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion during the testing in the wilderness'" | The author of Hebrews warns against unresponsiveness, citing the Israelites' rebellion. |
| John 14:26 | "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." | The Holy Spirit's role is to illuminate and enable understanding of Jesus' words. |
| John 6:63 | "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life." | Jesus' words are Spirit-filled, implying that true reception requires a spiritual capacity. |
| John 8:12 | "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" | Belonging to God leads to following Jesus, who provides spiritual light. |
| 1 Cor. 2:14 | "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them, because they are spiritual discerned." | This verse explains why those who "do not belong to God" cannot grasp divine truth. |
| Matt. 11:15 | "Whoever has ears, let them hear." | A repeated call to attentive hearing throughout Jesus' ministry. |
| Mark 4:9 | "He added, 'He who has ears, let him hear.'" | Another instance of Jesus calling for attentiveness to His message. |
John 8 verses
John 8 47 Meaning
Anyone who belongs to God listens carefully to the words of God. But you do not listen, because you do not belong to God.
John 8 47 Context
In John chapter 8, Jesus is engaged in a discourse with some Jews who had "believed" in Him. However, their belief is challenged by their actions and attitudes, particularly their desire to kill Him. Jesus explains that true discipleship involves continuing in His word and knowing the truth that sets them free (John 8:31-32). The Jews, claiming Abraham as their father, struggle with Jesus' assertions, misunderstanding His claims and origin. They defend their lineage and freedom, indicating a disconnect from spiritual liberty. Jesus directly confronts their spiritual heritage, revealing that their father is the devil, evidenced by their rejection of His message and their murderous intent (John 8:42-44). This verse, John 8:47, follows this intense confrontation, serving as a concise summation of the fundamental reason for their rejection: a failure to listen to God's words, stemming from their not belonging to God. The historical context involves Jesus speaking in the temple courts in Jerusalem during a feast, addressing an audience deeply entrenched in their traditions and understanding of their covenant relationship with God. The polemic is against those within Judaism who rejected Jesus' messianic claims and divine authority, framing their opposition not as a disagreement on theology, but as a fundamental issue of spiritual allegiance.
John 8 47 Word Analysis
- οὖν (oun): Therefore, then. A connective particle indicating a consequence or conclusion drawn from what preceded.
- ὁ (ho): The. The definite article, used here to emphasize "he who belongs to God."
- θεοῦ (theou): God. Genitive case, indicating possession or origin – "of God" or "from God."
- ἀκούει (akouei): Hears. Present active indicative third person singular of ἀκούω (akouō). It means to hear, listen to, give heed to, and understand. It implies not just auditory perception but also comprehending and responding.
- τοὺς (tous): The. Definite article in the accusative plural.
- λόγους (logous): Words. Accusative plural of λόγος (logos). Refers to utterances, teachings, sayings, or commands. In this context, it signifies divine revelation.
- τοῦ (tou): Of the. Genitive masculine singular article.
- θεοῦ (theou): God.
- διὰ (dia): Because of, on account of, through. A preposition introducing the reason or cause.
- τοῦτο (touto): This. Neuter accusative singular of οὗτος (houtos), referring back to the immediately preceding idea or statement, functioning as "this reason."
- ὑμεῖς (hymeis): You. Personal pronoun, second person plural, nominative case. Emphasizes the audience being addressed.
- οὐκ (ouk): Not. Negation particle.
- ἀκούετε (akouete): Hear. Present active indicative second person plural of ἀκούω (akouō).
Word-Group Analysis:
- "ὁ ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν, ἀκούει τοὺς λόγους τοῦ θεοῦ" (ho ek tou theou estin, akouei tous logous tou theou): "He who is of God hears the words of God." This clause establishes a direct correlation. Being "of God" (belonging to, originating from) results in the act of hearing God's words. The preposition ἐκ (ek) suggests an origin or source. The verb ἀκούω (akouō) emphasizes attentive reception, not just passive hearing. The definite article ὁ (ho) coupled with the genitive τοῦ θεοῦ (tou theou) specifies "the one belonging to God."
- "διὰ τοῦτο ὑμεῖς οὐκ ἀκούετε, ὅτι τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἐστέ" (dia touto hymeis ouk akouete, hoti tou theou ouk este): "Because of this you do not hear, because you are not of God." This clause presents the consequence and the underlying cause. The connective διὰ τοῦτο (dia touto) links the previous statement to their failure to hear. The pronoun ὑμεῖς (hymeis) directly addresses the listeners. The negation οὐκ (ouk) clearly states their lack of hearing. The subordinate clause ὅτι τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἐστέ (hoti tou theou ouk este) provides the fundamental reason: their lack of belonging to God, again using ἐκ/εἰμί (ek/eimi) structure implied in ἐστέ (este - you are) and the genitive τοῦ θεοῦ (tou theou).
John 8 47 Bonus Section
The word "listen" (ἀκούω - akouō) in Greek carries a stronger sense than simply perceiving sound. It implies giving heed, obeying, and understanding. In its various usages in the New Testament, it can signify a complete act of response to what is heard. This emphasizes that Jesus' accusation is not about their physical ability to hear, but their unwillingness to process and obey His message, a failure rooted in their spiritual disposition. The contrast between belonging to God and not belonging to God is a central theme in John's Gospel, where adherence to Jesus' word is presented as the distinguishing mark of genuine discipleship and a divine origin.
John 8 47 Commentary
This verse establishes a critical principle regarding spiritual understanding and discipleship. Jesus declares that genuine adherence to God is evidenced by a willingness and capacity to hear and receive His words. Those who truly belong to God will actively listen to His divine pronouncements, demonstrating an inner alignment with His will. Conversely, Jesus points to the unresponsiveness of His listeners as proof that they do not belong to God. Their failure to heed His teachings is not merely a matter of opinion or choice; it is a symptom of a deeper spiritual condition. This is consistent with the nature of spiritual discernment described elsewhere in Scripture, where the natural person cannot understand divine things apart from the Spirit. The issue is not the clarity of God's word, but the receptivity of the hearer, which is determined by their fundamental allegiance. Jesus often lamented that people heard His words but did not understand or obey them (e.g., Mark 4:12), attributing this to hardness of heart or a lack of spiritual receptivity, ultimately stemming from a divided allegiance.