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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!

Context of John 8:43

41You are doing the works your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God." 42Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44You 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. 45But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

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 understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father.
• John 5:43I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
• John 7:17If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
• John 12:39Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,
• Proverbs 28:5Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
• Isaiah 44:18They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.
• Hosea 14:9Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.
• Micah 4:12But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.
• Romans 3:11no one understands; no one seeks for God.
• John 6:60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"
• Isaiah 6:9And he said, "Go, and say to this people: "'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'
• Jeremiah 6:10To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.
• Acts 7:51"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.
• Romans 8:7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, 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