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 to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57Then the Judeans replied, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!” 59Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out from the temple area.

John 8:58 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• Beforeπρίνprin · beforeG4250
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510

Cross-references for John 8:58

• John 8:34Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin.
• John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.
• John 17:5And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created.
• Proverbs 8:22The Lord created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago.
• Isaiah 9:6For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Extraordinary Strategist, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• Micah 5:2(5:1) As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah – from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past.
• Colossians 1:17He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.
• Hebrews 1:10And, “You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, 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 in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches – to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
• Revelation 2:8“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but came to life:
• Exodus 3:14God said to Moses, “I am that I am.” And he said, “You must say this to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
• Isaiah 43:13From this day forward I am he; no one can deliver from my power; I will act, and who can prevent it?”
• Isaiah 44:6This is what the Lord, Israel’s king, says, their protector, the Lord who commands armies: “I am the first and I am the last, there is no God but me.
• Isaiah 46:9Remember what I accomplished in antiquity! Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like me,
• Isaiah 48:12Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I summoned! I am the one; I am present at the very beginning and at the very end.

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