John 8:1-59

As noted at the end of John chapter 7, the verses of John 7:53 - 8:11 are either omitted or placed in various locations in the Book of John according to the Greek texts and other manuscripts. To include these verses, John 7:53 and 8:1 would be placed together at the end of John chapter 7, and the next record begins in John 8:2. It is during the time of the end of the Feast of Tent-Pitching (tabernacles, booths; refer to John 7:2).

John 7:53 - 8:1:

^7:53And they journeyed each-person into his house, ^8:1but Jesus journeyed into the Mount of Olives.

John 8:2-11:

^.2But of daybreak again he arrived into the temple and all the people came towards him, and having sat-down he taught them. ^.3But the scribes and the Pharisees lead a woman having been taken-hold² on adultery, and having stood her in (the) midst ^.4they say to him, "Teacher, this woman was taken-hold² on committing-adultery self-caught, ^.5but Moses in our law commanded to stone the people-of-this-kind. Therefore what do you say?" ^.6But they said this tempting him in order that they may have (something) to accuse him.

But Jesus having bent below wrote-down with the finger into the earth. ^.7But as they remained-on asking him he bent-up and said to them, "The sinless-person of you first must throw a stone on her." ^.8And again having bent-down he wrote into the earth. ^.9But the (people) having heard went-out one by-one having begun from the elders and he was left-down only and the woman being in (the) midst. ^.10But Jesus having bent-up said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did not-one-person condemn you?" ^.11And the (woman) said, "Not-one-person, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; you must journey; you must no-longer sin from-now-on."

At daybreak (while the sun was rising) again Jesus approached from the Mount of Olives and came beside the people into the temple inside the city of Jerusalem. During that past time, historically, all the people were coming towards him (the mass or group of people collectively as one unit, one united assembly; this word usually refers to the descendants of Israel/Jacob).  

After Jesus sat down in the correct position to give general instruction, he taught the people.

But the scribes (writers, the students and copiers of the scrolls being knowledgeable of the laws from their own viewpoint) and the Pharisees lead (bring, direct, conduct, convey) a woman who was and continued being taken hold of by them (they had received her in a downward motion seizing or overtaking her) resting or based on adultery (the voluntary action of debasing herself with/by someone or something else that is contaminating or defiling from God's viewpoint).

After they caused her to stand in the middle of them, they say to Jesus...

• "Teacher (instructor, one who teaches or instructs others),
• this woman was taken hold and we still have her in custody
  • based on the fact that she caught herself while committing adultery (she recognized that her behavior was wrong while in the act of perpetrating this crime, self-detected and she reported the matter herself making her sin known),
• but Moses in our law commanded (charged, enjoined)
  • to stone the people of this sort (to hit such women with stones; the throwing of stones was a method of punishment in the Mosaic Law for someone who had broken certain laws - this demonstrated to the law-breaker that she had in effect hurt herself by going against the laws of God which had been written on stone).
• Following-on logically - emphatically what do you say (in Greek there is a definite word for “you” plus the verb meaning “you say” giving emphasis – what do you yourself say)?"

John the writer of the Book of John explains that the scribes and Pharisees during that past time were saying this to Jesus tempting him. The verb "to tempt" in this context means: to make trial-of or try in the bad sense of putting to the test with evil and ill-intent enticing to do wrong, trying to cause another to fall-aside from the truth of God's Word, enticing to make someone disbelieve what God says during that specific situation. The devil is the source of tempting with/by evil.

They were tempting Jesus for the purpose and result that they would have something to accuse him (to actively speak publicly against him as in a court proceeding).

But after Jesus bent below (moved into position with his head bent downwards), he spent time writing down with his finger into the earth (he was writing something on the ground).

The Jerusalem temple was under construction and renovations at this time and therefore it would have dust or dirt on the ground. John the writer does not write the contents of what Jesus wrote because the point is that not everything that God asks us to say or do has to be written down in the scriptures but that God also communicates to His people via the spirit that He gives to them during specific situations and circumstances. 

However, as the scribes and Pharisees were remaining on (persisting, continued staying on) asking him with familiarity to give them his response, Jesus bent-up (moved back up straight, stood erect) and said to them...

• "The sinless-person of you (the one among you without sin, who has not sinned, missed the mark of what God says, committed aberration from the law that God gave to Moses)
• must be the first person to throw a stone on her (cast it at her according to the law corresponding to her sin; refer to Deuteronomy 22:24)."

Again (a second, another, further time, once again) after Jesus bent-down, he wrote into the earth (ground).

However, after the people heard what Jesus said, they were going out from that area one after another having begun from the elders (they started, commenced from the elder-men of the scribes and Pharisees, referring to those having more knowledge, wisdom, dignity, etc, elders in service, not the literal meaning of being older in age than other people). They were fully aware that they themselves had committed sin also.

Then Jesus was left remaining alone and the woman being in the middle of that area where they had placed her (as verse 3 above). Jesus stood up straight again and said to her...

• "Woman (this is a polite address by Jesus to this woman, acknowledging to her that he respected her as a woman, a female member of mankind),
• where are they?
• Did anybody condemn you (did nobody, none of them bring his decision, pronounce sentence, judgment down against you)?"

The woman said, "Not one person, Lord (she addresses Jesus as "Master" recognizing his power and authority in this situation)."

Jesus said...

• "Neither do emphatically I condemn you (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “I” – I myself do not presently bring a decision, pronounce sentence, judgment down against you);
• it is imperative that you journey (pass from here to a different location, leave this area);
• you must no-longer sin from now (it is imperative that you do not miss the mark of God's Word to/for you any longer from this present time onwards, don't commit sin anymore)."

[Reference: Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 17:6 and 7, 22:23 and 24; Luke 21:37; Matthew 4:1, 5:27-32, 19:9; John 1:38, 5:14 and 30; Romans 2:1 and 22, 7:3; Revelation 2:20-22. Also refer to the article Trial and Temptation.]

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Verses 12-20:

^.12Therefore again Jesus uttered-forth to them saying, "I am the light of the world; the (person) following me may never walk in the darkness but he will have the light of the life." ^.13Therefore the Pharisees said to him, "You witness concerning yourself - your witness is not true." ^.14Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if-ever I may witness concerning myself - my witness is true because I knew² from-where I came and where I go, but you did not know² from-where I come or where I go. ^.15You judge according to the flesh - I do not judge not-one-person; ^.16but even if-ever I may judge, the judgment, my judgment is true because I am not only but I and the Father having sent me; ^.17but also in the law, your (law), it was written² that 'The witness of two men is true.' ^.18I am the (one) witnessing concerning myself and the Father having sent me witnesses concerning me."

^.19Therefore they said to him, "Where is your father?" Jesus answered, "Neither did you know² me nor my Father; if you had known me also my Father ever you had known."

^.20These spoken-matters he uttered-forth in the treasury-area teaching in the temple, and not-one-person apprehended him because his hour had not-yet come.

Following-on logically from the previous verses, Jesus further spoke to them saying...

• "Emphatically I am (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “I” – I myself am)
  • the light of the world (the absolute light that God is making available to/for mankind, human-beings, who inhabit the ordered-arrangement that God created);
• the person who is following me (coming after me)
  • would never walk (the word translated “never” comes from two Greek words both meaning “no” or “not” – the double negative emphasizes the point – that person would not ever walk around, he would not at any time behave during the everyday living of his life, conducting himself)
    • in the darkness (within the character, attributes, and sphere of action of the lack or absence of God's light)
  • but on the contrary, at a future time he will have the light of the life (referring to the fact that he will receive God's life which is holy spirit-life, eternal life; God's light consists of, issues, emanates His life)."

Therefore the Pharisees said to him...

• "Emphatically you witness (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “you” – you yourself attest with information, give the declaration of knowledge that you personally have and therefore can state and confirm it on the strength of your own authority)
  • about yourself -
• your witness is not true (there has to be at least 2 witnesses giving the same information about something to establish that it is true from God's viewpoint according to what God says)."

Jesus answered and said to them...

• "Emphatically to the degree and in explanation that
• if it should ever happen that emphatically I would witness (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “I” – I myself would attest with information, give the declaration of knowledge that I personally have and therefore can state and confirm it on the strength of my own authority)
• about myself -
  • my witness is true (it is the essential reality, God’s inherent verity)
  • because I knew and continue to know (perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing with my mind, because it comes within my sphere of perception or circle of vision)
    • from-where (from what location or place that) I came
    • and where I go (into what location or place that I actively lead myself under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else; I know where I am going),
  • but emphatically you did not know and continue not to know (you yourselves do not perceive)
    • from-where I come or where I go.
  • Emphatically you judge (you yourselves make a decision, pronounce sentence)
    • in accordance with the flesh (in conformity and proportion to/with the physical natural body with its soul/breath life, the flesh category, the limitations of mankind, human standards) -
  • emphatically I do not judge not-one-person (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “I” plus the usage of a double negative figuratively which emphasizes that – definitely I myself do not make a decision, pronounce sentence on/regarding anyone, none, nobody);
• but emphatically to the degree and in explanation that
• if it should ever happen that emphatically I would judge (I myself would be judging),
  • the judgment (the action of pronouncing sentence, the process of making a separating decision, the passing of judgment, the decision being made in judgment),
  • emphatically and specifically my judgment (mine - the decision made or arrived-at by me issuing from my judging process)
    • is true (has the quality and essence of trueness, its consistency is truth)
    • because I am not only (not alone) -
    • but contrary to only me, I and the Father Who sent me would be judging together (the word "Father" emphasizes his sonship relationship with God because of having received holy spirit-life from Him and therefore being in God’s family);
• but also in the law,
  • emphatically and specifically your law (yours)
  • it was written and continues written that
    • 'The witness (the attestation or declaration which is borne bringing to light or confirming what is witnessed as being authentic information or knowledge)
    • of 2 men is true (when both agree giving accurate accounts in the witness that they give).'
• Emphatically I am (I myself am)
  • the one who is witnessing about myself
• and the Father Who sent me (as verse 16 above)
  • is witnessing about me."

Following-on logically from what Jesus told them, they were saying to him, "Where is your father (in what location is he giving witness about you since we don't see or hear him here with you)?"

Jesus judicially replied to their question...

• "Neither did you know and continue not to know me (perceive me, see me to the end of perceiving and knowing me with your minds)
  • nor my Father (you don't know/perceive Him either);
• if you had known me (had already perceived me)
  • also my Father ever you had known (in addition at some time you would have perceived my Father - referring to God)."

Jesus spoke these spoken-matters (the portions of the whole of God’s Word, each containing a specific discourse necessary for that particular situation or circumstance) while he was teaching them in the temple at the treasury area, where both men and women could put their offerings. Specifically, this was inside the area known as the court of women, and the men passed through this area to get to the court were only men could be closer to the inner-temple area.

Nobody apprehended (caught, seized) Jesus because his hour had not-yet come (the limited period of time pertaining to Jesus being apprehended was not and still continued not to have come from its starting point towards its ending point of accomplishment).

At that time, the people who were questioning Jesus physically saw him (they knew, perceived him) relative to the flesh category - but they had not seen him (they did not know, perceive him) relative to God's spirit category.

[Reference: Deuteronomy 19:15; Psalm 118:15-27; Matthew 18:16; John 1:4-8, 4:24, 5:22, 23, 31 and 32, 7:28-30 and 37.]

Verses 21-30:

^.21Therefore again he said to them, "I go and you will seek-after me, and you will die in your sin; where I go, you are not able to go." ^.22Therefore the Judeans said, "He will not kill himself because he says, 'Where I go, you are not able to go', will he?" ^.23And he said to them, "You are out-from the-things below, I am out-from the-things above; you are out-from this world, I am not out-from this world - ^.24therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for except you may believe that I am, you will die in your sins."

^.25Therefore they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Which thing also I utter-forth (from) the beginning to you. ^.26I have many-things concerning you to utter-forth and to judge, but the (One) having sent me is true and which-things I heard from Him these-things I utter-forth into the world."

^.27They did not know that he said (this about) the Father to them. ^.28Therefore Jesus said, "Whenever you may heighten the son of man, then you will know that I am, and I do nothing from myself, but according as the Father taught me - these-things I utter-forth; ^.29and the (One) having sent me is with me - He did not leave me only because I always do the pleasing-things to Him." ^.30(During) his uttering-forth these-things, many-people believed into him.

Following-on logically from the previous verses, Jesus further said to them...

• "Emphatically I go (I myself actively lead myself under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else; as verse 14 above)
• and you will in the future look for me,
  • and you will die within the sphere of action of your sin (the word "sin" is singular - the root-cause of all other sins against the only true God originated with respect to mankind with Adam's rejection of what God gave him to believe, and it resulted in Adam's loss of the holy spirit-life which God had given to him upon the condition of believing what God told him and then living accordingly - you will die in your sin, missing the mark of what God says to/for you, aberration from God's Word, God's will, God's law, God's precepts, which will justly result in your punishment of death);
• where emphatically I go (into the location or place that I lead myself),
  • emphatically you are not able to go (you yourselves do not have the ability, the able-power to go there, you are not capable of going, you cannot come to where I go)."

Therefore the Judeans during that past time were saying, "He will not kill himself (commit suicide) because he says, 'Where emphatically I go (actively lead myself), emphatically you are not able to go (come)', will he?" The Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is "no" - however, Jesus was saying to them...

• "Emphatically you are out-from the-things below (you yourselves are originating from the things that are downwards to the bottom; figuratively referring to the earth and its contents; as verse 6 above),
  • emphatically I am out-from the-things above (I myself am originating from the things upwards to the top; figuratively referring to heaven and its contents - One of whom is God his Father);
• emphatically you are out-from this world (you originate from the ordered-arrangement that God created but which fell away from God because of sin - the present fallen world is your realm of operation),
  • emphatically I am not out-from this world (I do not originate from the present world - this world is not my realm of operation) -
• therefore I said to you that in the future you will die in your sins (this word "sins" is plural - emphasizing their continued rejection of God and what He says regarding His son, Jesus);
• in truth, except/unless you would believe that emphatically I am (if you do not ever have faith, trust that I myself am),
  • you will die in your sins."

Following-on logically from what Jesus told them, they were saying to him, "Who are emphatically you (you yourself)?"

Jesus said to them...

• "Which thing (what) also I am speaking from/at the beginning to you (I am telling you the answer to that question since the start, the commencement of talking with you - the light of the world, originating from the-things above, from the Father Who sent me; also refer to verses 28 and 29 below).
• I have a lot of things about you to speak and to judge (make a decision, pronounce sentence in judgment),
• but contrary to speaking those things and judging you now -
  • the One Who sent me is true (He has the essential reality, inherent verity, the quality of truth, He is in the state of being true in all of His words and actions)
  • and the things which emphatically I heard from Him (what I myself hear at any time from Him, Who is the source of the information)
    • these-things I am speaking
    • into the world (with a view to, directed to, for the inhabitants of the the ordered-arrangement that God created)."

John the writer of this book explains that they did not personally know (they did not have a truly active and relative knowing, they were not personally knowledgeable) during that past time, historically, that Jesus was saying this to them referring to his Father (God) - the One Who sent him.

Therefore Jesus said to them...

• "At whatever time that you would heighten the son of man (elevate, lift high, exalt the son of man - referring to Jesus himself as John 1:51, 3:13 and 14, 6:27, 53 and 62; this is not referring to his death on the cross but to the person heightening Jesus relative to himself because of who he is - the son of man; refer also to verses 23 and 24 above),
  • then at that time you will personally know that emphatically I am (I myself am whom I am saying to you - the son of man),
  • and I am doing nothing from myself (the usage of a double negative figuratively emphasizes that definitely Jesus does not perform, make, produce, bring about anything from himself, not one thing),
• but on the contrary, according as the Father taught me (just as, according to how, in comparison to the way that my Father instructs me at any time) -
  • these-things I utter-forth (I am speaking these things);
• and the One Who sent me is presently in company and association with me -
  • He did not leave me only (my Father did not leave me alone, He did not send me away, dismiss me, discharge me by myself, He did not let me go from His concern)
    • because emphatically I always do (I myself constantly perform, at all times I am making, producing)
    • the pleasing-things to Him (the things that give pleasure, are agreeable, acceptable, gratifying to my Father, Who is God)."

During the time of Jesus speaking these things, a lot of people believed into him (they had faith, trusted into, directed to, or regarding Jesus whereby he was the object of their believing, they believed what he was saying and doing). Those who believed what Jesus told them about himself at that time were the people who heightened Jesus and therefore they would not die in their sins.

Note:

The son of man

The phrase "the son of man" refers to Jesus himself and emphasizes that he is the one who is descended from the man whom God created and made and formed as recorded in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, the first man Adam to whom God gave dominion, etc, on/over the earth. However, this first man gave it to satan as recorded in Genesis chapter 3. In accordance with God's promise - Jesus is the seed of the woman (refer to Genesis 3:15).

Today of course Jesus has accomplished redemption and salvation and so he is the resurrected Christ, the second man, having received his spiritual body, the life of which is holy spirit (not soul/breath life). Therefore the title "the son of man" is not relevant to holy-people (Christians) because true Christians have the spirit of Christ within them - Christ being the new man, the last man. After the time that all Christians will be gathered together away from the earth, Christ Jesus will come to be present on earth for those who will believe at that time among the nation of Israel and the other nations, the Gentiles, as "the son of man" and he will exercise the authority that he has, his dominion on/over the earth having regained and replaced the first man and all that the first man gave to the devil/satan.

The Father Who is God has placed the Lord Jesus Christ at His right-hand side - now salvation is available to all who believe regarding him.

[Reference: Genesis chapter 3; John 1:51, 3:13 and 14, 5:19 and 30-47, 6:27, 51, 53 and 62, 7:16-18 and 28-36; Acts 2:33, 5:31; I John 3:22, 4:5. Also refer to the article Adam and Eve.]

Verses 31 and 32:

^.31Therefore Jesus said towards the Judeans having believed² him, "If-ever you may remain in the word, my (word), truly you are my learning-disciples, ^.32and you will know the truth, and the truth will free you."

Following-on logically from verse 30 above, during that past time Jesus was saying towards the Judeans who believed and continued believing him (having faith relative to Jesus, trusting him, believing what he was saying and doing)...

• "If it should happen at any time that emphatically you would remain in the word (you yourselves would stay, continue within the sphere of action of the the spoken-account containing individual words constituting what I speak),
  • emphatically and specifically my word (mine - the spoken-account of my inner-thoughts),
• truly you are my learning-disciples (with truth, with real certainty, in a true manner presently you are my students, people who are learning from me regarding God and the things of God and who are interested in learning more),
• and you will personally know the truth (you will have a truly active and relative knowing, be personally knowledgeable of God’s essential reality, His inherent verity, the truth pertaining-to and issuing-from God, what He says that has the quality of truth, that-which is in the state of being true; refer to verses 27-29 above),
  • and the truth will free you (will liberate you, set you at liberty from slavery to sin and the realm of sins via the flesh category which results in death)."

[Reference: Romans 6:18 and 22, 8:2; Galatians 5:1.]

Verses 33-38:

^.33They answered towards him, "We are seed of Abraham and we served-as-slaves² to not-one-person at-any-time; how do you say that 'you will become freemen'?" ^.34Jesus answered them, "With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you that every-person doing the sin is a slave of the sin; ^.35but the slave does not remain in the house into the age; the son remains into the age - ^.36therefore if-ever the son may free you, you will be really-being freemen. ^.37I knew² that you are seed of Abraham, but you seek-after me to kill because the word, my (word), does not make-space in you - ^.38which-things I saw² from the Father I utter-forth, and therefore which-things you heard from the father you do." 

The Judeans who did not believe what Jesus was saying and doing answered towards him...

• "We are seed of Abraham (his offspring, posterity)
• and we served and continue to serve as slaves (serving in the position and capacity of being slaves, bound-people carrying-out service)
  • to nobody (none, not anyone) at any time;
• how do emphatically you say (in what way/manner are you yourself saying to us)
  • that 'you will become freemen (come to pass at a future time to be set at liberty)'?"

Jesus answered them...

• "With-certainty (surely, truly, amen!),
• with-certainty I say to you (by repeating this word "with-certainty" Jesus gives added emphasis to what he is saying - emphatically surely, truly, amen I am laying these words before you)
  • that every-person who is presently continuing to do the sin (all, everyone, every single person who is performing the sinful action, the error, missing the mark of God’s Word, swerving from the truth of what God says; this includes the sin of not having holy spirit-life plus committing any sinful action, aberration from what God says – emphasizing the sinfulness of the action)
    • is a slave of the sin (its bond-servant, in bondage to the sin);
• for example: the slave does not remain (stay, continue, abide)
  • within the house into the age (in the dwelling for the lifetime, the duration of life, for/throughout the age - it is a temporary arrangement only);
• the son remains within the house into the age (the son of the father who owns the house stays, continues, abides within that house being a member of the household for his lifetime - it is a permanent relationship between father and son; in this context Jesus is also figuratively referring to himself being the son of God his Father and he is a member of God's household remaining in God's house) -
  • therefore if it should happen at any time that the son would free you (cause you to become free, people who are set at liberty, liberate you),
  • you will be really-being freemen (at that future time you will be people who are continuing present, actually, truly being freemen, set at liberty, liberated people permanently remaining in the house).
• I knew and continue to know (perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing with my mind, because it comes within my sphere of perception or circle of vision)
  • that you are seed of Abraham (physically you are his offspring, posterity),
• but contrary to you behaving (conducting yourselves) as seed of Abraham,
• you look for me to kill me
• because the word,
  • emphatically and specifically my word (mine),
  • does not make-space in you (make a place, make room within or among you) -
• which-things emphatically I saw and continue to see (the things which I myself perceive with my eyes and understand the objects-of-sight in my mind's thoughts)
  • from the Father (referring to God Who is the source from Whom these things proceed)
  • I utter-forth (I am speaking these things to you, which is what He intends me to do; refer to verses 28 and 29 above),
• and following-on logically from this - the things which emphatically you heard (which you yourselves heard)
  • from the father (referring to their father being the source of what they hear)
  • you are doing (you are presently and actively performing those things)."

Jesus was emphasizing the difference between himself and those unbelieving Judeans to whom he was speaking.

[Reference: Genesis 21:8-14; Matthew 3:9; John 5:37 and 38, 6:46; Romans 4:13-18, 6:16, 8:2, 9:7-9; Galatians 3:16 and 29, 4:22-31, 5:1; Hebrews 2:16, 3:6; I John 3:4-9.]

Verses 39-47:

^.39They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus says to them, "If you are children of Abraham - you did the works of Abraham, ^.40but now you seek-after me to kill, a man who uttered-forth² the truth to you which I heard from God - this Abraham did not do!; ^.41you do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born² of fornication; we have one father - God."

^.42Jesus said to them, "If God was your father - ever you loved¹ me; for I came-out from God and I am-come, for neither I came² from myself but That-One apostled me. ^.43Because-of-what do you not know the utterance, my (utterance)? - because you are not able to hear the word, my (word). ^.44You are out-from the father - the devil, and the intense-yearnings of your father you intend to do; that-one was a man-killer from (the) beginning and he did not stand² in the truth because there is not truth in him; whenever he may utter-forth the lie - out-from (his) own-things he utters-forth because he is a liar and the father of it. ^.45But because I say the truth - you do not believe me. ^.46Who out-from you refutes me concerning sin? If I say truth, because-of-what do you not believe me? ^.47The (person) being out-from God hears the spoken-matters of God; because-of-this you do not hear - because you are not out-from God."

These Judeans answered and said to Jesus, "Our father is Abraham." They were claiming Abraham not only as their forefather biologically, but also as the man giving them inheritance, privilege, and access to/with God (refer also to verse 33 above). However, even though these Judeans were descendants of Abraham in the physical, flesh category (he was their forefather, ancestor) - Abraham was not their forefather relative to their behavior or to the spirit category. Abraham believed the words that God spoke to him regarding the Christ - but these Judeans did not believe regarding the Christ.

Jesus says to them...

• "If/since it is a fact that you are children of Abraham (born to/from him being his descendants) -
  • correspondingly during a past time you were doing the works of Abraham (in the working/service category you were performing the deeds associated with being his children, the actions of expending energy, the effects that were to be produced originating from him),
• but at the present time you look for me to kill,
• a man (a member of mankind - I am a human-being)
• who spoke and continues to speak the truth to you (as verse 32 above)
• which I heard from God (Who is the source of the truth that I utter-forth to you) -
  • this Abraham did not do (he did not perform this work of killing someone who was speaking God's Word)!;
• emphatically you do (you yourselves are presently performing)
  • the works of your father (the deeds belonging-to and proceeding-from your father; as verse 38 above)."

During the time-period of the writing of the Bible the sons within a family helped their father in whatever the family business was, and they continued to do so even after they got married. The son worked with his father in the family interest and did not normally branch off to "do his own thing"! In this case it was evident that Abraham was not their father as far as their living and behavior were concerned.

These Judeans said to Jesus...

• "Emphatically we were not born and continue not born of fornication (we ourselves are not begotten, given birth to, brought forth originating from fornication; the word "fornication" refers physically to wrongful sexual activity or relations, committing pornographic actions as part of idol-worship - but spiritually this is referring to being intimate with the devil and the things of the devil);
  • we have one father - God."

Now, these Judeans were claiming the only true God as their father in the spirit category! However, Jesus said to them...

• "If during a past time, historically, God was continuing to be your father -
  • correspondingly at any time you were continuing to be loving me (with Godly-love; the verb "loving¹" comes from the Greek word agape which is God's kind of love);
• in truth, emphatically I came (I myself came)
  • originating from God
  • and I am-come (I have come, I have arrived, I am here),
• in truth, neither did I come and continue to have come from myself,
  • but on the contrary, That-One apostled me (specifically God is the One Who sent me forth/away on this specific mission or assignment).
• Because-of-what (on account of what, for what reason, why)
  • do you not presently know the utterance (don't you have a truly active and relative knowing of the utterance, are you not personally knowledgeable of the speech),
    • emphatically and specifically my utterance (mine - the speech belonging-to and proceeding-from me)? -
  • the answer is:
  • because you are not presently able to hear the word (you do not have the able-power, the capability of hearing the spoken-account, of listening to the contents of what is spoken to the end of understanding it),
    • emphatically and specifically my word (mine - the spoken-account belonging-to and proceeding-from me; as verses 31 and 37 above).
• Emphatically you are out-from (you yourselves are originating from)
  • the father - the devil (a 'father' is literally one who has begotten a child with/by his own seed/sperm, and so the son/daughter has originated from his/her father's seed, and this fact cannot be changed; however in this case their father is the devil, which means that they had willingly chosen the devil as their god in the place of the only true God and thus they had willfully received a devil-spirit/demon to permanently reside within their own bodies so that they could never change from being sons of the devil),
  • and the intense-yearnings (lusts, here used in the bad sense, the strong desires attached or fixed upon certain objects other-than God and the things of God)
    • of your father (belonging-to, pertaining-to, issuing or proceeding from your father - the devil)
    • you intend to do (you are willing with active volition and desire to perform);
• during a past time, historically, that-one was a man-killer from the beginning (away-from the time of the start, since the commencement, the origin of mankind – specifically the devil was continuing to be the one who kills human-beings, slays members of mankind by ending their lives; refer to Genesis chapter 3 and John 8:40 above where Jesus says that he himself is a man)
  • and he did not stand and continues not to stand in the truth (the devil does not stand firmly in position as opposed to falling, he does not stand within the sphere of action of God's truth)
  • because there is not truth in him (at the present time truth is not within his sphere of action, he does not behave within the realm of the truth);
  • at whatever time that the devil would presently speak the lie (the lie emanating from the devil is that he is God, and as such he is the one who gives and maintains life etc to all, and all must reverence, worship and serve him and whom he designates!; this lie began in Genesis chapter 3, and continues being repeated throughout the centuries by the devil and those who decide to follow him as their god in the place of the only true God; refer also to Romans 1:25; Ephesians 4:25; II Thessalonians 2:11) -
  • he is speaking originating from his own-things (all that pertains to himself)
  • because he is a liar (one who speaks and lives lies, falsehoods, he is a falsifier)
  • and the father of it (the one who caused the lie, he began the falsehood, he originated the quality and essence of a liar).
• But because emphatically I say the truth (I myself am saying God’s essential reality, the inherent verity pertaining-to and issuing-from God) -
  • you do not believe me (you do not have faith in me, you are not trusting me, you do not have confidence with assured certainty and surety in what I am saying to you).
• Who from among you refutes me concerning sin (which one of you proves me wrong in my behavior, convicts and convinces me of an error of missing the mark of what God says, aberration from God's Word, God's will, God's law, God's precepts)?
• If/since it is a fact that I say truth, because-of-what (on account of what, for what reason, why)
  • do you not believe me (you yourselves do not have faith in me)?
• The answer is:
• The person who is presently and actively being (existing) originating from God (refer to verse 23 above)
  • hears the spoken-matters of/from God (the portions of the whole of God’s Word, each containing a specific discourse necessary for that particular situation or circumstance - what is spoken originates from God, which I, Jesus, am speaking; refer to verse 20 above);
  • on account of this emphatically you do not hear (you yourselves do not hear/listen to God's spoken-matters to the end of understanding them) -
• because you are not out-from God (you are not originating from God - God is not your Father)."

In verse 42 above, the verb "to love¹" comes from the Greek word agape which is God’s kind of love. To love with His love means to love the same way as God loves, to manifest God's love towards another, whether it is towards God Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, yourself, your neighbor, or towards anyone else. Before the day of Pentecost (which is recorded in Acts 2:1-4), God told His people how to Godly-love in His revealed spoken and/or written words (and at times certain individuals among His people received holy spirit from God temporarily whereby they received information from Him regarding how to love in different specific situations). It is the carrying out of God's commandments, His Word, which is the correct usage or way to manifest God's kind of love according to His will. It is not the same as the brotherly or friendly kind of love, nor is it the same as the emotional/feelings/sexual kind of love.

In verse 44 above, the word translated "devil" comes from the words: "through" and "throw" or "cast." The devil throws/casts things through people, like stabbing a person from outside through the person and out the other side with an accusation, slander, etc. The devil is the chief of the devil-spirits (demons), which are the other evil-spirits in subordination to the devil. These spirits are evil because they willingly, actively, and malignantly went against and continue to go against what the only true God says and does. God has judged them and the complete fulfillment of His judgment will come to pass at a future time. Refer to Genesis 3:14 and 15, Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:11-19, I Peter 3:19 and 20, and Revelation chapters 12, 19 and 20, which are some of the prophecies that include information about the devil’s past, present, and future.

What Jesus told these particular men at this time in verse 44 above gives depth and understanding to the information that he was speaking and to their responses to him. Jesus had holy spirit within him, which he had received from God, and that’s how he said and did what he said and did; but these men had unclean devil-spirit(s) inside of them and that’s how they were saying and doing their blasphemies, etc. Jesus was the promised seed of the woman; but these men were the seed of the devil (refer to Genesis 3:15).

[Reference: Genesis chapter 3, 15:1-6, chapter 17, 22:1-18; Matthew 12:45, 13:38 and 39; John 4:42, 5:30 and 38, 6:29 and 57, 7:17, 28 and 29; Acts 3:25, 13:8-11; Romans 4:1-3 and 13-18, 9:7 and 8; I Corinthians 2:14; Galatians 3:6-9, 14 and 16; Hebrews 2:14-16, 11:17; I John 3:8, 12 and 15, 4:6. Also refer to the articles Adam and Eve, and The devil, satan, and evil.]

Verses 48-51:

^.48The Judeans answered and said to him, "Beautifully we say that you are a Samaritan and have a devil, don't we?" ^.49Jesus answered, "I do not have a devil but I honor my Father and you dishonor me; ^.50but I do not seek-after my glory; He is the (One) seeking-after (glory) and judging. ^.51With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you, if-ever someone may keep my word, he may never view-with-attention death into the age."

In response to what Jesus said, the Judeans answered and said to him...

• "Beautifully and emphatically we say (we ourselves are saying in a manner that has a manifested decorous, harmonious and acceptable goodness)
  • that emphatically you are (you yourself are)
    • a Samaritan (Samaritans were people of the Israeli background who had mixed with people of the Gentile background during the time of captivity - at this time Judeans/Israelites usually endeavored to avoid them; refer to II Kings chapter 17)
  • and you have a devil (you hold a devil-spirit inside of your body),
    • don't we?"
    • [The Greek construction of this question indicates that these Judeans expected to receive an affirmative answer: "Yes."]

The word translated "devil" in verse 48 is the Greek word daimonion, which was used in Greek mythology (falsehoods) to describe supernatural intermediary beings between false-gods and men. In reality, these are the lower-ranking demons, evil spirits like 'privates' which take their direction from the higher-ranking evil spirits (daimon) in the devil's "army" which take their orders and direction from the chief or top-ranking devil-spirit himself who is the devil/satan.

However, Jesus judicially replied to the question made by these Judeans by saying...

• "Emphatically I do not have (I myself do not hold)
  • a devil (the same word used in verse 48 above)
• but on the contrary, I honor my Father (I am esteeming my Father Who is God according to His holding-worth, the correct estimated value or price)
  • and emphatically you dishonor me (you yourselves esteem me as being without honor, of no value or worth);
• but emphatically I do not seek-after my glory (I myself am not looking for importance, splendor, renown to be given to me);
• He is the One Who is looking for the glory (which belongs-to and should be given to/for my Father, God) 
  • and He is the One Who is judging (making a decision, pronouncing sentence; refer to verses 15 and 16 above).
• With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you (as verse 34 above),
  • if it should happen at any time that someone would keep emphatically my word (keep an eye on it, have it in safekeeping, and therefore not neglecting or violating but watching-over, taking-care-of, maintaining, and being observant of the spoken-account of my inner-thoughts - mine; as verses 31, 37 and 43 above),
  • he would never (again the double negative of the word "never" emphasizes the point – that person would not ever)
    • view-with-attention death (attentively view loss of life, contemplate lacking life in/with his mind)
    • into the age (for the lifetime, the duration of life, for/throughout the age)."

Jesus is referring to spiritual death, the loss of spirit-life, loosing the life that God gives in the spirit category; Jesus is not referring to the loss of physical, natural, soul-life that keeps a human-being alive in the flesh category (also refer to verses 23, 24 and 36 above).

[Reference: II Kings chapter 17; John 4:9, 5:23 and 24, 7:18 and 20; Acts 8:9. Also refer to the article Hope and Resurrection.]

Verses 52-59:

^.52The Judeans said to him, "Now we knew² that you have a devil; Abraham died and the prophets, and you say, 'If-ever someone may keep my word, he may never taste death into the age' - ^.53you are not greater of our father Abraham, he-who died, and the prophets died, are you? Who do you make yourself?" ^.54Jesus answered, "If-ever I may glorify myself, my glory is nothing; my Father is the (One) glorifying me, Whom you say that 'He is our God' ^.55and you did not know² Him, but I knew² Him; and if-ever I may say that I did not know² Him, I will be a liar like you; but I knew² Him and I keep His word. ^.56Abraham your father exulted in order that he may know the day, my (day), and he knew and joyed."

^.57Therefore the Judeans said towards him, "Not-yet you have fifty years and did you know² Abraham?" ^.58Jesus said to them, "With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you, before Abraham came-into-being - I am." ^.59Therefore they lifted stones in order that they may throw on him, but he was hidden and went-out from the temple.

Following-on from what Jesus said in verse 51 above, these Judeans said to him, "At the present time we personally knew and continue to know (with a truly active and relative knowing, we are personally knowledgeable) that you have/hold a devil (as verses 48 and 49 above - but their information was wrong; they were lying about Jesus)...

• Abraham died and the prophets (the people who spoke-forth God's words being revealed to them concerning the past, present and/or future to, before, in front of a person or people - they are dead),
• and emphatically you say (you yourself say),
  • 'If-ever someone may keep my word, he may never taste death into the age' (the word "taste" is used in the sense of experiencing the effects of death, being dead, not having any life - but Jesus did not use this word in verse 51 above and he had also emphasized the word "my") -
• emphatically you are not greater of our father Abraham (you yourself are not larger in magnitude, rank, importance, depth, etc, relative-to our forefather, ancestor Abraham),
  • he-who died (Abraham has already died),
  • and the prophets died (they are also dead),
    • are you?
    • [The Greek construction of this question indicates that the expected answer is: "No."]
• Who (what position, status, title) do you make yourself?"

Jesus answered...

• "If it should happen at any time that emphatically I would glorify myself (I myself would give myself the importance, splendor, renown),
  • my glory is nothing (not one thing);
• my Father is the One Who is presently and actively glorifying me (giving me the importance, splendor, renown),
  • Whom emphatically you say (you yourselves say)
  • that 'He is our God (the God of/over us; refer to verse 41 above [some Greek texts read "your God" as an indirect quotation])'
• and you did not know and continue not to know Him (here again as verse 52 above this word "know" is the Greek verb ginosko which means: to have a truly active and relative knowing, to be personally knowledgeable - you do not personally know God),
  • but emphatically I knew and continue to know Him (this word "know" is the Greek verb oida which means: to perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing with the mind, because the object comes within the sphere of perception or circle of vision - I myself perceive God with my mind);
  • and if it should happen at any time that I would say that I did not know and continue not to know Him (perceive God),
    • I will be a liar like you (one who speaks lies, false statements similar to you speaking lies, false statements, speaking and living falsehoods, falsifiers; as verse 44 above);
  • but contrary to that, I knew and continue to know Him (I perceive God)
  • and I keep His word (I keep an eye on it, have it in safekeeping, and therefore not neglecting or violating but watching-over, taking-care-of, maintaining, and being observant of the spoken-account of God's inner-thoughts; as verse 51 above).
• Abraham your father exulted (he was elated, as leaping a lot, jumping, springing about, dancing)
  • for the purpose and result that
  • he would know the day (perceive the day, see it to the end of perceiving and knowing it in/with his mind - this is not referring to living during the day as seeing it as a physical object with his eyes, but to perceiving the day by receiving information about it from God),
    • emphatically and specifically my day (mine - the period of time when the action associated with me is occurring, the day that belongs-to and pertains-to me),
  • and he knew (perceived my day)
  • and joyed (it made him joyful, he rejoiced, he was in the state of elation or enjoyment because of receiving something good ultimately from God)."

Therefore the Judeans said towards Jesus...

• "Not-yet you have fifty years (up until now you are not 50 years old)
• and did you know and continue to know Abraham (have you perceived him, did you see him to the end of perceiving and knowing him with your mind while he was alive and that fact has not changed [some Greek texts read "did Abraham know you" but that verb is also in the perfect tense and that would not be the correct reading as the Judeans were fully aware that Abraham had died a long time ago and that he remained dead along with the other dead prophets, as they said in verses 52 and 53 above])?"

How did Jesus know (perceive) that Abraham exulted in order that he would know his day and that he knew it and joyed - and how could Abraham know (perceive) about Jesus since Jesus is not even 50 years old and therefore he was not alive while Abraham was alive?

Jesus said to them...

• "With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you (as verses 34 and 51 above),
• before Abraham came-into-being (previous-to the time when Abraham became, sooner-than he came to pass to be, before he was born) -
  • emphatically I am (I myself exist - referring to the truth of God's promise of the Christ, the son of man to save mankind giving them eternal life - this promise regarding him was made before Abraham existed; refer to verses 24 and 28 above)."

God first spoke regarding the Christ in Genesis 3:15, but Jesus himself did not come into being until he was born by Mary his mother. Jesus was not alive during the time that Abraham was alive centuries earlier. However, Abraham did know God's Word regarding the Christ who would accomplish redemption and salvation for mankind, and he believed it and lived accordingly (refer to Genesis 15:1-6, chapter 17, 21:8, 22:1-18; Romans 4:1-3 and 13-18; Galatians 3:6-9, 14 and 16; Hebrews 11:8-19; and many other scriptures regarding Abraham).

Both Abraham and Jesus received information from God regarding each other while they were alive - they knew the details - they perceived it from God by God revealing the details to them.

These Judeans did not understand what Jesus was telling them and they lifted (took up) stones for the purpose and result that they would throw (cast) the stones down on him - but Jesus was hidden (concealed, with the idea of being protected from these Judeans) and he went out from the temple area.

[Reference: Genesis 3:15, 20:7; John 1:10, 4:12; Acts 2:29; Romans 1:3, 4:1-3; Galatians 3:16, 18 and 29; Hebrews 11:8-19; I John 3:1, 4:6. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

John Chapter 9