John 8 49

John 8:49 kjv

Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

John 8:49 nkjv

Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.

John 8:49 niv

"I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.

John 8:49 esv

Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.

John 8:49 nlt

"No," Jesus said, "I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father ? and you dishonor me.

John 8 verses

John 8 49 Meaning

In John 8:49, Jesus directly responds to the Jewish leaders' slanderous accusation that He is demon-possessed. He firmly refutes their charge, not by merely denying it, but by articulating His true identity and mission: He consistently honors God the Father in all His actions and teachings. In stark contrast, He exposes the underlying spiritual malady of His accusers, stating that they are the ones who dishonor Him by rejecting His divine claims and discrediting His words, thereby also dishonoring the Father who sent Him.

John 8 49 Context

John 8 presents a deeply confrontational discourse between Jesus and various groups of Jewish people, particularly the Pharisees and religious leaders. The chapter begins with the incident of the woman caught in adultery, where Jesus challenges legalism and reveals grace. This sets the stage for escalating tension as Jesus asserts His divine identity, beginning with His declaration as the "Light of the World" (8:12). He teaches about truth, freedom from sin, and the spiritual lineage, contrasting genuine children of Abraham with those whose actions reveal their father as the devil. The dispute culminates when Jesus’ opponents, frustrated by His claims and inability to trap Him, lash out with severe insults, culminating in the accusation that He is a Samaritan (a term of ethnic and religious contempt) and demon-possessed (8:48). John 8:49 is Jesus’ direct refutation of this specific and deeply offensive charge. Historically, such accusations were intended to undermine His authority and dismiss His teachings entirely, branding Him as a dangerous blasphemer influenced by evil spirits, thereby making His claims unreliable and worthy of rejection by devout Jews. This intense exchange underscores the irreconcilable differences in their understanding of God, truth, and the Messiah.

John 8 49 Word analysis

• "I do not have a demon" (ἐγὼ δαιμόνιον οὐκ ἔχω, egō daimonion ouk echō):

  • Δαιμόνιον (daimonion): "demon." This term signifies an evil spirit or a supernatural malevolent entity. The accusation implies not just demonic influence, but outright possession or a madness akin to it, an association with spiritual evil that would render His words and actions invalid. It was a severe theological insult intended to entirely discredit Jesus’ claims and authority, suggesting His power came from unholy sources rather than God.

• "but I honor" (ἀλλὰ τιμῶ, alla timō):

  • ἀλλὰ (alla): "but." This strong adversative conjunction signals a direct contrast, pivoting from His denial of their charge to an affirmation of His true character and action.
  • τιμῶ (timō): "I honor." This word signifies showing reverence, respect, and high regard. In this context, it speaks to Jesus' deep, unwavering devotion, obedience, and alignment with God the Father. His entire life and ministry were dedicated to magnifying the Father and doing His will, in stark opposition to any suggestion of demonic alliance.

• "My Father" (τὸν Πατέρα μου, ton Patera mou):

  • Πατέρα (Patera): "Father." This term establishes the profound and unique relationship between Jesus and God. Jesus consistently refers to God as "My Father," highlighting His divine Sonship and direct connection to God as the source of His authority, words, and works.
  • μου (mou): "My." The possessive emphasizes the exclusivity and intimacy of this relationship, setting Him apart from those who merely claim God as their father but fail to act like it.

• "and you dishonor Me" (ὑμεῖς δὲ ἀτιμάζετε με, humeis de atimazete me):

  • ὑμεῖς (humeis): "you" (plural). Jesus specifically targets His accusers, the Jewish leaders, with their collective responsibility for the slander.
  • ἀτιμάζετε (atimazete): "you dishonor" or "treat with contempt." This verb is the direct opposite of timō ("honor"). It means to disgrace, insult, or show disrespect. Their actions of rejecting His claims, maligning His character, and attempting to discredit Him constitute a direct act of dishonoring the Son.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father": Jesus does not simply deny the demon accusation in isolation. He immediately counteracts it with a positive affirmation of His divine purpose. The very reason they wrongly perceive Him as demon-possessed is their inability to recognize His profound devotion and obedient honor for the Father. His actions, which they interpret as demonic, are in fact perfectly aligned with His divine commission to glorify the Father. This coupling establishes His innocence and frames His mission in one declarative statement, asserting His true nature in contrast to their false accusation.
  • "I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me": This phrase draws a sharp dichotomy, illustrating two antithetical spiritual positions. Jesus' perfect honor for the Father stands in direct contrast to His opponents' actions of dishonoring Him. This statement is a profound theological declaration: to dishonor the Son (who perfectly honors the Father) is, by extension, to dishonor the Father who sent Him. It underscores the unity of purpose and being between the Father and the Son, where rejection of one constitutes rejection of the other (Jn 5:23). Their rejection reveals their spiritual blindness and their opposition to God Himself, not just to Jesus as a man, highlighting the severe consequences of their disbelief.

John 8 49 Bonus section

The structure of Jesus' response, moving from a denial ("I do not have a demon") to an affirmation about Himself and the Father ("but I honor My Father"), and then to an indictment of His accusers ("and you dishonor Me"), is a characteristic pattern in John's Gospel. This progression is not just an argument; it's a divine disclosure that forces a decision upon the hearers. It underscores the spiritual reality that neutrality towards Jesus is impossible. To fail to honor Him is to actively dishonor Him, and by extension, to dishonor the very God whom His opponents claimed to serve. This verse serves as a litmus test for true worship and spiritual alignment. It implies that true understanding and honor for God the Father necessitates recognition and honor for Jesus the Son. The intensity of this exchange foreshadows the ultimate conflict and separation between light and darkness that is a central theme in John's narrative.

John 8 49 Commentary

Jesus' reply in John 8:49 is not merely a defensive retort; it's a profound statement affirming His divine origin and exposing the spiritual state of His accusers. By firmly denying the demon accusation, Jesus asserts His sanity, purity, and connection to God, countering a charge designed to utterly nullify His authority. The core of His response pivots on the theme of honor: His consistent and perfect honor for the Father is the hallmark of His being and ministry. Every action and word from Jesus is rooted in a desire to glorify God. In stark contrast, He points out that the Jewish leaders, by their malicious slanders and rejection, actively dishonor Him. This dishonor is not just a personal slight but a theological rejection of God Himself, for to dishonor the Son, whom the Father has sent and fully invested with His authority, is to dishonor the Father. The verse highlights the radical difference between Jesus' life of perfect submission and reverence for God and His opponents' spiritual blindness and antagonism, revealing their true alienation from God despite their claims.