John 8 · Verse 25

John 8:25

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
John 8:25, King James Version

John 8:25 in other translations

BSB“Who are You?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.
WEBThey said therefore to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
ASVThey said therefore unto him, Who art thou? Jesus said unto them, Even that which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning.
YLTThey said, therefore, to him, ‘Thou--who art thou?' and Jesus said to them, ‘Even what I did speak of to you at the beginning;
DARBYThey said therefore to him, Who art thou? And Jesus said to them, Altogether that which I also say to you.
BBEThen they said to him, Who are you? Jesus said, What I said to you from the first.
WebsterThen said they to him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith to them, Even the same that I said to you from the beginning.

What does John 8:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 8:21-25

21-25. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, &c.--(See on Joh 7:33).

Read the full comment on John 8:21-25 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 25. Who art thou? As Jesus did not expressly say in the previous verse that he was the Messiah, they professed still not to understand him. In great contempt, therefore, they asked him who he was. As if they had said, "Who art thou that undertakest to threaten us in this manner?" When we remember that they regarded him as a mere pretender from Galilee; that he was poor and without friends; and that he was persecuted by those in authority, we cannot but admire the patience with which all this was borne, and the coolness with which he answered them.

Even the same, &c. What he had professed to them was that he was the light of the world; that he was the bread that came down from heaven; that he was sent by his Father, &c. From all this they might easily gather that he claimed to be the Messiah. He assumed no new character; he made no change in his professions; he is the same yesterday, today, and for ever; and as he had once professed to be the light of the world, so, in the face of contempt, persecution, and death, he adhered to the profession.

The beginning. From his first discourse with them, or uniformly.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 Who art thou? - This marks the indignation of the Pharisees - as if they had said: Who art thou that takest upon thee to deal out threatenings in this manner against us? Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning - Rather, Just what I have already told you, i.e. that I am the light of the world - the Christ - the Savior of mankind. There are a variety of renderings for this verse among the critics. Some consider την αρχην (which makes the principal difficulty in the text) as the answer of our Lord. Who art thou? I am την αρχην, the chief, the supreme; and have therefore a right to judge, and to execute judgment. But if our Lord had intended to convey this meaning, he would doubtless have said ἡ Αρχη, or ὁ Αρχων, and not την αρχην, in the accusative case. This mode of reading appears to have been followed by the Vulgate, some copies of the Itala, and some of the fathers; but this construction can never be reconciled to the Greek text. Others take την αρχην as an adverb, in which sense it is repeatedly used by the best Greek writers; and, connecting the 25th with the 26th verse, they translate thus: I have indeed, as I Assure ye, many things to say of you, and to condemn in you. See Wakefield. Raphelius takes up the words nearly in the same way, and defends his mode of exposition with much critical learning; and to him I refer the reader. I have given it that meaning which I thought the most simple and plain, should any departure from our own version be thought necessary: both convey a good and consistent sense.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 8:21-29

Those that live in unbelief, are for ever undone, if they die in unbelief. The Jews belonged to this present evil world, but Jesus was of a heavenly and Divine nature, so that his doctrine, kingdom, and blessings, would not suit their taste. But the curse of the law is done away to all that submit to the grace of the gospel. Nothing but the doctrine of Christ's grace will be an argument powerful enough, and none but…

Read the full comment on John 8:21-29 →

John 8:25 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἔλεγονelegonThey were sayingG3004
οὖνounthereforeG3767
αὐτῷ·autōto Him;G846
σὺsuYou yourselfG4771
τίςtiswhoG5101
εἶ;eiare?G1510
εἶπενeipenSaidG2036
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ὁho<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦς·IēsousJesus;G2424
τὴνtēnFrom theG3588
ἀρχὴνarchēnbeginningG746
ὅho[which]G3739
τιtioneG5100
καὶkaialsoG2532
λαλῶlalōI am sayingG2980
ὑμῖν.huminto you.G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 8:25

  • John 5:17-29

    But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. …

  • John 8:12

    Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

  • John 1:22

    Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

  • Luke 22:67

    Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

  • John 19:9

    And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

  • John 10:24

    Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

  • John 1:19

    And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Who.
1:19,22; 10:24; 19:9; Lu 22:67
Even.
12; 5:17-29

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 8:24

    I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

  • John 8:25

    Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

  • John 8:26

    I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

Read all of John 8

John 8:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y decíanle: ¿Tú quién eres? Entonces Jesús les dijo: El que al principio también os he dicho.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ils lui disaient donc: Toi, qui es-tu? Et Jésus leur dit: Absolument ce qu’aussi je vous dis.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da sprachen sie zu ihm: Wer bist du? Und Jesus sprach zu ihnen: Durchaus das, was ich auch zu euch rede.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dicebant ergo ei: Tu quis es? Dixit eis Jesus: Principium, qui et loquor vobis.