John 8:53

John 8:53 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
• New International Version (NIV)Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”

Context of John 8:53

51I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps My word [by living in accordance with My message] he will indeed never, ever see and experience death.” 52The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon [and are under its power]. Abraham died, and also the prophets; yet You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never, ever taste of death.’ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too! Whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is [worth] nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55Yet you do not know Him, but I know Him fully. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him and keep His word.

John 8:53 word by word

μὴ σὺ μείζων εἶ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ, ὅστις ἀπέθανεν; καὶ οἱ προφῆται ἀπέθανον. τίνα σεαυτὸν ποιεῖς;¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·μήmē · notG3361
• Artεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• greater thanμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• fatherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• is deadἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• the prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
• whomτίςtis · which?G5101
• makestποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• thyselfσεαυτοῦseautou seautō seauton sautou sautō sauton · yourselfG4572

Cross-references for John 8:53

• John 8:58Jesus replied, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am.”
• John 4:12Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and who used to drink from it himself, and his sons and his cattle also?”
• John 10:29My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
• John 12:34At this the crowd answered Him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; how then can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
• Isaiah 9:6For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• Matthew 12:6But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
• Romans 9:5To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to His natural descent, came the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), He who is exalted and supreme over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
• Hebrews 3:2He was faithful to Him who appointed Him [Apostle and High Priest], as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.
• Hebrews 7:1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
• John 5:18This made the Jews more determined than ever to kill Him, for not only was He breaking the Sabbath [from their viewpoint], but He was also calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
• John 10:33The Jews answered Him, “We are not going to stone You for a good work, but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, make Yourself out to be God.”
• John 19:7The Jews answered him, “We have a law [regarding blasphemy], and according to that law He should die, because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”

Commentaries on John 8:53

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 53Whom makest thou thyself? - Or, who dost thou pretend to be? Although the greatest of the prophets have died, yet thou a Nazarene, a Samaritan, and a devil pretendest that thou canst keep thy followers from dying! It would have been scarcely possible to ask a question implying more contempt and scorn.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 48-53Verses 48-53 Observe Christ's disregard of the applause of men. those who are dead to the praises of men can bear their contempt. God will seek the honour of all who do not seek their own. In these verses we have the doctrine of the everlasting happiness of believers. We have the character of a believer; he is one that keeps the sayings of the Lord Jesus. And the privilege of a believer; he shall by no means see death for ever. Though now they cannot…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 53Who do You claim to be?: This question was hostile and aggressive. However, if Jesus is immortal, ruling over life and death, then he is greater than Abraham, the prophets, or any of the greatest people in Israel’s history (8:58).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 52-5352-53. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil, &c.--"Thou art now self-convicted; only a demoniac could speak so; the most illustrious of our fathers are dead, and Thou promisest exemption from death to anyone who will keep Thy saying! pray, who art Thou?"Read the comment

Topics related to John 8:53

• Jesus Continued
• Self-Righteousness
• Unbelief

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Abraham, Abram
• Act
• Conscience
• Continue
• Flesh
• Hear
• Lift
• Treasury
• Children of God

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