Devine Scripture

John 8:48

What does John 8:48 mean?

A plain-English look at John 8:48 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 8:48 means

Unable to refute Him, the Jews insult Jesus, calling Him a Samaritan and accusing Him of having a demon. The slurs aim to discredit by ethnicity and spiritual defamation. When arguments fail, hostility often turns to name-calling. Their charges are baseless, revealing desperation rather than discernment. By labeling Him demon-possessed, they invert reality—light called darkness. This is the tragedy of hardened hearts: the purest truth-teller is vilified. Yet such insults cannot alter who Jesus is. They show the cost of confronting entrenched unbelief with God’s uncompromising truth.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

The Jews said to him in answer, Are we not right in saying that you are of Samaria and have an evil spirit?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

The Jews, therefore, answered and said to him, `Do we not say well, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

The Jews therefore answered and said to him: Do not we say well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

The Jews answered and said to him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a demon?

Context

This outburst follows Jesus’ declaration that their failure to hear proves they are not of God. The shift from debate to insult reveals the breakdown of reasoned opposition. In the next verse, Jesus will calmly deny the accusation, affirming His honor for the Father and exposing their dishonor toward Him. The flow contrasts their dishonor with His commitment to seek the Father’s glory, preparing for the remarkable promise that those who keep His word will never see death, a claim that will further inflame the controversy.

v.47He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.

v.48This passage

v.49Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 12:24

    But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.

  • John 7:20

    The multitude answered, Thou hast a demon: who seeketh to kill thee?

  • Isaiah 53:3

    He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not.

  • Romans 15:3

    For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.

  • John 8:52

    The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.

  • Matthew 10:5

    These twelve Jesus sent forth, and charged them, saying, Go not into any way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans:

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