John 8 · Verse 27

John 8:27

They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
John 8:27, King James Version

John 8:27 in other translations

BSBThey did not understand that He was telling them about the Father.
WEBThey didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father.
ASVThey perceived not that he spake to them of the Father.
YLTThey knew not that of the Father he spake to them;
DARBYThey knew not that he spoke to them of the Father.
BBEThey did not see that his words were about the Father.
WebsterThey understood not that he spoke to them concerning the Father.

What does John 8:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 8:26-27

26-27. I have many things to say and to judge of you; but he that sent me is true, &c.--that is, I could, and at the fitting time, will say and judge many things of you (referring perhaps to the work of the Spirit which is for judgment as well as salvation, Joh 16:8), but what I do say is just the message My Father hath given Me to deliver.

Read the full comment on John 8:26-27 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 27. They understood not. They knew not, or they were unwilling to receive him as a messenger from God. They doubtless understood that he meant to speak of God, but they were unwilling to acknowledge that he really came from God.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · 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 8:27 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.

οὐκoukNotG3756
ἔγνωσανegnōsanthey understoodG1097
ὅτιhotithatG3754
τὸνton[about] theG3588
πατέραpateraFatherG3962
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ἔλεγεν.elegenHe was speaking.G3004

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

Cross references for John 8:27

  • Isaiah 6:9

    And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

  • Isaiah 59:10

    We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

  • Romans 11:7-10

    What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

  • John 8:43

    Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

  • John 8:47

    He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

  • Isaiah 42:18-20

    Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

    But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
43,47; Isa 6:9; 42:18-20; 59:10; Ro 11:7-10; 2Co 4:3,4

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

Context

  • 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.

  • John 8:27

    They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

  • John 8:28

    Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

Read all of John 8

John 8:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas no entendieron que él les hablaba del Padre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ils ne connurent pas qu’il leur parlait du Père.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie erkannten nicht, daß er von dem Vater zu ihnen sprach.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et non cognoverunt quia Patrem ejus dicebat Deum.