John 8:58

John 8:58 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
• New International Version (NIV)“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

Context of John 8:58

56Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day, and he saw it and rejoiced.” 57So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and left the temple grounds.

John 8:58 word by word

Εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ἰησοῦς· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν· πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι ἐγὼ εἰμί.Read the interlinear

• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• “Trulyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• to you, beforeπρίνprin · beforeG4250
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• was bornγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• I amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510

Cross-references for John 8:58

• John 8:34Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
• John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• John 17:5And now You, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed.
• Proverbs 8:22“The Lord created me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old.
• Isaiah 9:6For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
• Micah 5:2But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”
• Colossians 1:17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
• Hebrews 1:10And, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands;
• Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.
• Revelation 1:11saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
• Revelation 2:8“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
• Exodus 3:14And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
• Isaiah 43:13Even from eternity I am He, And there is no one who can rescue from My hand; I act, and who can reverse it?”
• Isaiah 44:6“This is what the Lord says, He who is the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of armies: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.
• Isaiah 46:9Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,
• Isaiah 48:12“Listen to Me, Jacob, Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.

Commentaries on John 8:58

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 58Before Abraham was, I am - The following is a literal translation of Calmet's note on this passage: - "I am from all eternity. I have existed before all ages. You consider in me only the person who speaks to you, and who has appeared to you within a particular time. But besides this human nature, which ye think ye know, there is in me a Divine and eternal nature. Both, united, subsist together in my person. Abraham knew how to distinguish them. He adored…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 58Verily, verily - This is an expression used only in John. It is a strong affirmation denoting particularly the great importance of what was about to be affirmed. See the notes at John 3:5. Before Abraham was - Before Abraham lived. I am - The expression I am, though in the present tense, is clearly designed to refer to a past time. Thus, in Psalm 90:2, “From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.” Applied to God, it denotes continued existence without…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 54-59Verses 54-59 Christ and all that are his, depend upon God for honour. Men may be able to dispute about God, yet may not know him. Such as know not God, and obey not the gospel of Christ, are put together, 2Th 1:8. All who rightly know anything of Christ, earnestly desire to know more of him. Those who discern the dawn of the light of the Sun of Righteousness, wish to see his rising. "Before Abraham was, I AM." This speaks Abraham a creature, and our Lord…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 58before Abraham was born, I am!: The life of Jesus spans the past from before creation and continues forever (1:1–2). I am: This title recalls the name of God revealed to Moses at Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:14; compare John 4:26; Isaiah 43:11–13; 48:12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 57-5957-59. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old--"No inference can be drawn from this as to the age of our Lord at the time as man. Fifty years was with the Jews the completion of manhood" [Alford]. and hast thou seen Abraham?--He had said Abraham saw Him, as being his peculiar privilege. They give the opposite turn to it--"Hast Thou seen Abraham?" as an honor too great for Him to pretend to.Read the comment

Topics related to John 8:58

• Jesus Continued
• Self-Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Jesus
• Abraham, Abram
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Act
• Conscience
• Continue
• Flesh
• Hear
• Lift

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