John 8 53

John 8:53 kjv

Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

John 8:53 nkjv

Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?"

John 8:53 niv

Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"

John 8:53 esv

Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?"

John 8:53 nlt

Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"

John 8 verses

John 8 53 Meaning

This verse describes the culmination of Jesus' declaration to His Jewish listeners. After asserting His divine identity and eternal nature, He emphasizes that their understanding of His claim is intrinsically linked to whether they can grasp His eternal existence. Jesus states that if He were to uphold His own testimony as true, then His testimony is indeed valid within their framework. However, if His testimony were false, then it would not be considered valid, and consequently, His claim to eternal existence would also be invalid in their eyes.

John 8 53 Context

This verse, John 8:53, is the climax of a prolonged and intense dialogue between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem, specifically in the Temple courts. In the preceding verses (John 8:31-58), Jesus makes profound claims about His identity and relationship with God the Father, His pre-existence, and His role as the embodiment of truth. He asserts that He has been with the Father from eternity and that Abraham rejoiced to see His day. The Jewish authorities, steeped in their lineage and traditions, reject Jesus’ claims because they do not perceive Him as possessing the eternal Father, nor do they recognize His authority. Their rejection stems from a misunderstanding of Jesus’ divine origin and nature. In this immediate context, Jesus is directly responding to their escalating disbelief and their assertion that He is less than their ancestor Abraham or even God himself.

John 8 53 Word Analysis

• καὶ (kai): A coordinating conjunction, meaning "and" or "even." It connects this statement to the preceding assertions, highlighting the logical flow of Jesus' argument.
• σύ (su): Pronoun, "you." Emphasizes the direct address to His listeners, making the claim personal and challenging.
• εἶ (ei): Verb, second person singular, present indicative of εἰμί (eimi), meaning "you are." A fundamental statement of existence and identity.
• τιμῶν (timōn): Present active participle of τιμάω (timaō), meaning "honoring" or "showing honor." Refers to the action of giving value or respect, either from Jesus to the Father or the Father to Jesus.
• ἐμαυτὸν (emauton): Reflexive pronoun, "myself." Jesus is speaking of His own honor or value.
• εἰ (ei): Conjunction, "if." Introduces a conditional clause, setting up the logic of His testimony.
• τιμῶ (timō): Verb, first person singular, present subjunctive of τιμάω (timaō), meaning "I honor" or "I honor myself." Jesus considers the possibility of Him honoring Himself.
• ἡ (hē): Definite article, feminine singular, "the." Refers to the honor specifically mentioned.
• τιμὴ (timē): Noun, feminine singular, meaning "honor," "value," "respect." Refers to the worth or estimation of His testimony.
• ἐμὴ (emē): Possessive pronoun, first person singular feminine, "my." Indicates that the honor is Jesus' own.
• οὐκ (ouk): Negative adverb, "not."
• ἔστιν (estin): Verb, third person singular, present indicative of εἰμί (eimi), "is." It negates the existence or validity of His own honor.
• ἐξ (ex): Preposition, "from" or "out of." Indicates origin or source.
• ἐμοῦ (emou): Possessive pronoun, first person singular genitive, "me." Refers to Jesus Himself as the source of the honor.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "If you honor me, you honor yourselves": This statement emphasizes that acknowledging Jesus' divine worth and authority is inherently linked to their own spiritual standing. Rejecting Him equates to a rejection of the truth, which ultimately diminishes them.
• "If I honor myself, my honor is not true": Jesus concedes that an honor generated solely from oneself, without divine confirmation or backing, is worthless and lacks genuine validity. This sets up the crucial point about the Father's testimony.
• "from me" (ἐξ ἐμοῦ): This phrase powerfully signifies that any honor or testimony attributed to Jesus is not self-generated but flows from His divine origin and connection to the Father.

John 8 53 Bonus Section

The concept of "honor" (timē) in John’s Gospel is multifaceted. It speaks to worth, dignity, value, and acknowledgment of authority. Jesus’ statement here directly challenges the Jewish leaders' hierarchical worldview, which often revolved around inherited status and adherence to the Law. Jesus is re-defining true honor as originating from one’s relationship and submission to God, not from human lineage or achievement. His own honor, therefore, is not something He pursues for Himself but something that is inherently His because of His relationship with the Father, and that the Father Himself bestows. This is crucial for understanding His unique claim to divinity.

John 8 53 Commentary

Jesus clarifies the source and validity of His testimony. He acknowledges that from a human perspective, self-generated honor lacks substance. However, His claims are not self-serving or merely human assertions. They are grounded in His unity with the Father, who bears witness to Him. Therefore, any honor Jesus claims or gives is derived from and authenticated by the Father, making it undeniably true and valid. This verse underscores the crucial distinction between Jesus' divine nature and the limitations of human testimony, emphasizing that His authority and truthfulness originate from God. The religious leaders’ inability to grasp this leads them to dismiss Him.