Devine Scripture

John 8:51

What does John 8:51 mean?

A plain-English look at John 8:51 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 8:51 means

Jesus gives a solemn promise: whoever keeps His word will never see death. He speaks beyond physical death to the ultimate separation from God. To keep His word is to trust, receive, and live by it. Union with Him overcomes death’s sting and ushers into eternal life. This claim is breathtaking, offering what no prophet could—victory over death itself. It flows from His authority as the One sent by the Father and foreshadows His own triumph over the grave. The path to life is clear: keep the word of Jesus, and death’s finality is broken.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Truly I say to you, If a man keeps my word he will never see death.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

verily, verily, I say to you, If any one may keep my word, death he may not see--to the age.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Amen, amen, I say to you: If any man keep my word, he shall not see death for ever.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If any one shall keep my word, he shall never see death.

Context

This bold promise follows Jesus’ statements about honoring the Father and not seeking His own glory. It will provoke outrage and misunderstanding, as the Jews point out that Abraham and the prophets died. The dialogue turns again on categories—physical death versus ultimate death. The next verses will press whether Jesus is greater than Abraham and who He makes Himself out to be. The narrative is moving toward Jesus’ identification with the Father’s glory and the climactic declaration of pre-existence.

v.50But I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

v.51This passage

v.52The 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.

Cross references

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

  • John 5:24

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.

  • John 8:12

    Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.

  • John 15:20

    Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

  • John 8:55

    and ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know him, and keep his word.

  • Hebrews 11:5

    By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:

  • Luke 2:26

    And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore John 8

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on John 8.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to John 8:51.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary