John 8 · Verse 46

John 8:46

Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
John 8:46, King James Version

John 8:46 in other translations

BSBWhich of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?
WEBWhich of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
ASVWhich of you convicteth me of sin? If I say truth, why do ye not believe me?
YLTWho of you doth convict me of sin? and if I speak truth, wherefore do ye not believe me?
DARBYWhich of you convinces me of sin? If I speak truth, why do ye not believe me?
BBEWhich of you is able truly to say that I am a sinner? If I say what is true, why have you no belief in me?
WebsterWhich of you convicteth me of sin? And if I speak the truth, why do ye not believe me?

What does John 8:46 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 8:45-47

45-47. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not--not although, but just because He did so, for the reason given in the former verse. Had He been less true they would have hailed Him more readily.

Read the full comment on John 8:45-47 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 46. Which of you convinceth me? To convince, with us, means to satisfy a man's own mind of the truth of anything; but this, is not its meaning here. It rather means to convict. Which of you can prove that I am guilty of sin.

Of sin. The word sin here evidently means error, falsehood, or imposture. It stands opposed to truth. The argument of the Saviour is this: A doctrine might be rejected if it could be proved that he that delivered it was an impostor; but as you cannot prove this of me, you are bound to receive my words.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? - Do you pretend to reject the truths which I announce, because my life does not correspond to the doctrines I have taught? But can any of you prove me guilty of any fault? You have maliciously watched all my steps; have you seen the smallest matter to reprove, in any part of my conduct? But it is probable that ἁμαρτια, sin, is put here in opposition to αληθεια, truth, in the same verse, and then it should be rendered falsehood. The very best Greek writers use the word in the same sense: this, Kypke proves by quotations from Polybius, Lucian, Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Plutarch, Thucydides, and Hippocrates. Raphelius adds a pertinent quotation from Herodotus, and shows that the purest Latin writers have used the word peccatum, sin, in the sense of error or falsehood. See the note on Gen 13:13.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 8:41-47

Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men's souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin. He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with whom all liars shall have their portion for…

Read the full comment on John 8:41-47 →

John 8:46 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.

τίςtisWhichG5101
ἐξexofG1537
ὑμῶνhumōnyouG4771
ἐλέγχειelegcheiconvictsG1651
μεmemeG3165
περὶpericoncerningG4012
ἁμαρτίας;hamartiassin?G266
εἰeiIfG1487
ἀλήθειανalētheian[the] truthG225
λέγω,legōI speak,G3004
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τίtiwhyG5101
ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
οὐounotG3756
πιστεύετέpisteuetedo believeG4100
μοι;moiMe?G3165

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

Cross references for John 8:46

  • Hebrews 4:15

    For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

  • John 16:8

    And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

  • Matthew 21:25

    The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

  • 1 Peter 2:22

    Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

  • John 8:7

    So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

    For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  • John 15:10

    If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

  • Hebrews 7:26

    For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

  • John 14:30

    Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

  • Mark 11:31

    And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

  • John 18:37

    Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
convinceth.
7; 14:30; 15:10; 16:8; 2Co 5:21; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 1Pe 2:22
why.
Mt 21:25; Mr 11:31

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

Context

  • John 8:45

    And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

  • John 8:46

    Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

  • John 8:47

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

Read all of John 8

John 8:46 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
¿Quién de vosotros me redarguye de pecado? Pues si digo verdad, ¿por qué vosotros no me creéis?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Qui d’entre vous me convainc de péché? Si je dis la vérité, vous, pourquoi ne me croyez-vous pas?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Wer von euch überführt mich der Sünde? Wenn ich die Wahrheit sage, warum glaubet ihr mir nicht?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Quis ex vobis arguet me de peccato? si veritatem dico vobis, quare non creditis mihi?