John 8 · Verse 35

John 8:35

And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
John 8:35, King James Version

John 8:35 in other translations

BSBA slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
WEBA bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever.
ASVAnd the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever.
YLTand the servant doth not remain in the house--to the age, the son doth remain--to the age;
DARBYNow the bondman abides not in the house for ever: the son abides for ever.
BBENow the servant does not go on living in the house for ever, but the son does.
WebsterAnd the servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the Son abideth for ever.

What does John 8:35 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 8:34-35

34-35. Whosoever committeth sin--that is, liveth in the commission of it--(Compare 1Jo 3:8; Mt 7:23). is the servant of sin--that is, the bond-servant, or slave of it; for the question is not about free service, but who are in bondage. (Compare 2Pe 2:19; Re 6:16). The great truth here expressed was not unknown to heathen moralists; but it was applied only to vice, for they were total strangers to what in revealed…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 35. The servant abideth not, &c. The servant does not, of course, remain for ever, or till his death, with his master. If he is disobedient and wicked, the master sells him or turns him away. He is not the heir, and may at any time be expelled from the house of his master. But a son is the heir. He cannot be in this manner cast off or sold. Pie is privileged with the right of remaining in the family. This takes place in common life. So said the Saviour to the Jews: "You, if you are disobedient and rebellious, may at any time be rejected from being the people of God, and be deprived of your peculiar privileges as a nation. You are in the condition of servants, and unless you are made free by the gospel, and become entitled to the privilege of the sons of God, you will be cast off like an unfaithful slave." Comp. He 3:5,6.

Abideth not. Remains not, or has not the legal right to remain. He may at any time be rejected or sold.

In the house. In the family of his master.

For ever. During the whole time of his life.

The Son. The heir. He remains, and cannot be sold or cast off.

Ever. Continually. Till the day of his death. This is the privilege of a son, to inherit and dispose of the property.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 35 And the servant abideth not in the house - Or, rather, Now the slave abided not in the family. As if Jesus had said: And now that I am speaking of a slave, I will add one thing more, viz. a slave has no right to any part of the inheritance in the family to which he belongs; but the son, the legitimate son, has a right. He can make any servant of the family free, though no slave can. He can divide or bestow the inheritance as he pleases. Our Lord seems here to refer to the sending away of Ishmael, mentioned, Gen 21:10-14. Only those who are genuine children can inherit the estate. If sons, then heirs: heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ: Gal 4:21-31; Rom 8:17; and see Bishop Pearce's Paraphrase.

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…

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John 8:35 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.

ὁho<the>G3588
δὲdeNowG1161
δοῦλοςdoulosthe slaveG1401
οὐounotG3756
μένειmeneiabidesG3306
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
οἰκίᾳoikiahouseG3614
εἰςeistoG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
αἰῶνα·aiōnaage;G165
ὁhotheG3588
υἱὸςhuiossonG5207
μένειmeneiabidesG3306
εἰςeistoG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
αἰῶνα.aiōnaage.G165

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

Cross references for John 8:35

  • Galatians 4:4-7

    But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

  • Luke 15:31

    And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

  • Genesis 21:10

    Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

  • Romans 8:15-17

    For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

  • Galatians 4:30-31

    Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

  • Ezekiel 46:17

    But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons’ for them.

  • Hebrews 3:5-6

    And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

  • 1 Peter 1:2-5

    Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

  • Matthew 21:41-43

    They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

  • John 14:19-20

    Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

  • Colossians 3:3

    For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

  • Romans 8:29-30

    For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the servant.
Ge 21:10; Eze 46:17; Mt 21:41-43; Ga 4:30,31
but.
14:19,20; Ro 8:15-17,29,30; Ga 4:4-7; Col 3:3; Heb 3:5,6; 1Pe 1:2-5

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

Context

  • John 8:34

    Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

  • John 8:35

    And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

  • John 8:36

    If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Read all of John 8

John 8:35 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el siervo no queda en casa para siempre: el hijo queda para siempre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or l’esclave ne demeure pas dans la maison pour toujours; le fils y demeure pour toujours.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Knecht aber bleibt nicht für immer in dem Hause; der Sohn bleibt für immer.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Servus autem non manet in domo in æternum: filius autem manet in æternum.