Then⁹⁵ they said to Jesus,⁹⁶ “We were not born as a result of immorality!⁹⁷ We have only one Father, God himself.” ^8:42Jesus replied,⁹⁸ “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God and am now here.⁹⁹ I¹⁰⁰ have not come on my own initiative,¹⁰¹ but he¹⁰² sent me. ^8:43Why don’t you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot accept¹⁰³ my teaching.¹⁰⁴^8:44You people¹⁰⁵ are from¹⁰⁶ your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires.¹⁰⁷ He¹⁰⁸ was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth,¹⁰⁹ because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies,¹¹⁰ he speaks according to his own nature,¹¹¹ because he is a liar and the father of lies.¹¹²

Read in Logos

Footnotes

94 The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied in English to clarify the plural Greek pronoun and verb.
95 Important and early witnesses (א B L W 070 it sys,p co) lack the conjunction here, while the earliest witnesses along with many others read οὖν (oun, “therefore”; 𝔓66, 75 C D Θ Ψ 0250 f13 33 𝔐). This conjunction occurs in John some 200 times, far more than in any other NT book. Even though the combined testimony of two early papyri for the conjunction is impressive, the reading seems to be a predictable scribal emendation. In particular, οὖν is frequently used with the plural of εἶπον (eipon, “they said”) in John (in this chapter alone, note vv. 13, 39, 48, 57, and possibly 52). On balance, it is probably best to consider the shorter reading as authentic, even though “Then” is virtually required in translation for English stylistic reasons. has the conjunction in brackets, indicating some doubt as to its authenticity.
96 Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) is specified in the translation for clarity.
97 We were not born as a result of immorality! is ironic, because Jesus’ opponents implied that it was not themselves but Jesus who had been born as a result of immoral behavior. This shows they did not know Jesus’ true origin and were not aware of the supernatural events surrounding his birth. The author does not even bother to refute the opponents’ suggestion but lets it stand, assuming his readers will know the true story.
98 Grk “Jesus said to them.”
99 Or “I came from God and have arrived.”
100 Grk “For I.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.
101 Grk “from myself.”
102 Grk “that one” (referring to God).
103 Grk “you cannot hear,” but this is not a reference to deafness, but rather hearing in the sense of listening to something and responding to it.
104 Grk “my word.”
105 The word “people” is supplied in the translation to clarify that the Greek pronoun and verb are plural.
106 Many translations read “You are of your father the devil” (, , , ) or “You belong to your father, the devil” (), but the Greek preposition ἐκ (ek) emphasizes the idea of source or origin. Jesus said his opponents were the devil’s very offspring (a statement which would certainly infuriate them).
107 Grk “the desires of your father you want to do.”
108 Grk “That one” (referring to the devil).
109 Grk “he does not stand in the truth” (in the sense of maintaining, upholding, or accepting the validity of it).
110 Grk “Whenever he speaks the lie.”
111 Grk “he speaks from his own.”
112 Grk “because he is a liar and the father of it.”

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.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

You’re doing what your father does.”

“We weren’t born of sexual immorality,” they said. “We have one Father—God.”

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn’t come on my own, but he sent me. Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to my word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out 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 tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because 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.

Public Domain