New Living Translation
John 8:44
44For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
- New International Version (NIV)You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
- English Standard Version (ESV)You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
- New King James Version (NKJV)You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Context of John 8:44
42Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?
Read all of John 8John 8:44 word by word
ὑμεῖς ἐκ τοῦ πατρὸς τοῦ διαβόλου ἐστὲ καὶ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν θέλετε ποιεῖν. ἐκεῖνος ἀνθρωποκτόνος ἦν ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ οὐκ ἔστηκεν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀλήθεια ἐν αὐτῷ. ὅταν λαλῇ τὸ ψεῦδος, ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων λαλεῖ, ὅτι ψεύστης ἐστὶν καὶ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Yeσύsu · youG4771
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- the devilὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the devilδιάβολοςdiabolos · devilish/the DevilG1228
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- the lustsἐπιθυμίαepithumia · desireG1939
- ye willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- Heἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- a murdererἀνθρωποκτόνοςanthrōpoktonos · murdererG443
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the beginningἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
- abodeἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
- notοὐou · noG3756
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
- he speakethλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- a lieψεῦδοςpseudos · lieG5579
- his ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
- a liarψεύστηςpseustēs · liarG5583
Cross-references for John 8:44
- John 8:38I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”
- John 6:70Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.”
- Genesis 3:15And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
- Matthew 13:38The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.
- Acts 13:10Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord?
- 1 John 3:8But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
- Genesis 3:3“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
- 1 Kings 22:22“‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked. “And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’ “‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’
- 1 Chronicles 21:1Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.
- James 4:1What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?
- 1 Peter 5:8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
- Revelation 2:10Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
- Revelation 9:11Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon—the Destroyer.
- Revelation 13:6And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven.
- Revelation 20:7When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison.
- 2 Peter 2:4For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.
Commentaries on John 8:44
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 44Ye are of your father the devil - Ye are the seed of the old serpent. See on John 8:37; (note). The lusts of your father - Like father like son. What Satan desires, ye desire; because ye are filled with his nature. Awful state of unregenerate men! They have the nearest alliance to Satan; they partake of his nature and have in them the same principles and propensities which characterize the very nature and essence of the devil! Reader, canst thou rest in…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 44Ye are of your father the devil - That is, you have the temper, disposition, or spirit of the devil. You are influenced by him, you imitate him, and ought therefore to be called his children. See also 1 John 3:8-10; Acts 13:10; “Thou child of the devil.” The devil - See the notes at Matthew 4:1. The lusts - The desires or the wishes. You do what pleases him. Ye will do - The word “will,” here, is not an auxiliary verb. It does not simply express futurity…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 41-47Verses 41-47 Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men's souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin. He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with whom all liars shall have their portion for ever. The special lusts of the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 44Since the unbelieving people did not love Jesus (8:42; 1 John 5:1), they were not children of the Father in heaven who sent his beloved Son (John 8:47). Their desire to kill God’s Son showed their true spiritual heritage. This was the work of the devil, who brought death to the world (see Genesis 3:1–20; Romans 5:12–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4444. Ye are of your father the devil--"This is one of the most decisive testimonies to the objective (outward) personality of the devil. It is quite impossible to suppose an accommodation to Jewish views, or a metaphorical form of speech, in so solemn an assertion as this" [Alford]. the lusts of your father--his impure, malignant, ungodly propensities, inclinations, desires. ye will do--are willing to do; not of any blind necessity of nature, but of pure…Read the comment
Topics related to John 8:44
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
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