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 rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 8:58 word by word

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

• 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, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant 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, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
• Proverbs 8:22Yhwh possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
• Isaiah 9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• Micah 5:2But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
• Colossians 1:17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
• Hebrews 1:10And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
• Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
• Revelation 1:11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven Assemblies which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
• Revelation 2:8And unto the angel of the Assembly in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
• Exodus 3:14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
• Isaiah 43:13Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
• Isaiah 44:6Thus saith Yhwh the King of Israel, and his redeemer Yhwh of Armies; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
• Isaiah 46:9Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
• Isaiah 48:12Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am 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