John 8:43

John 8:43 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
• New International Version (NIV)Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

Context of John 8:43

41You are doing the works of your [own] father.” They said to Him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one [spiritual] Father: God.” 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father [but He is not], you would love and recognize Me, for I came from God [out of His very presence] and have arrived here. For I have not even come on My own initiative [as self-appointed], but He [is the One who] sent Me. Why do you misunderstand what I am saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are unable to hear [the truth of] My word. 44You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. 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 what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths. 45But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [and continue in your unbelief].

John 8:43 word by word

διὰ τί τὴν λαλιὰν τὴν ἐμὴν οὐ γινώσκετε; ὅτι οὐ δύνασθε ἀκούειν τὸν λόγον τὸν ἐμόν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whyδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• ·τίςtis · which?G5101
• do yeγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• notοὐou · noG3756
• myὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• myἐμόςemos · mineG1699
• speechλαλιάlalia · speechG2981
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• yeδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• yeἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056

Cross-references for John 8:43

• John 8:27They did not realize [or have the spiritual insight to understand] that He was speaking to them about the Father.
• John 5:43I have come in My Father’s name and with His power, and you do not receive Me [because your minds are closed]; but if another comes in his own name and with no authority or power except his own, you will receive him and give your approval to an imposter.
• John 7:17If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is of God or whether I speak on My own accord and by My own authority.
• John 12:39Therefore they could not believe, for Isaiah said again,
• Proverbs 28:5Evil men do not understand justice, But they who long for and seek the Lord understand it fully.
• Isaiah 44:18They do not know, nor do they understand, for God has muddied their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts (minds) as well so that they cannot understand.
• Hosea 14:9Whoever is [spiritually] wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is [spiritually] discerning and understanding, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble and fall in them.
• Micah 4:12But they (Gentile nations) do not know the thoughts of the Lord, Nor do they understand His purpose and plan; For He has gathered them (Gentiles) like sheaves to the threshing floor [for destruction].
• Romans 3:11There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God.
• John 6:60When many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This is a difficult and harsh and offensive statement. Who can [be expected to] listen to it?”
• Isaiah 6:9And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not understand; Keep on looking, but do not comprehend.’
• Jeremiah 6:10To whom shall I (Jeremiah) speak and give warning That they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed [absolutely deaf to God] And they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the Lord has become a reprimand and an object of scorn to them; They have no delight in it.
• Acts 7:51“You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did.
• Romans 8:7the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot,

Commentaries on John 8:43

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 43Why do ye not understand my speech? - , This my mode of speaking - when illustrating spiritual by natural things: refers to the manner of speaking; , to the matter or subject on which he spoke. For , the Codex Bezae had originally : why do ye not acknowledge this Truth of mine? A few other MSS. agree in this reading. Because ye cannot hear my word - That is, ye cannot bear my doctrine: it comes too close to you; it searches your hearts, detects your…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 43Why do ye not … - My meaning is clear, if you were disposed to understand me. Even because ye cannot hear my word - The word “hear” in this place is to be understood in the sense of bear or tolerate, as in John 6:60. His doctrine was offensive to them. They hated it, and hence they perverted his meaning, and were resolved not to understand him. Their pride, vanity, and wickedness opposed it. The reason why sinners do not understand the Bible and its…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 41-47Verses 41-47 Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men's souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin. He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with whom all liars shall have their portion for ever. The special lusts of the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-59The debate about whether Jesus is the Messiah continues from 7:52. Jesus remained at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. During the feast, the conflicts Jesus encountered in chapter 7 continued and intensified.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 42-4342-43. If God were your Father, ye would love me--"If ye had anything of His moral image, as children have their father's likeness, ye would love Me, for I am immediately of Him and directly from Him." But "My speech" (meaning His peculiar style of expressing Himself on these subjects) is unintelligible to you because ye cannot take in the truth which it conveys.Read the comment

Topics related to John 8:43

• Blindness
• Self-Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Act
• Conscience
• Continue
• Flesh
• Hear
• Lift
• Treasury
• God
• Heredity
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on John 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings