John 8:26
What does John 8:26 mean?
A plain-English look at John 8:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 8:26 means
Jesus says He has many things to speak and judge about them, yet His restraint shows submission to the One who sent Him. The Father is true, and Jesus speaks to the world only what He has heard from Him. His mission is not to air personal grievances but to declare divine truth. He could expose every hidden matter, but He limits Himself to the Father’s agenda and timing. This reveals both authority and humility. His words carry the weight of heaven, and their rejection is not merely of a man but of God’s truth delivered through the Son.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you: howbeit he that sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these speak I unto the world.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you: howbeit he that sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these speak I unto the world.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I have much to say about you and against you: but he who sent me is true and what he has said to me I say to the world.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862many things I have to speak concerning you and to judge, but He who sent me is true, and I--what things I heard from Him--these I say to the world.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Many things I have to speak and to judge of you. But he that sent me, is true: and the things I have heard of him, these same I speak in the world.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but he that has sent me is true, and I, what I have heard from him, these things I say to the world.
Context
After asserting the consistency of His identity and message, Jesus grounds His speech in the Father’s truthfulness. The audience still does not grasp that He is speaking about the Father, as the next verse notes. This misunderstanding sets the stage for Jesus to predict that when He is “lifted up,” they will know who He is and that He speaks only as taught by the Father. The narrative is steadily orienting the reader toward the crucifixion as the climactic revelation of Jesus’ person and mission.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 5:42
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves.
- John 3:32
What he hath seen and heard, of that he beareth witness; and no man receiveth his witness.
- John 7:16
Jesus therefore answered them, and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me.
- John 16:12
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
- 2 Corinthians 1:18
But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay.
- John 17:8
for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me.
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