John 8:47
What does John 8:47 mean?
A plain-English look at John 8:47 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 8:47 means
Jesus states a principle: whoever is of God hears God’s words. This is not merely auditory but receptive hearing—welcoming and obeying. He then applies it: they do not hear because they are not of God. Their deafness is diagnostic of their spiritual state. Belonging to God produces responsiveness to the Son’s voice; estrangement produces resistance. This cuts through pretense. Religious status cannot replace the new birth that enables hearing. The verdict is solemn but fair: their rejection of Jesus’ word reveals they do not belong to God as they claim.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He who is a child of God gives ear to the words of God: your ears are not open to them because you are not from God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862he who is of God, the sayings of God he doth hear; because of this ye do not hear, because of God ye are not.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He that is of God heareth the words of God. Therefore you hear them not, because you are not of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He that is ofGod hears the words ofGod: therefore ye hear [them] not, because ye are not ofGod.
Context
This conclusion follows Jesus’ challenge about His sinlessness and truthful speech. It marks a pivot in the dialogue, provoking the opponents to insult Him as a Samaritan with a demon in the next verse. The flow shifts from reasoned exposure to ad hominem attack, showing that, lacking evidence, they resort to slander. This escalation underscores the divide Jesus has traced: those receptive to God’s words believe; those not of God revile the messenger. The scene moves toward Jesus’ promise of never seeing death for those who keep His word.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 3 John 1:11
Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
- John 17:6
I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word.
- 1 John 5:1
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
- John 8:43
Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.
- 2 John 1:9
Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.
- John 8:37
I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.
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