John 8:52
New International Version
At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death.

New Living Translation
The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’

English Standard Version
The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’

Berean Standard Bible
“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.

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham and the prophets died, and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he shall never taste of death, to the age.'

King James Bible
Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

New King James Version
Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’

New American Standard Bible
The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets as well; and yet You say, ‘If anyone follows My word, he will never taste of death.’

NASB 1995
The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’

NASB 1977
The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he shall never taste of death.’

Legacy Standard Bible
The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death—ever.’

Amplified Bible
The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon [and are under its power]. Abraham died, and also the prophets; yet You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never, ever taste of death.’

Christian Standard Bible
Then the Jews said, “Now we know you have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the Jews said, “Now we know You have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death—ever!’

American Standard Version
The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.

Contemporary English Version
Then the people said, "Now we are sure that you have a demon. Abraham is dead, and so are the prophets. How can you say that no one who obeys your words will ever die?

English Revised Version
The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Jews told Jesus, "Now we know that you're possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, but you say, 'Whoever does what I say will never taste death.'

Good News Translation
They said to him, "Now we know for sure that you have a demon! Abraham died, and the prophets died, yet you say that whoever obeys your teaching will never die.

International Standard Version
Then the Jewish leaders told him, "Now we really know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, but you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.'

Majority Standard Bible
“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.

NET Bible
Then the Judeans responded, "Now we know you're possessed by a demon! Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet you say, 'If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never experience death.'

New Heart English Bible
Then the Judeans said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste of death.'

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said the Jews to him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man shall keep my saying, he shall never taste death.

Weymouth New Testament
"Now," exclaimed the Jews, "we know that you are possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the Prophets, and yet *you* say, 'If any one shall have obeyed my teaching, he shall in no case ever taste death.'

World English Bible
Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The Jews, therefore, said to Him, “Now we have known that You have a demon; Abraham died, and the prophets, and You say, If anyone may keep My word, he will not taste of death—throughout the age!

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham and the prophets died, and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he shall never taste of death, to the age.'

Young's Literal Translation
The Jews, therefore, said to him, 'Now we have known that thou hast a demon; Abraham did die, and the prophets, and thou dost say, If any one may keep my word, he shall not taste of death -- to the age!

Smith's Literal Translation
Then said the Jews to him, Now we have known that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If any keep my word, he shall never taste of death.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Jews therefore said: Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest: If any man keep my word, he shall not taste death for ever.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, the Jews said: “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham is dead, and the Prophets; and yet you say, ‘If anyone will have kept my word, he shall not taste death for eternity.’

New American Bible
[So] the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’

New Revised Standard Version
The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The Jews said to him, Now we are sure that you are insane. Abraham and the prophets have died; and yet you say, Whoever obeys my word, shall never taste death.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The Jews were saying to him, “Now we know that a demon is in you; Abraham is dead and The Prophets, and you are saying, 'Whoever keeps my words shall never taste death.' “
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Then said the Jews to him: Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and you say, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.

Godbey New Testament
The Jews said to Him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham and the prophets are dead; and thou sayest, If any one may keep my word, he may never taste death.

Haweis New Testament
Then said the Jews to him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If any man observe my word, he shall never taste of death to eternity.

Mace New Testament
upon this said the Jews to him, now we plainly perceive you are mad. Abraham is dead, and the prophets too; and yet you say, if a man observes your doctrine, he shall never die.

Weymouth New Testament
"Now," exclaimed the Jews, "we know that you are possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the Prophets, and yet *you* say, 'If any one shall have obeyed my teaching, he shall in no case ever taste death.'

Worrell New Testament
The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that Thou hast a demon! Abraham and the prophets died; and Thou sayest, 'If any one keeps My word, he shall never taste of death!'

Worsley New Testament
The Jews therefore said unto Him, Now we are sure that thou art possessed by a demon. Abraham is dead, and the prophets too; and thou sayest, If any one keep my word, he shall never taste of death: art thou greater than our father Abraham, who is dead?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Before Abraham was Born, I Am
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?”…

Cross References
John 5:24
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. / And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Hebrews 2:14-15
Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, / and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” / “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” / The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ...

Romans 8:2
For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.

2 Timothy 1:10
And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,

John 6:50-51
This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. / I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Revelation 1:18
the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

1 John 3:14
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.

Matthew 16:28
Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Luke 20:36
In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.

Genesis 3:4
“You will not surely die,” the serpent told the woman.

Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.

Psalm 49:9
that he should live on forever and not see decay.


Treasury of Scripture

Then said the Jews to him, Now we know that you have a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and you say, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

Now.

John 8:48
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

John 9:24
Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

Abraham.

Zechariah 1:5,6
Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? …

Hebrews 11:13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

taste.

Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

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John 8
1. Jesus delivers the woman taken in adultery.
12. He declares himself the light of the world, and justifies his doctrine;
31. promises freedom to those who believe;
33. answers the Jews who boasted of Abraham;
48. answers their reviling, by showing his authority and dignity;
59. and slips away from those who would stone him.














Now we know
This phrase indicates a sense of certainty and finality in the Jews' accusation against Jesus. The Greek word for "know" here is "οἴδαμεν" (oidamen), which implies a perceived understanding or knowledge. Historically, this reflects the growing tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders, who were increasingly convinced of their own interpretation of Jesus' words and actions. This certainty, however, is ironically misplaced, as they fail to recognize the truth of Jesus' divine nature.

that You have a demon
The accusation that Jesus has a demon is a serious charge, reflecting the spiritual blindness of the accusers. In the cultural and religious context of the time, attributing demonic possession to someone was a way to discredit their authority and message. The Greek word "δαιμόνιον" (daimonion) refers to an evil spirit. This accusation is a stark contrast to the truth of Jesus' identity as the Son of God, highlighting the spiritual conflict between light and darkness.

declared the Jews
The term "Jews" in the Gospel of John often refers to the Jewish leaders or those opposed to Jesus, rather than the Jewish people as a whole. This reflects the specific group of religious authorities who were in conflict with Jesus. The use of "declared" (Greek: "εἶπαν" - eipan) suggests a public and authoritative pronouncement, emphasizing their role as leaders who were expected to guide the people in spiritual matters, yet they were leading them astray.

Abraham died, and so did the prophets
This statement acknowledges the mortality of revered figures in Jewish history. Abraham and the prophets were highly esteemed, yet they experienced physical death. The mention of these figures serves to challenge Jesus' claim about eternal life. The historical context here is crucial, as the Jews held Abraham and the prophets in high regard, and their deaths were seen as a natural part of human existence. This sets the stage for Jesus to reveal a deeper spiritual truth about life and death.

yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word
Jesus' claim that those who keep His word will never taste death is a profound statement about the power and authority of His teachings. The phrase "keeps Your word" (Greek: "τηρήσῃ τὸν λόγον" - tērēsē ton logon) implies obedience and adherence to Jesus' teachings. This is not merely about following rules but entering into a transformative relationship with Christ. The emphasis on "Your word" underscores the divine origin and authority of Jesus' message.

will never taste death
The promise of never tasting death is a reference to eternal life, a central theme in Jesus' teachings. The Greek word for "taste" (γεύσηται - geusētai) suggests experiencing or partaking in something. In this context, it implies that those who follow Jesus will not experience the spiritual death that separates one from God. This promise is rooted in the hope of resurrection and eternal life through faith in Christ, offering a profound assurance to believers that transcends physical death.

(52) Abraham is dead, and the prophets.--They still "do not understand His speech," and take His words in a merely physical sense. In that sense they were impossible, for they are contradicted by the fact that death came to the great Patriarch and the prophets, and if to them, then surely, much more to ordinary men. They regard it as conclusive that their assertion in John 8:48 is correct. No one, except a man under the influence of a demon, would make an assertion so opposed to the almost unbroken experience of mankind.

If a man keep my saying.--Better, If a man keep My word, as in last verse.

He shall never taste of death.--The expression is stronger than that which He had used, "shall never see death." They use it to put in the strongest way their wonder at the impossible promise which He had uttered. It has occurred before in Matthew 16:28. (See Note there.) It occurs again in the New Testament only in Hebrews 2:9.

Verse 52. - The Jews - the adverse dominant party, ready always to misunderstand his words - (then) said to him, Now - in reference to their own charge (ver. 48), which he had solemnly disclaimed - we know (we have come to know, ἐγνώκαμεν) that thou hast a daemon. They imply that he must be under some most bewildering hallucination. These words have scattered their momentary hesitation. They must have reasoned thus: "He who claims such power for his own words must have personal immunity from death. This is a daemoniacal folly and delusion. There have been greater than he who heard and kept the words of God, and who, nevertheless, did not escape death." Abraham died, and the prophets (died); and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death. Here observe the wilful alteration of the Saviour's words. In place of τὸν λόγον τὸν ἐμόν, "the word that is mine," they quote him as saying, τὸν λόγον μου, "my word," "the word of me" which conveys a more personal claim; and again, in lieu of the remarkable phrase, οὐ θεωρήσῃ, they say, οὐ μὴ γεύσηται equivalent to "shall not in any way experience death" - a form of expression incompatible with the fact of the physical death of his followers and a fortiori of himself. The believer, even like the Lord, does taste of death (Hebrews 2:9), but he does not see it. The phrase, γεύσεται θανάτου, is a rabbinical one for "drinking the cup of death" (cf. John 18:11; Revelation 18:6).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“Now
Νῦν (Nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

we know
ἐγνώκαμεν (egnōkamen)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

You have
ἔχεις (echeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

a demon!”
δαιμόνιον (daimonion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1140: An evil-spirit, demon; a heathen deity. Neuter of a derivative of daimon; a d?Monic being; by extension a deity.

declared
Εἶπον (Eipon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Jews.
Ἰουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.

“Abraham
Ἀβραὰμ (Abraam)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 11: Abraham, progenitor of the Hebrew race. Of Hebrew origin; Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch.

died,
ἀπέθανεν (apethanen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 599: To be dying, be about to die, wither, decay. From apo and thnesko; to die off.

and so did
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

prophets,
προφῆται (prophētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet.

yet
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

You
σὺ (sy)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

say that
λέγεις (legeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

anyone who
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

keeps
τηρήσῃ (tērēsē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5083: From teros; to guard, i.e. To note; by implication, to detain; by extension, to withhold; by extension, to withhold.

[Your]
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

word
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

will never taste
γεύσηται (geusētai)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1089: (a) I taste, (b) I experience. A primary verb; to taste; by implication, to eat; figuratively, to experience.

death.
θανάτου (thanatou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2288: Death, physical or spiritual. From thnesko; death.


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