Focused Passage

John 8:21-30

The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham

Jesus exposes hypocritical judgment, declares himself the Light of the world, warns unbelievers that they will die in sin, calls true disciples to abide in his word and be free, exposes false Abrahamic confidence, and reveals himself as the eternal I AM before Abraham.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

21 Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

22 So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

23 Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

24 That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

25 “Who are You?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.

26 “I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world.”

27 They did not understand that He was telling them about the Father.

28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me.

29 He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”

30 As Jesus spoke these things, many believed in Him.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Original words

- οὖν G3767 Conjunction Again πάλιν G3825 Adverb He said Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural I Ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am going away ὑπάγω G5217 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you will look for ζητήσετέ G2212 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular [but] καὶ G2532 Conjunction you will die ἀποθανεῖσθε G599 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular sin ἁμαρτίᾳ G266 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Where ὅπου G3699 Adverb I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am going ὑπάγω G5217 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb cannot δύνασθε G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural come ἐλθεῖν G2064 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Verse 22

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαῖοι G2453 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural began to ask Ἔλεγον G2036 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural vvv Μήτι G3385 IntPrtcl Will He kill ἀποκτενεῖ G615 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Himself ἑαυτὸν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular since ὅτι G3754 Conjunction He says λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Where Ὅπου G3699 Adverb I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am going ὑπάγω G5217 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb cannot δύνασθε G1410 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural come ἐλθεῖν G2064 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Verse 23

Original words

Then Καὶ G2532 Conjunction He told ἔλεγεν G2036 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural You Ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural are ἐστέ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural from ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural below κάτω G2736 Adverb I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am εἰμί G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural above ἄνω G507 Adverb You ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural are ἐστέ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural of ἐκ G1537 Preposition this τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular world κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am εἰμὶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular not οὐκ G3756 Adverb of ἐκ G1537 Preposition this τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular world κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 24

Original words

That is why οὖν G3767 Conjunction I told εἶπον G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you would die ἀποθανεῖσθε G599 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural sins ἁμαρτίαις G266 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction unless ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb you believe πιστεύσητε G4100 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I ἐγώ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am [He] εἰμι G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you will die ἀποθανεῖσθε G599 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural sins ἁμαρτίαις G266 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Verse 25

Original words

Who τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular You Σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular - οὖν G3767 Conjunction they asked Ἔλεγον G2036 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Just καὶ G2532 Conjunction what ὅ¦τι G3754 Conjunction I have been telling λαλῶ G2980 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural from the Τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular beginning ἀρχὴν G746 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Verse 26

Original words

I have ἔχω G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular much πολλὰ G4183 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural to say λαλεῖν G2980 Verb - Present Infinitive Active about περὶ G4012 Preposition you ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural and [much] καὶ G2532 Conjunction to judge κρίνειν G2919 Verb - Present Infinitive Active But ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction the [One who] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular sent πέμψας G3992 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular truthful ἀληθής G227 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular and κἀγὼ G2504 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural I have heard ἤκουσα G191 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular from παρ’ G3844 Preposition Him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural I tell λαλῶ G2980 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular world κόσμον G2889 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 27

Original words

vvv Οὐκ G3756 Adverb They did not understand ἔγνωσαν G1097 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction He was telling ἔλεγεν G2036 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural [about] the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Father Πατέρα G3962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 28

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural When Ὅταν G3752 Conjunction you have lifted up ὑψώσητε G5312 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸν G5207 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular then τότε G5119 Adverb you will know γνώσεσθε G1097 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I ἐγώ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am [He] εἰμι G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and [that] καὶ G2532 Conjunction I do ποιῶ G4160 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular nothing οὐδέν G3762 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular on ἀπ’ G575 Preposition My own ἐμαυτοῦ G1683 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 1st Person Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction speak λαλῶ G2980 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular exactly καθὼς G2531 Adverb what ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Father Πατὴρ G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular has taught ἐδίδαξέν G1321 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Verse 29

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction He who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular sent πέμψας G3992 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular with μετ’ G3326 Preposition Me ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb He has not left ἀφῆκέν G863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular alone μόνον G3441 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular because ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular always πάντοτε G3842 Adverb do ποιῶ G4160 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular what τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural pleases ἀρεστὰ G701 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 30

Original words

As [Jesus] αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular spoke λαλοῦντος G2980 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular these things Ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural many πολλοὶ G4183 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural believed ἐπίστευσαν G4100 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural in εἰς G1519 Preposition Him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.