God’s Word Translation
John 8:28
28So Jesus told them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you’ll know that I am the one and that I can’t do anything on my own. Instead, I speak as the Father taught me.
John 8:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
- New International Version (NIV)So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
Context of John 8:28
26I have a lot I could say about you and a lot I could condemn you for. But the one who sent me is true. So I tell the world exactly what he has told me.” 27(The Jews didn’t know that he was talking to them about the Father.) So Jesus told them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you’ll know that I am the one and that I can’t do anything on my own. Instead, I speak as the Father taught me. 29Besides, the one who sent me is with me. He hasn’t left me by myself. I always do what pleases him.” 30As Jesus was saying this, many people believed in him.
Read all of John 8John 8:28 word by word
εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ὅταν ὑψώσητε τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, τότε γνώσεσθε ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ ἀπ᾽ ἐμαυτοῦ ποιῶ οὐδέν, ἀλλὰ καθὼς ἐδίδαξέν με ὁ πατὴρ ταῦτα λαλῶ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
- ye have lifted upὑψόωhupsoō · to lift upG5312
- the Sonυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- of manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- thenτότεtote · thenG5119
- shall ye knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
- myselfἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- hath taughtδιδάσκωdidaskō · to teachG1321
- I speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
Cross-references for John 8:28
- John 3:14“As Moses lifted up the snake ⌞on a pole⌟ in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.
- John 12:32When I have been lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people toward me.”
- John 19:18The soldiers crucified Jesus and two other men there. Jesus was in the middle.
- Matthew 27:50Then Jesus loudly cried out once again and gave up his life.
- Acts 2:41Those who accepted what Peter said were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added ⌞to the group⌟.
- Acts 4:4But many of those who had heard the message became believers, so the number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.
- Romans 1:4In his spiritual, holy nature he was declared the Son of God. This was shown in a powerful way when he came back to life.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and who have persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God. They are enemies of the whole human race
- John 5:19Jesus said to the Jews, “I can guarantee this truth: The Son cannot do anything on his own. He can do only what he sees the Father doing. Indeed, the Son does exactly what the Father does.
- John 6:38I haven’t come from heaven to do what I want to do. I’ve come to do what the one who sent me wants me to do.
- John 11:42I’ve known that you always hear me. However, I’ve said this so that the crowd standing around me will believe that you sent me.”
- John 12:49I have not spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me told me what I should say and how I should say it.
- Numbers 16:28Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord sent me to do all these things and that it wasn’t my idea:
- Hebrews 2:2After all, the message that the angels brought was reliable, and every violation and act of disobedience was properly punished.
- John 3:11I can guarantee this truth: We know what we’re talking about, and we confirm what we’ve seen. Yet, you don’t accept our message.
Commentaries on John 8:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28When ye have lifted up - When ye have crucified me, and thus filled up the measure of your iniquities, ye shall know that I am the Christ, by the signs that shall follow; and ye shall know that what I spoke is true, by the judgments that shall follow. To be lifted up, is a common mode of expression, among the Jewish writers, for to die, or to be killed.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28When ye have lifted up - When you have crucified. See John 3:14 note; also John 12:32 note. The Son of man - See the notes at Matthew 8:19-20. Then shall ye know - Then shall you have evidence or proof. That I am he - Am the Messiah, which I have professed to be. And that I do nothing of myself - That is, you shall have proof that God has sent me; that I am the Messiah; and that God concurs with me and approves my doctrine. This proof was furnished by the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-29Verses 21-29 Those that live in unbelief, are for ever undone, if they die in unbelief. The Jews belonged to this present evil world, but Jesus was of a heavenly and Divine nature, so that his doctrine, kingdom, and blessings, would not suit their taste. But the curse of the law is done away to all that submit to the grace of the gospel. Nothing but the doctrine of Christ's grace will be an argument powerful enough, and none but the Spirit of Christ's…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28The Synoptic Gospels describe Jesus as predicting his death three times (for example, Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33–34). The Gospel of John presents this theme in a different way. Jesus speaks about being lifted up (John 3:14; 8:28; 12:33–34). This phrase refers to his crucifixion and also to his glory. The Father directs the course of events. The death of Jesus did not happen by accident, but according to God’s plan.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 28-3028-30. When ye have lifted up the Son of man--The plainest intimation He had yet given in public of the manner and the authors of His death. then shall ye know that I am he, &c.--that is, find out, or have sufficient evidence, how true was all He said, though they would be far from owning it.Read the comment
Topics related to John 8:28
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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