John 8:53

John 8:53 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
• New International Version (NIV)Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”

Context of John 8:53

51I can guarantee this truth: Whoever obeys what I say will never see death.” 52The Jews told Jesus, “Now we know that you’re possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, but you say, ‘Whoever does what I say will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets have also died. Who do you think you are?” 54Jesus said, “If I bring glory to myself, my glory is nothing. My Father is the one who gives me glory, and you say that he is your God. 55Yet, you haven’t known him. However, I know him. If I would say that I didn’t know him, I would be a liar like all of you. But I do know him, and I do what he says.

John 8:53 word by word

μὴ σὺ μείζων εἶ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ, ὅστις ἀπέθανεν; καὶ οἱ προφῆται ἀπέθανον. τίνα σεαυτὸν ποιεῖς;¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·μήmē · notG3361
• Artεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• greater thanμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• fatherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• is deadἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• the prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
• whomτίςtis · which?G5101
• makestποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• thyselfσεαυτοῦseautou seautō seauton sautou sautō sauton · yourselfG4572

Cross-references for John 8:53

• John 8:58Jesus told them, “I can guarantee this truth: Before Abraham was ever born, I am.”
• John 4:12You’re not more important than our ancestor Jacob, are you? He gave us this well. He and his sons and his animals drank water from it.”
• John 10:29My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than everyone else, and no one can tear them away from my Father.
• John 12:34The crowd responded to him, “We have heard from the Scriptures that the Messiah will remain here forever. So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up from the earth’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
• Isaiah 9:6A child will be born for us. A son will be given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. He will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• Matthew 12:6I can guarantee that something greater than the temple is here.
• Romans 9:5The Messiah is descended from their ancestors according to his human nature. The Messiah is God over everything, forever blessed. Amen.
• Hebrews 3:2Jesus is faithful to God, who appointed him, in the same way that Moses was faithful when he served in God’s house.
• Hebrews 7:1Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham and blessed him when Abraham was returning from defeating the kings.
• John 5:18His reply made the Jews more intent on killing him. Not only did he break the laws about the day of rest—a holy day, but also he made himself equal to God when he said repeatedly that God was his Father.
• John 10:33The Jews answered Jesus, “We’re going to stone you to death, not for any good things you’ve done, but for dishonoring God. You claim to be God, although you’re only a man.”
• John 19:7The Jews answered Pilate, “We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

Commentaries on John 8:53

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 53Whom makest thou thyself? - Or, who dost thou pretend to be? Although the greatest of the prophets have died, yet thou a Nazarene, a Samaritan, and a devil pretendest that thou canst keep thy followers from dying! It would have been scarcely possible to ask a question implying more contempt and scorn.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 48-53Verses 48-53 Observe Christ's disregard of the applause of men. those who are dead to the praises of men can bear their contempt. God will seek the honour of all who do not seek their own. In these verses we have the doctrine of the everlasting happiness of believers. We have the character of a believer; he is one that keeps the sayings of the Lord Jesus. And the privilege of a believer; he shall by no means see death for ever. Though now they cannot…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 53Who do You claim to be?: This question was hostile and aggressive. However, if Jesus is immortal, ruling over life and death, then he is greater than Abraham, the prophets, or any of the greatest people in Israel’s history (8:58).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 52-5352-53. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil, &c.--"Thou art now self-convicted; only a demoniac could speak so; the most illustrious of our fathers are dead, and Thou promisest exemption from death to anyone who will keep Thy saying! pray, who art Thou?"Read the comment

Topics related to John 8:53

• Jesus Continued
• Self-Righteousness
• Unbelief

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Abraham, Abram
• Act
• Conscience
• Continue
• Flesh
• Hear
• Lift
• Treasury
• Children of God

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