John 8:52 kjv
Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
John 8:52 nkjv
Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.'
John 8:52 niv
At this they exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death.
John 8:52 esv
The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.'
John 8:52 nlt
The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, 'Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!'
John 8 52 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 1:1 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | Word as God |
| John 5:24 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." | Hear and believe for life |
| John 6:63 | "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." | His words are spirit and life |
| John 12:47 | "If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world." | Hearing and keeping |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Love and obedience |
| John 14:23 | Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." | Keeping His word leads to communion |
| John 17:17 | "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." | Word as truth |
| Rom 10:17 | "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." | Faith from hearing His word |
| 1 John 2:24 | "Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father." | Abiding in His word |
| 1 John 5:11-12 | "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." | Life is in the Son |
| Ps 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light on my path." | Word as guidance |
| Isa 55:10-11 | "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and return not thither, but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, and beget seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so shall my word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." | Word accomplishes purpose |
| Matt 7:24-25 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." | Hearing and doing |
| Luke 11:28 | He said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" | Blessed by hearing and keeping |
| Acts 4:12 | "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is not under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." | Salvation only in Jesus |
| 1 Cor 15:55-57 | "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." | Victory over death |
| Eph 2:1-2 | "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—" | Spiritual death |
| Col 1:13-14 | "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." | Deliverance from darkness |
| Heb 2:14-15 | "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage." | Destroying the power of death |
| 1 Pet 1:23 | "since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God." | Born again by the Word |
| 1 John 3:14 | "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death." | Love and passing from death |
John 8 verses
John 8 52 Meaning
Jesus asserts that if a person keeps His word, they will never experience spiritual death. This assurance is a profound promise of eternal life and a guarantee of enduring spiritual vitality. It emphasizes the life-giving power inherent in obeying Christ's teachings.
John 8 52 Context
This verse occurs during Jesus' confrontation with Jewish leaders in the temple. They question His authority and identity, leading Jesus to explain His divine origin and mission. He speaks of His pre-existence, His unity with the Father, and the spiritual consequences of believing or disbelieving Him. The immediate context involves Jesus addressing those who disbelieve Him despite His clear testimony. His followers, who have believed Him, are contrasted with His adversaries. The promise in this verse serves as a stark delineation of the spiritual destinies based on one's response to Jesus and His words.
John 8 52 Word Analysis
"Verily, verily": This emphatic double assertion, rendered from the Greek "amen, amen," signifies a profound truth that should be received with absolute certainty. It signals an important pronouncement from Jesus.
"I say unto you": A common Aramaic-Semitic formula in Hebrew and Greek gospels, "Amen, amen, I say to you" highlights the speaker's authority and the certainty of the statement that follows.
"If a man keep my saying": "Keep" (Greek: tērēsei) implies more than mere passive acknowledgment. It signifies guarding, observing, and consistently obeying Jesus' words. "Saying" (Greek: ton logon mou) refers to Jesus' spoken words, teachings, doctrine, and the message of salvation.
"He shall never see death": "Never" (Greek: eis ton aiōna) indicates an eternal prohibition or assurance. "See death" (Greek: mê idein thanaton) primarily refers to spiritual death—separation from God—and ultimately, eternal condemnation. While physical death is a consequence of sin that believers will still experience, the spiritual death that signifies judgment and separation from God is averted for those who abide in Christ's word. The promise is also understood in the context of experiencing the resurrection and eternal life, not ceasing to exist.
Group of words: "Keep my saying" points to an active, continuous relationship of obedience and adherence to Jesus' teachings, not just intellectual assent. The consequence, "shall never see death," assures eternal security for the genuine believer, freedom from ultimate spiritual judgment and death.
John 8 52 Bonus Section
The phrase "never see death" is critical. While believers still experience physical death, Jesus here speaks of the second death mentioned in Revelation 20:14, which is the final, eternal separation from God for the unrighteous. Jesus Himself conquered death through His own resurrection, making this promise possible for His followers. The emphasis is on abiding in His truth and His person, which results in experiencing life that transcends physical mortality. The Jewish audience at this time understood death in both physical and spiritual (separation from God, exclusion from God's presence or covenant people) dimensions. Jesus' statement addresses the latter primarily, offering ultimate liberation.
John 8 52 Commentary
Jesus offers a powerful assurance to those who adhere to His teachings: they will never face ultimate spiritual death. This promise underscores the salvific power of His words. It means more than just avoiding physical demise; it points to an eternal existence free from God's judgment. This assurance is not based on human effort alone, but on the power of Christ's message itself and the belief it engenders, leading to a transformed life and an assured eternal destiny. This is consistent with other promises of eternal life for those who believe and obey Jesus.
- Practical Application: To live a life where one's obedience to Christ's teachings is central, securing eternal life. This means actively listening to, learning, and living out Jesus' commands.