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

48 The 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.

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

51 Truly, 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.

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

54 Jesus 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.’

55 You 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.

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

57 Then 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!”

59 At 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

The οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαῖοι G2453 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural answered Ἀπεκρίθησαν G611 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction . . . εἶπαν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Are we not Οὐ G3756 Adverb . . . ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural right καλῶς G2573 Adverb to say λέγομεν G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction You σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular a Samaritan Σαμαρίτης G4541 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction You have ἔχεις G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular a demon δαιμόνιον G1140 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 49

Original words

I Ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular {do} not οὐκ G3756 Adverb have ἔχω G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular a demon δαιμόνιον G1140 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Ἀπεκρίθη G611 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction I honor τιμῶ G5091 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Father Πατέρα G3962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural dishonor ἀτιμάζετέ G818 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Verse 50

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular {do} not οὐ G3756 Adverb seek ζητῶ G2212 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular [own] τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular glory δόξαν G1391 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular There is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular One who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular seeks [it] ζητῶν G2212 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction He is the Judge κρίνων G2919 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 51

Original words

Truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural if ἐάν G1437 Conjunction anyone τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular keeps τηρήσῃ G5083 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular My ἐμὸν G1699 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 1st Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular word λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb he will never see θεωρήσῃ G2334 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition . . . τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular . . . αἰῶνα G165 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular death θάνατον G2288 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 52

Original words

Now Νῦν G3568 Adverb we know ἐγνώκαμεν G1097 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction You have ἔχεις G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular a demon δαιμόνιον G1140 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - οὖν G3767 Conjunction declared Εἶπον G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαῖοι G2453 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Abraham Ἀβραὰμ G11 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular died ἀπέθανεν G599 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular and so did καὶ G2532 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural prophets προφῆται G4396 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural yet καὶ G2532 Conjunction You σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular say that λέγεις G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular vvv Ἐάν G1437 Conjunction anyone who τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular keeps τηρήσῃ G5083 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular [Your] μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular word λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb will never taste γεύσηται G1089 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition . . . τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular . . . αἰῶνα G165 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular death θανάτου G2288 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 53

Original words

Are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular You σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb greater than μείζων G3173 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular father πατρὸς G3962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Abraham Ἀβραάμ G11 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [He] ὅστις G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular died ἀπέθανεν G599 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [as did] καὶ G2532 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural prophets προφῆται G4396 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural - ἀπέθανον G599 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Who τίνα G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular do You claim to be ποιεῖς G4160 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular . . . σεαυτὸν G4572 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular
Verse 54

Original words

Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular answered Ἀπεκρίθη G611 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular If Ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular glorify δοξάσω G1392 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular Myself ἐμαυτόν G1683 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 1st Person Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular glory δόξα G1391 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular means ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular nothing οὐδέν G3762 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular The [One who] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular glorifies δοξάζων G1392 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Father Πατήρ G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular [of] whom ὃν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural say λέγετε G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction He is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • WH and TR Your
Verse 55

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb You do not know ἐγνώκατε G1097 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular know οἶδα G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular If κἂν G2579 Conjunction I said εἴπω G2036 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb I did not know οἶδα G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular I would be ἔσομαι G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular a liar ψεύστης G5583 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular like ὅμοιος G3664 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural But ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction I do know οἶδα G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction I keep τηρῶ G5083 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular word λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 56

Original words

Your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular father πατὴρ G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Abraham Ἀβραὰμ G11 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular rejoiced ἠγαλλιάσατο G21 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction he would see ἴδῃ G3708 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular My ἐμήν G1699 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 1st Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular day ἡμέραν G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction He saw [it] εἶδεν G3708 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction was glad ἐχάρη G5463 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 57

Original words

Then οὖν G3767 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαῖοι G2453 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural said Εἶπον* G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to πρὸς G4314 Preposition Him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular You are ἔχεις G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular not yet οὔπω G3768 Adverb fifty Πεντήκοντα G4004 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural years [old] ἔτη G2094 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction You have seen ἑώρακας G3708 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Abraham Ἀβραὰμ G11 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 58

Original words

Truly Ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular declared Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural before πρὶν G4250 Adverb Abraham Ἀβραὰμ G11 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular was [born] γενέσθαι G1096 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am εἰμί G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Literally before Abraham was, I am!
Verse 59

Original words

At this οὖν G3767 Conjunction they picked up Ἦραν G142 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural stones λίθους G3037 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction throw βάλωσιν G906 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural at ἐπ’ G1909 Preposition Him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular But δὲ G1161 Conjunction Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular was hidden ἐκρύβη G2928 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction went ἐξῆλθεν G1831 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular out of ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular temple area ἱεροῦ G2411 Noun - 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.