John 8:35
What does John 8:35 mean?
A plain-English look at John 8:35 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 8:35 means
Jesus contrasts the slave and the son in a household. The slave does not remain forever; his position is insecure, dependent, and temporary. The son, by nature and right, abides forever. Applied spiritually, those enslaved to sin have no lasting place in God’s family merely by heritage or effort. True permanence belongs to the Son and to those whom He adopts into His standing. The image undermines false security based on ancestry and points to Christ’s unique authority to grant enduring belonging. Stability in God’s house is not earned; it is bestowed through relationship with the Son.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now the servant does not go on living in the house for ever, but the son does.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the servant doth not remain in the house--to the age, the son doth remain--to the age;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the son abideth for ever.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Now the bondman abides not in the house for ever: the son abides for ever.
Context
This verse develops the metaphor introduced by the slavery of sin. It sets the categories for the next statement, where Jesus offers true freedom through the Son. The leaders’ confidence in being Abraham’s seed is shown to be insufficient—only union with the Son guarantees permanence. The flow intensifies the contrast: temporary versus forever, slave versus son. This prepares the reader for the climactic assurance that if the Son frees a person, that freedom is complete and real, surpassing all external claims.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 8:15
For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
- Luke 15:31
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.
- Galatians 4:30
Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.
- Galatians 4:4
but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
- 1 Peter 1:2
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
- Colossians 3:3
For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
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