⁴²Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,^p because I came from God^q and I am here. For I didn’t come on my own, but he sent me. ⁴³Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to^A my word.^r ⁴⁴You are of your father the devil,^s and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer^t from the beginning^u and does not stand in the truth,^v because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature,^B because he is a liar and the father of lies.

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Footnotes

AOr cannot hear
B from his own things

Cross references

l 2Jn 9
m 1Jn 2:29
n Hs 2:4; 1Th 4:3
o Dt 32:6
p Dt 6:5; Lk 10:27; 1Jn 5:1
q Jn 13:3; 16:27; 1Jn 5:20
r Lk 6:47; Jn 18:32
s Mt 4:1; Jn 13:2,27; Eph 2:1–3
t 1Jn 3:15
u Gn 3:1–4; 4:8–9; Ac 26:4; 2Co 11:3; 1Jn 3:8–15; Rv 12:9
v Jn 14:6; Rm 3:7

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

NLTNew Living Translation

No, you are imitating your real father.”

They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”

Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

You are doing the deeds of your father!”

They said to him, “We were not born from sexual immorality! We have one father, God!” Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I have come forth from God and have come. For I have not come from myself, but that one sent me. Why do you not understand my way of speaking? Because you are not able to listen to my message. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father! That one was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth, because truth is not in him. Whenever he speaks the lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

KJV 1900King James Version

Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

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