Focused Passage

John 8:48-59

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

48The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”

49“I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.

50I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge.

51Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”

52“Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death.

53Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?”

54Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

55You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word.

56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”

57Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?”

58“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

59At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 48

Original words

TheοἱG3588Article - Nominative Masculine PluralJewsἸουδαῖοιG2453Adjective - Nominative Masculine PluralansweredἈπεκρίθησανG611Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural. . .καὶG2532Conjunction. . .εἶπανG2036Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralHimαὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularAre we notΟὐG3756Adverb. . .ἡμεῖςG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person PluralrightκαλῶςG2573Adverbto sayλέγομενG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person PluralthatὅτιG3754ConjunctionYouσὺG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person SingularareεἶG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singulara SamaritanΣαμαρίτηςG4541Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularandκαὶG2532ConjunctionYou haveἔχειςG2192Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singulara demonδαιμόνιονG1140Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 49

Original words

IἘγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular{do} notοὐκG3756AdverbhaveἔχωG2192Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singulara demonδαιμόνιονG1140Noun - Accusative Neuter SingularJesusἸησοῦςG2424Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularrepliedἈπεκρίθηG611Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person SingularbutἀλλὰG235ConjunctionI honorτιμῶG5091Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularMyμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-τὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine SingularFatherΠατέραG3962Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularandκαὶG2532ConjunctionyouὑμεῖςG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person PluraldishonorἀτιμάζετέG818Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person PluralMeμεG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Verse 50

Original words

-δὲG1161ConjunctionIἐγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular{do} notοὐG3756AdverbseekζητῶG2212Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularMyμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular[own]τὴνG3588Article - Accusative Feminine SingulargloryδόξανG1391Noun - Accusative Feminine SingularThere isἔστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularOne whoG3588Article - Nominative Masculine Singularseeks [it]ζητῶνG2212Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularandκαὶG2532ConjunctionHe is the JudgeκρίνωνG2919Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 51

Original words

TrulyἀμὴνG281Hebrew WordtrulyἀμὴνG281Hebrew WordI tellλέγωG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularyouὑμῖνG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person PluralifἐάνG1437ConjunctionanyoneτιςG5100Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine SingularkeepsτηρήσῃG5083Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person SingularMyἐμὸνG1699Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 1st Person Singular-τὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine SingularwordλόγονG3056Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularvvvοὐG3756AdverbvvvμὴG3361Adverbhe will never seeθεωρήσῃG2334Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular. . .εἰςG1519Preposition. . .τὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine Singular. . .αἰῶναG165Noun - Accusative Masculine SingulardeathθάνατονG2288Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 52

Original words

NowΝῦνG3568Adverbwe knowἐγνώκαμενG1097Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person PluralthatὅτιG3754ConjunctionYou haveἔχειςG2192Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singulara demonδαιμόνιονG1140Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular-οὖνG3767ConjunctiondeclaredΕἶπονG2036Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural-αὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingulartheοἱG3588Article - Nominative Masculine PluralJewsἸουδαῖοιG2453Adjective - Nominative Masculine PluralAbrahamἈβραὰμG11Noun - Nominative Masculine SingulardiedἀπέθανενG599Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singularand so didκαὶG2532ConjunctiontheοἱG3588Article - Nominative Masculine PluralprophetsπροφῆταιG4396Noun - Nominative Masculine PluralyetκαὶG2532ConjunctionYouσὺG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singularsay thatλέγειςG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularvvvἘάνG1437Conjunctionanyone whoτιςG5100Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine SingularkeepsτηρήσῃG5083Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular[Your]μουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-τὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine SingularwordλόγονG3056Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularvvvοὐG3756AdverbvvvμὴG3361Adverbwill never tasteγεύσηταιG1089Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular. . .εἰςG1519Preposition. . .τὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine Singular. . .αἰῶναG165Noun - Accusative Masculine SingulardeathθανάτουG2288Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 53

Original words

AreεἶG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularYouσὺG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person SingularvvvμὴG3361Adverbgreater thanμείζωνG3173Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - ComparativeourἡμῶνG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural-τοῦG3588Article - Genitive Masculine SingularfatherπατρὸςG3962Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularAbrahamἈβραάμG11Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular[He]ὅστιςG3748Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine SingulardiedἀπέθανενG599Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular[as did]καὶG2532ConjunctiontheοἱG3588Article - Nominative Masculine PluralprophetsπροφῆταιG4396Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural-ἀπέθανονG599Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralWhoτίναG5101Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singulardo You claim to beποιεῖςG4160Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular. . .σεαυτὸνG4572Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular
Verse 54

Original words

JesusἸησοῦςG2424Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularansweredἈπεκρίθηG611Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person SingularIfἘὰνG1437ConjunctionIἐγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person SingularglorifyδοξάσωG1392Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person SingularMyselfἐμαυτόνG1683Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 1st Person SingularMyμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-G3588Article - Nominative Feminine SingulargloryδόξαG1391Noun - Nominative Feminine SingularmeansἐστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularnothingοὐδένG3762Adjective - Nominative Neuter SingularThe [One who]G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularglorifiesδοξάζωνG1392Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularMeμεG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person SingularisἔστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularMyμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularFatherΠατήρG3962Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular[of] whomὃνG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine SingularyouὑμεῖςG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person PluralsayλέγετεG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural-ὅτιG3754ConjunctionHe isἐστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularourἡμῶνG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person PluralGodΘεὸςG2316Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • WH and TR Your
Verse 55

Original words

-καὶG2532ConjunctionvvvοὐκG3756AdverbYou do not knowἐγνώκατεG1097Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person PluralHimαὐτόνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person SingularbutδὲG1161ConjunctionIἐγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person SingularknowοἶδαG1492Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularHimαὐτόνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person SingularIfκἂνG2579ConjunctionI saidεἴπωG2036Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular-ὅτιG3754ConjunctionvvvοὐκG3756AdverbI did not knowοἶδαG1492Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularHimαὐτόνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person SingularI would beἔσομαιG1510Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singulara liarψεύστηςG5583Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularlikeὅμοιοςG3664Adjective - Nominative Masculine SingularyouὑμῖνG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person PluralButἀλλὰG235ConjunctionI do knowοἶδαG1492Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularHimαὐτὸνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person SingularandκαὶG2532ConjunctionI keepτηρῶG5083Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularHisαὐτοῦG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular-τὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine SingularwordλόγονG3056Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 56

Original words

YourὑμῶνG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularfatherπατὴρG3962Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularAbrahamἈβραὰμG11Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularrejoicedἠγαλλιάσατοG21Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person SingularthatἵναG2443Conjunctionhe would seeἴδῃG3708Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular-τὴνG3588Article - Accusative Feminine SingularMyἐμήνG1699Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 1st Person Singular-τὴνG3588Article - Accusative Feminine SingulardayἡμέρανG2250Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular-καὶG2532ConjunctionHe saw [it]εἶδενG3708Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularandκαὶG2532Conjunctionwas gladἐχάρηG5463Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 57

Original words

ThenοὖνG3767ConjunctiontheοἱG3588Article - Nominative Masculine PluralJewsἸουδαῖοιG2453Adjective - Nominative Masculine PluralsaidΕἶπον*G2036Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluraltoπρὸςG4314PrepositionHimαὐτόνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person SingularYou areἔχειςG2192Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singularnot yetοὔπωG3768AdverbfiftyΠεντήκονταG4004Adjective - Accusative Neuter Pluralyears [old]ἔτηG2094Noun - Accusative Neuter PluralandκαὶG2532ConjunctionYou have seenἑώρακαςG3708Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularAbrahamἈβραὰμG11Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 58

Original words

TrulyἈμὴνG281Hebrew WordtrulyἀμὴνG281Hebrew WordI tellλέγωG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularyouὑμῖνG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person PluralJesusἸησοῦςG2424Noun - Nominative Masculine SingulardeclaredΕἶπενG2036Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. . .αὐτοῖςG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person PluralbeforeπρὶνG4250AdverbAbrahamἈβραὰμG11Noun - Accusative Masculine Singularwas [born]γενέσθαιG1096Verb - Aorist Infinitive MiddleIἐγὼG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person SingularamεἰμίG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Literally before Abraham was, I am!
Verse 59

Original words

At thisοὖνG3767Conjunctionthey picked upἮρανG142Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralstonesλίθουςG3037Noun - Accusative Masculine PluraltoἵναG2443ConjunctionthrowβάλωσινG906Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Pluralatἐπ’G1909PrepositionHimαὐτόνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person SingularButδὲG1161ConjunctionJesusἸησοῦςG2424Noun - Nominative Masculine Singularwas hiddenἐκρύβηG2928Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person SingularandκαὶG2532ConjunctionwentἐξῆλθενG1831Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singularout ofἐκG1537PrepositiontheτοῦG3588Article - Genitive Neuter Singulartemple areaἱεροῦG2411Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular

BSB notes

  • BYZ and TR include going through the midst of them, and so He passed by.

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.