John 8:38
What does John 8:38 mean?
A plain-English look at John 8:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 8:38 means
Jesus contrasts the source of His actions with theirs. He speaks what He has seen with His Father—divine revelation and fellowship direct Him. They, by contrast, do what they have heard from their father—another source entirely. This signals that their opposition springs from a different spiritual lineage. Actions reveal paternity. Jesus does not yet name their father, but He raises the question: whose voice shapes your life? The implication is stark—rejecting Jesus aligns one with a father opposed to God. The stage is set for a devastating identification of their true spiritual parentage.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I speak the things which I have seen with my Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from your father.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I speak the things which I have seen with my Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from your father.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I say the things which I have seen in my Father's house: and you do the things which come to you from your father's house.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862I--that which I have seen with my Father do speak, and ye, therefore, that which ye have seen with your father--ye do.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do the things that you have seen with your father.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I speak what I have seen with my Father, and ye then do what ye have seen with your father.
Context
This verse sharpens the contrast introduced in verse 37, moving from their intent to kill to the deeper source of behavior. The leaders protest in the next verse that Abraham is their father, prompting Jesus to test that claim by works consistent with Abraham. The flow is diagnostic: origin determines deeds; deeds expose origin. Understanding this prepares the reader for Jesus’ argument that their attempt to kill Him proves they do not share Abraham’s faith or God’s fatherhood, leading to the explicit naming of the devil as their father.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth 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 thereof.
- John 14:24
He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
- 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.
- John 5:30
I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
- John 5:19
Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner.
- John 3:32
What he hath seen and heard, of that he beareth witness; and no man receiveth his witness.
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