English Standard Version
John 8:44
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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Context of John 8:44
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. 43Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 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. 45But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not 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 of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
- John 6:70Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil."
- Genesis 3:15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
- Matthew 13:38The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
- Acts 13:10and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?
- 1 John 3:8Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
- Genesis 3:3but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'"
- 1 Kings 22:22And the Lord said to him, 'By what means?' And he said, 'I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.'
- 1 Chronicles 21:1Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.
- James 4:1What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
- 1 Peter 5:8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
- Revelation 2:10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Revelation 9:11They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
- Revelation 13:6It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
- Revelation 20:7And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison
- 2 Peter 2:4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries