John 8 · Verse 49

John 8:49

Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
John 8:49, King James Version

John 8:49 in other translations

BSB“I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
WEBJesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
ASVJesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me.
YLTJesus answered, ‘I have not a demon, but I honour my Father, and ye dishonour me;
DARBYJesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honour my Father, and ye dishonour me.
BBEAnd this was the answer of Jesus: I have not an evil spirit; but I give honour to my Father and you do not give honour to me.
WebsterJesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me.

What does John 8:49 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 8:48-51

48-51. Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?--What intense and virulent scorn! (See He 12:3). The "say we not well" refers to Joh 7:20. "A Samaritan" means more than "no Israelite at all"; it means one who pretended, but had no manner of claim to the title--retorting perhaps, this denial of their true descent from Abraham.

Read the full comment on John 8:48-51 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 49. I have not a devil. To the first part of the charge, that he was a Samaritan, he did not reply. To the other part he replied by saying that he honoured his Father. He taught the doctrines that tended to exalt God. He taught that he was holy and true. He sought that men should love him and obey him. All his teaching proved this. An evil spirit would not do this, and this was sufficient proof that he was not influenced by such a spirit.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 49 I have not a devil - The first part of the charge was too futile: if taken literally, it was both absurd and impossible; they did not believe it themselves, and therefore our Lord does not stop a moment to refute it; but he answers to the second with the utmost meekness and conclusiveness: I honor God. This is what no demon can do, nor any man who is under such influence.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 8:48-53

Observe Christ's disregard of the applause of men. those who are dead to the praises of men can bear their contempt. God will seek the honour of all who do not seek their own. In these verses we have the doctrine of the everlasting happiness of believers. We have the character of a believer; he is one that keeps the sayings of the Lord Jesus. And the privilege of a believer; he shall by no means see death for ever…

Read the full comment on John 8:48-53 →

John 8:49 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.

ἈπεκρίθηApekrithēAnsweredG611
Ἰησοῦς·IēsousJesus;G2424
ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473
δαιμόνιονdaimoniona demonG1140
οὐκouknotG3756
ἔχω,echōhave,G2192
ἀλλὰallabutG235
τιμῶtimōI honorG5091
τὸνtontheG3588
πατέραpateraFatherG3962
μου,mouof Mine,G3165
καὶkaiandG2532
ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
ἀτιμάζετέatimazetedishonorG818
με.meMe.G3165

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

Cross references for John 8:49

  • 1 Peter 2:23

    Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

  • Philippians 2:6-11

    Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: …

  • John 11:4

    When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

  • John 8:29

    And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

  • John 13:31-32

    Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

  • Isaiah 49:3

    And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

  • John 12:28

    Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

  • Proverbs 26:4-5

    Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

  • John 14:13

    And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

  • John 17:4

    I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

  • Matthew 3:15-17

    And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

  • Isaiah 42:21

    The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I have not.
Pr 26:4,5; 1Pe 2:23
but.
29; 11:4; 12:28; 13:31,32; 14:13; 17:4; Isa 42:21; 49:3; Mt 3:15-17
Php 2:6-11

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

Context

  • John 8:48

    Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

  • John 8:49

    Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

  • John 8:50

    And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

Read all of John 8

John 8:49 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Respondió Jesús: Yo no tengo demonio, antes honro á mi Padre; y vosotros me habéis deshonrado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Jésus répondit: Moi, je n’ai point un démon, mais j’honore mon Père, et vous, vous jetez du déshonneur sur moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Jesus antwortete: Ich habe keinen Dämon, sondern ich ehre meinen Vater, und ihr verunehret mich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Respondit Jesus: Ego dæmonium non habeo: sed honorifico Patrem meum, et vos inhonorastis me.