John 8:33
They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
John 8:33 in other translations
| BSB | “We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?” |
|---|---|
| WEB | They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?” |
| ASV | They answered unto him, We are Abraham’s seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? |
| YLT | They answered him, ‘Seed of Abraham we are; and to no one have we been servants at any time; how dost thou say--Ye shall become free?' |
| DARBY | They answered him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never been under bondage to any one; how sayest thou, Ye shall become free? |
| BBE | They said to him in answer, We are Abraham's seed and have never been any man's servant: why do you say, You will become free? |
| Webster | They answered him, We are Abraham's offspring, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? |
What does John 8:33 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 8:31-33
31-33. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, &c.--The impression produced by the last words of our Lord may have become visible by some decisive movement, and here He takes advantage of it to press on them "continuance" in the faith, since then only were they His real disciples (compare Joh 15:3-8), and then should they experimentally "know the…
Barnes' Notes
We be Abraham's seed. We are the children or descendants of Abraham. Abraham was not a slave, and they pretended that they were his real descendants, inheriting his freedom as well as his spirit. They meant that they were the direct descendants of Abraham by Isaac, his heir. Ishmael, also Abraham's son, was the son of a bond-woman (Gal 4:21-23), but they were descended in a direct line from the acknowledged heir of Abraham.
Were never in bondage to any man. This is a most remarkable declaration, and one evidently false. Their fathers had been slaves in Egypt; their nation had been enslaved in Babylon; it had repeatedly been subject to the Assyrians; it was enslaved by Herod the Great; and was, at the very time they spoke, groaning under the grievous and insupportable bondage of the Romans. But we see here,
1st. That Jesus was right when he said (Jn 8:44), "Ye are of your father the devil; he is a liar, and the father of it."
2nd. Men will say anything, however false or ridiculous, to avoid and oppose the truth.
3rd. Men groaning under the most oppressive bondage are often unwilling to acknowledge it in any manner, and are indignant at being charged with it. This is the case with all sinners.
4th. Sin, and the bondage to sin, produces passion, irritation, and a troubled soul; and a man under the influence of passion regards little what he says, and is often a liar.
5th. There is need of the gospel. That only can make men free, calm, collected, meek, and lovers of truth; and as every man is by nature the servant of sin, he should without delay seek an interest in that gospel which can alone make him free.
(d) "never in bondage" Lev 25:42
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 8:30-36
Such power attended our Lord's words, that many were convinced, and professed to believe in him. He encouraged them to attend his teaching, rely on his promises, and obey his commands, notwithstanding all temptations to evil. Thus doing, they would be his disciples truly; and by the teaching of his word and Spirit, they would learn where their hope and strength lay. Christ spoke of spiritual liberty; but carnal…
John 8:33 in the original Greek
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Cross references for John 8:33
- Matthew 3:9
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
- John 8:39
They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
- Nehemiah 5:4-8
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. …
- Nehemiah 9:27-28
Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies;
- John 8:37
I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
- Genesis 15:13
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
- Exodus 1:13-14
And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
- Nehemiah 9:36-37
Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it: And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
- Luke 16:24-26
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
- Leviticus 25:42
For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.
- John 19:25
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
- Judges 2:18
And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
- John 8:33
They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
- John 8:34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
John 8:33 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y respondiéronle: Simiente de Abraham somos, y jamás servimos á nadie: ¿cómo dices tú: Seréis libres? |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Ils lui répondirent: Nous sommes la postérité d’Abraham, et jamais nous n’avons été dans la servitude de personne; comment dis-tu, toi: Vous serez rendus libres? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Sie antworteten ihm: Wir sind Abrahams Same und sind nie jemandes Knechte gewesen; wie sagst du: Ihr sollt frei werden? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Responderunt ei: Semen Abrahæ sumus, et nemini servivimus umquam: quomodo tu dicis: Liberi eritis? |