John 8:33
What does John 8:33 mean?
A plain-English look at John 8:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 8:33 means
They answer proudly that, as Abraham’s seed, they have never been in bondage to anyone, and question how Jesus can speak of being made free. Their claim ignores Israel’s history of servitude and, more importantly, misses the spiritual point. Heritage becomes a shield against conviction. They trust in lineage instead of facing inner slavery. This response reveals the common human tendency to deny need and to compare ourselves favorably. Jesus’ words expose that genuine freedom is not political status or ancestry but deliverance from sin’s mastery—a deliverance they, like all, desperately require.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They answered unto him, We are Abraham’s seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
KJV
King James Version · 1611They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They answered unto him, We are Abraham’s seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949They said to him in answer, We are Abraham's seed and have never been any man's servant: why do you say, You will become free?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862They answered him, `Seed of Abraham we are; and to no one have we been servants at any time; how dost thou say--Ye shall become free?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They answered him: We are the seed of Abraham: and we have never been slaves to any man. How sayest thou: You shall be free?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They answered him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never been under bondage to any one; how sayest thou, Ye shall become free?
Context
This protest comes directly after Jesus’ promise of freedom through truth. It reveals a misunderstanding and sets the stage for Jesus to define slavery spiritually in the next verse. The dialogue begins to separate those who will accept His diagnosis from those who will resist. The movement from promise to denial highlights the barrier of pride rooted in heritage. The subsequent verses will develop the contrast between slaves and sons, leading to the climactic assertion that the Son alone can make free indeed.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Judges 4:3
And the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
- Nehemiah 9:27
Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries.
- John 8:39
They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
- Luke 16:24
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.
- Ezra 9:9
For we are bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended lovingkindness unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
- Judges 2:18
And when Jehovah raised them up judges, then Jehovah was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented Jehovah because of their groaning by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
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