Devine Scripture

John 8:55

What does John 8:55 mean?

A plain-English look at John 8:55 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 8:55 means

Jesus declares that they have not known the Father, but He knows Him. To deny His knowledge would make Him a liar like them; instead, He affirms His true knowledge and obedience—He keeps the Father’s word. This statement confronts their presumption and vindicates His authority. He is not groping toward God but living in perfect fellowship. The contrast is severe: religious leaders ignorant of God versus the Son who knows and obeys. His integrity compels Him to speak plainly, even if it offends. Real knowledge of God shows in obedience; Jesus embodies this perfectly.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You have no knowledge of him, but I have knowledge of him; and if I said I have no knowledge of him I would be talking falsely like you: but I have full knowledge of him, and I keep his word.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and ye have not known Him, and I have known Him, and if I say that I have not known Him, I shall be like you--speaking falsely; but I have known Him, and His word I keep;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And you have not known him: but I know him. And if I shall say that I know him not, I shall be like to you, a liar. But I do know him and do keep his word.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And ye know him not; but I know him; and if I said, I know him not, I should be like you, a liar. But I know him, and I keep his word.

Context

This verse intensifies the divide established in verse 54. It asserts Jesus’ unique knowledge and obedience, discrediting the leaders’ claims to know God. The next statement will connect Abraham to Jesus directly—Abraham rejoiced to see His day. This move ties patriarchal hope to Messianic fulfillment, answering the earlier challenge about being greater than Abraham. The argument is tightening: if Jesus knows God and keeps His word, then Abraham’s joy over Jesus’ day makes sense and supports Jesus’ identity.

v.54Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God;

v.55This passage

v.56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.

Cross references

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

  • John 8:29

    And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him.

  • Acts 17:23

    For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you.

  • John 15:21

    But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 9:3

    And they bend their tongue, as it were their bow, for falsehood; and they are grown strong in the land, but not for truth: for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith Jehovah.

  • Luke 10:22

    All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth who the Son is, save the Father; and who the Father is, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him.

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