John 8 · Verse 37

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.
John 8:37, King James Version

John 8:37 in other translations

BSBI know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you.
WEBI know that you are Abraham’s offspring, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
ASVI know that ye are Abraham’s seed; yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.
YLT‘I have known that ye are seed of Abraham, but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you;
DARBYI know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word has no entrance in you.
BBEI am conscious that you are Abraham's seed; but you have a desire to put me to death because my word has no place in you.
WebsterI know that ye are Abraham's offspring; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

What does John 8:37 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 8:37-41
37-41. ye seek to kill me--He had said this to their face before: He now repeats it, and they do not deny it; yet are they held back, as by some marvellous spell--it was the awe which His combined dignity, courage, and benignity struck into them. because my word hath no place in you--When did ever human prophet so speak of His words? They tell us of "the word of the Lord" coming to them. But here is One who holds up "His word" as that which ought to find entrance and abiding room for itself in the souls of all who hear it.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 37. I know, &c. I admit that you are the descendants of Abraham. Jesus did not wish to call that in question, but he endeavoured to show them that they might be his descendants and still lack entirely his spirit. Mt 3:9.

Ye seek to kill me. Jn 5:16, 7:32.

Because my word. My doctrine; the principles of my religion. You have not the spirit of my doctrine; you hate it, and you therefore seek to kill me.

Hath no place. That is, you do not embrace my doctrine, or it exerts no influence over you. The original word conveys the notion that there was no room for his doctrine in their minds. It met with obstructions, and did not penetrate into their hearts. They were so filled with pride, and prejudice, and false notions, that they would not receive his truth; and as they had not his truth or spirit, and could not bear it, they sought to kill him.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 37 My word hath no place in you - Or, this doctrine of mine hath no place to you. Ye hear the truths of God, but ye do not heed them: the word of life has no influence over you; and how can it, when you seek to kill me because I proclaim this truth to you? It is a dismal omen when a person is regardless of the truth of God: it is more so to be provoked against it: but to persecute and endeavor to destroy those who preach it is the last degree of perverseness and obduracy. The word of God requires a heart which is empty. A heart filled with earthly projects, carnal interests ambition, thoughts of raising a fortune, and with the love of the superfluities and pleasures of life, is not fit to receive the seed of the kingdom. When a man shuts his heart against it by his passions, he at the same time opens it to all sorts of crimes. Quesnel. From what is here said, it is manifest, says Dr. Lightfoot, that the whole tendency of our Savior's discourse is to show the Jews, that they are the seed of that serpent which was to bruise the heel of the Messiah: else what could that mean, Joh 8:44 : Ye are of your father the devil, i.e. ye are the seed of the serpent.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 8:37-40
Our Lord opposed the proud and vain confidence of these Jews, showing that their descent from Abraham could not profit those of a contrary spirit to him. Where the word of God has no place, no good is to be expected; room is left there for all wickedness. A sick person who turns from his physician, and will take neither remedies nor food, is past hope of recovery. The truth both heals and nourishes the hearts of those who receive it. The truth taught by philosophers has not this power and effect, but only the truth of God. Those who claim the privileges of Abraham, must do Abraham's works; must be strangers and sojourners in this world; keep up the worship of God in their families, and always walk before God.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

John 8:37 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.

οἶδαoidaI know
ὅτιhotithatG3754
σπέρμαspermaseedG4690
ἈβραάμAbraamof AbrahamG11
ἐστε·esteyou are;G1510
ἀλλὰallabutG235
ζητεῖτέzēteiteyou seekG2212
μεmeMeG3165
ἀποκτεῖναι,apokteinaito kill,G615
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
ὁhotheG3588
λόγοςlogoswordG3056
ὁho<the>G3588
ἐμὸςemosof MineG1473
οὐounotG3756
χωρεῖchōreireceives a placeG5562
ἐνeninG1722
ὑμῖν.huminyou.G4771

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

Cross references for John 8:37

  • 1 Corinthians 2:14

    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

  • John 8:45-47

    And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

  • Romans 9:7

    Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

  • John 7:1

    After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

  • John 8:59

    Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

  • Acts 13:26

    Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

  • John 8:43

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

  • John 12:39-43

    Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: …

  • John 7:19

    Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

  • John 11:53

    Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

  • Matthew 13:15

    For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

  • John 5:16-18

    And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 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.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
know.
33; Ac 13:26; Ro 9:7
but.
6,40,59; 5:16-18; 7:1,19,25; 10:31; 11:53
because.
43,45-47; 5:44; 12:39-43; Mt 13:15,19-22; 1Co 2:14

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

Context

  • John 8:36

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

  • 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.

  • John 8:38

    I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

Read all of John 8

John 8:37 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sé que sois simiente de Abraham, mas procuráis matarme, porque mi palabra no cabe en vosotros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je sais que vous êtes la postérité d’Abraham; mais vous cherchez à me faire mourir, parce que ma parole n’a pas d’entrée auprès de vous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich weiß, daß ihr Abrahams Same seid; aber ihr suchet mich zu töten, weil mein Wort nicht Raum in euch findet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Scio quia filii Abrahæ estis: sed quæritis me interficere, quia sermo meus non capit in vobis.