John 8:38

38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[a]

John 8:38 in Other Translations

KJV
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
ESV
38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
NLT
38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”
MSG
38 I'm talking about things I have seen while keeping company with the Father, and you just go on doing what you have heard from your father."
CSB
38 I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and therefore you do what you have heard from your father."

John 8:38 Meaning and Commentary

John 8:38

I speak that which I have seen with my Father
This is an aggravation of the sin of the Jews, in seeking to kill Christ, on account of his doctrine, since it was not his own, but his Father's; was not merely human, but divine; was what he the only begotten Son, that lay in the bosom of his Father, had seen in his heart, in his purposes, and decrees, in his council, and covenant, and so was clear, complete, certain, and to be depended on:

and ye do that which ye have seen with your father;
meaning the devil, whom, though they had not scan with their eyes, nor any of his personal actions; yet acted so much under his influence, and according to his will, as if they had close and intimate consultation with him, and took their plan of operation from him, and had him continually before them, as their example and pattern, to copy after. The Ethiopic version reads, "what ye have heard"; and so it is read in three of Beza's copies, and in three of Stephens's.

John 8:38 In-Context

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.
38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”
39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did.
40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.

Cross References 2

  • 1. John 5:19,30; John 14:10,24
  • 2. ver 41,44

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "presence. Therefore do what you have heard from the Father."
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