John 8:58

John 8:58 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
• New International Version (NIV)“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

Context of John 8:58

56Your ancestor Abraham knew that I would come at some time. He was happy to know that he would see that time. He did see that time, and he was very happy.’ 57The Jews said, ‘You are not 50 years old yet. But you say that you have seen Abraham!’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you this: Before Abraham was even born, “I am”.’ 59Then they picked up stones. They wanted to throw them at him and kill him. But Jesus hid himself from them. He went away from the temple.

John 8:58 word by word

Εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ἰησοῦς· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν· πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι ἐγὼ εἰμί.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• Beforeπρίνprin · beforeG4250
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510

Cross-references for John 8:58

• John 8:34Jesus answered them, ‘I tell you this: Everyone who does wrong things is a slave to sin.
• John 1:1In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God. The Word was God.
• John 17:5So, Father, now that I return to you, show people how great I am. Before the world began, I had great glory with you. Show again that I am great like that.’
• Proverbs 8:22The Lord created me as the first thing that he did. That was the first of his acts long ago.
• Isaiah 9:6Yes, your people are happy! A child has been born for us. We now have a son with the authority to rule. His names will be: Wonderful Advisor, Mighty God, Father for Ever, Ruler who brings Peace.
• Micah 5:2But God tells us this: ‘Bethlehem Ephrathah is only a little town, among all the many towns in Judah,’ God says. ‘But I will choose someone who is born there. He will rule Israel for me. Long, long ago, I prepared for him to come.’
• Colossians 1:17God's Son was there before anything else was there. And now he causes everything to continue in its proper place.
• Hebrews 1:10The Bible also says this: ‘Lord, in the beginning you made the earth. With your own power, you also made everything above the earth.
• Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is always the same, yesterday, today and for ever.
• Revelation 1:11The voice said: ‘When you see these things, write them in a book. Then you must send the book to the seven churches in these cities: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.’
• Revelation 2:8‘Write this to the angel of the church at Smyrna: “This is the message to you from the one who is the first and the last. He was dead, but he became alive again.
• Exodus 3:14God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am! Say this to the Israelite people: “I AM has sent me to you.” ’
• Isaiah 43:13‘Today and every day, I am God. If I hold you in my hand, nobody can take you away from my power. When I do something, nobody can change it.’
• Isaiah 44:6The Lord is Israel's King and Redeemer. He is the Lord Almighty. He says, ‘I am the first and I am the last. There is no God, except me.
• Isaiah 46:9Remember all the things that I did a long time ago. I am God. There is nobody else like me. There is no other God, except me.
• Isaiah 48:12So listen to me, descendants of Jacob! I called you to belong to me, you Israelite people. I am the only One. I am the first, and I am also the last.

Commentaries on John 8:58

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 58Before Abraham was, I am - The following is a literal translation of Calmet's note on this passage: - "I am from all eternity. I have existed before all ages. You consider in me only the person who speaks to you, and who has appeared to you within a particular time. But besides this human nature, which ye think ye know, there is in me a Divine and eternal nature. Both, united, subsist together in my person. Abraham knew how to distinguish them. He adored…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 58Verily, verily - This is an expression used only in John. It is a strong affirmation denoting particularly the great importance of what was about to be affirmed. See the notes at John 3:5. Before Abraham was - Before Abraham lived. I am - The expression I am, though in the present tense, is clearly designed to refer to a past time. Thus, in Psalm 90:2, “From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.” Applied to God, it denotes continued existence without…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 54-59Verses 54-59 Christ and all that are his, depend upon God for honour. Men may be able to dispute about God, yet may not know him. Such as know not God, and obey not the gospel of Christ, are put together, 2Th 1:8. All who rightly know anything of Christ, earnestly desire to know more of him. Those who discern the dawn of the light of the Sun of Righteousness, wish to see his rising. "Before Abraham was, I AM." This speaks Abraham a creature, and our Lord…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 58before Abraham was born, I am!: The life of Jesus spans the past from before creation and continues forever (1:1–2). I am: This title recalls the name of God revealed to Moses at Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:14; compare John 4:26; Isaiah 43:11–13; 48:12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 57-5957-59. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old--"No inference can be drawn from this as to the age of our Lord at the time as man. Fifty years was with the Jews the completion of manhood" [Alford]. and hast thou seen Abraham?--He had said Abraham saw Him, as being his peculiar privilege. They give the opposite turn to it--"Hast Thou seen Abraham?" as an honor too great for Him to pretend to.Read the comment

Topics related to John 8:58

• Jesus Continued
• Self-Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Jesus
• Abraham, Abram
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Act
• Conscience
• Continue
• Flesh
• Hear
• Lift

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