God’s Word Translation
John 8:34
34Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: Whoever lives a sinful life is a slave to sin.
John 8:34 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
- New International Version (NIV)Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
Context of John 8:34
32You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33They replied to Jesus, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and we’ve never been anyone’s slaves. So how can you say that we will be set free?” Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: Whoever lives a sinful life is a slave to sin. 35A slave doesn’t live in the home forever, but a son does. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be absolutely free.
Read all of John 8John 8:34 word by word
ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν, δοῦλός ἐστιν τῆς ἁμαρτίας.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- Whosoeverπᾶςpas · allG3956
- committethποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the servantδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
Cross-references for John 8:34
- John 3:3Jesus replied to Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can see God’s kingdom without being born from above.”
- Matthew 5:18I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from the Scriptures before everything has come true.
- 1 Kings 21:25There was no one else like Ahab. At the urging of his wife, he sold himself to do what the Lord considered evil.
- Proverbs 5:22A wicked person will be trapped by his own wrongs, and he will be caught in the ropes of his own sin.
- Acts 8:23I can see that you are bitter with jealousy and wrapped up in your evil ways.”
- Romans 6:6We know that the person we used to be was crucified with him to put an end to sin in our bodies. Because of this we are no longer slaves to sin.
- Romans 7:14I know that God’s standards in Moses’ Teachings are spiritual, but I have a corrupt nature, sold as a slave to sin.
- Romans 8:21that it would also be set free from slavery to decay in order to share the glorious freedom that the children of God will have.
- Ephesians 2:2You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God.
- 2 Peter 2:19They promise these people freedom, but they themselves are slaves to corruption. A person is a slave to whatever he gives in to.
- 1 John 3:8The person who lives a sinful life belongs to the devil, because the devil has been committing sin since the beginning. The reason that the Son of God appeared was to destroy what the devil does.
Commentaries on John 8:34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin - Or, , etc., is the slave of sin. This was the slavery of which Christ spoke; and deliverance from it, was the liberty which he promised.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34Whosoever committeth sin - In this passage Jesus shows them that he did not refer to political bondage, but to the slavery of the soul to evil passions and desires. Is the servant - Is the slave of sin. He is bound to it as a slave is to his master.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 30-36Verses 30-36 Such power attended our Lord's words, that many were convinced, and professed to believe in him. He encouraged them to attend his teaching, rely on his promises, and obey his commands, notwithstanding all temptations to evil. Thus doing, they would be his disciples truly; and by the teaching of his word and Spirit, they would learn where their hope and strength lay. Christ spoke of spiritual liberty; but carnal hearts feel no other grievances…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. 34-3534-35. Whosoever committeth sin--that is, liveth in the commission of it--(Compare 1Jo 3:8; Mt 7:23). is the servant of sin--that is, the bond-servant, or slave of it; for the question is not about free service, but who are in bondage. (Compare 2Pe 2:19; Re 6:16). The great truth here expressed was not unknown to heathen moralists; but it was applied only to vice, for they were total strangers to what in revealed religion is called sin. The thought of…Read the comment
Topics related to John 8:34
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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