Christian Standard Bible
John 8:44
44You 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.
John 8:44 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Context of John 8:44
42Jesus 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. 43Why 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. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46Who among you can convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?
Read all of John 8John 8:44 word by word
ὑμεῖς ἐκ τοῦ πατρὸς τοῦ διαβόλου ἐστὲ καὶ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν θέλετε ποιεῖν. ἐκεῖνος ἀνθρωποκτόνος ἦν ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ οὐκ ἔστηκεν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀλήθεια ἐν αὐτῷ. ὅταν λαλῇ τὸ ψεῦδος, ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων λαλεῖ, ὅτι ψεύστης ἐστὶν καὶ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Yeσύsu · youG4771
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- the devilὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the devilδιάβολοςdiabolos · devilish/the DevilG1228
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- the lustsἐπιθυμίαepithumia · desireG1939
- ye willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- Heἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- a murdererἀνθρωποκτόνοςanthrōpoktonos · murdererG443
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the beginningἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
- abodeἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
- notοὐou · noG3756
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
- he speakethλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- a lieψεῦδοςpseudos · lieG5579
- his ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
- a liarψεύστηςpseustēs · liarG5583
Cross-references for John 8:44
- John 8:38I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father; so then, you do what you have heard from your father.”
- John 6:70Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.”
- Genesis 3:15I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
- Matthew 13:38the field is the world; and the good seed — these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one,
- Acts 13:10and said, “You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery, you son of the devil and enemy of all that is right. Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord?
- 1 John 3:8The one who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works.
- Genesis 3:3But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
- 1 Kings 22:22“The Lord asked him, ‘How?’ “He said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ “Then he said, ‘You will certainly entice him and prevail. Go and do that.’
- 1 Chronicles 21:1Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to count the people of Israel.
- James 4:1What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you?
- 1 Peter 5:8Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
- Revelation 2:10Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Revelation 9:11They had as their king the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
- Revelation 13:6It began to speak blasphemies against God: to blaspheme his name and his dwelling — those who dwell in heaven.
- Revelation 20:7When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison
- 2 Peter 2:4For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment;
Commentaries on John 8:44
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 44Ye are of your father the devil - Ye are the seed of the old serpent. See on John 8:37; (note). The lusts of your father - Like father like son. What Satan desires, ye desire; because ye are filled with his nature. Awful state of unregenerate men! They have the nearest alliance to Satan; they partake of his nature and have in them the same principles and propensities which characterize the very nature and essence of the devil! Reader, canst thou rest in…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 44Ye are of your father the devil - That is, you have the temper, disposition, or spirit of the devil. You are influenced by him, you imitate him, and ought therefore to be called his children. See also 1 John 3:8-10; Acts 13:10; “Thou child of the devil.” The devil - See the notes at Matthew 4:1. The lusts - The desires or the wishes. You do what pleases him. Ye will do - The word “will,” here, is not an auxiliary verb. It does not simply express futurity…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. 44Since the unbelieving people did not love Jesus (8:42; 1 John 5:1), they were not children of the Father in heaven who sent his beloved Son (John 8:47). Their desire to kill God’s Son showed their true spiritual heritage. This was the work of the devil, who brought death to the world (see Genesis 3:1–20; Romans 5:12–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4444. Ye are of your father the devil--"This is one of the most decisive testimonies to the objective (outward) personality of the devil. It is quite impossible to suppose an accommodation to Jewish views, or a metaphorical form of speech, in so solemn an assertion as this" [Alford]. the lusts of your father--his impure, malignant, ungodly propensities, inclinations, desires. ye will do--are willing to do; not of any blind necessity of nature, but of pure…Read the comment
Topics related to John 8:44
In the dictionaries
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
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