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John 8:33

Abraham
Pride

31 So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”
KJV
They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made 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?
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?
BLB
They responded to Him, “We are seed of Abraham, and to no one ever have we been slaves. How do You say, ‘You⁺ will become free’?”
ÅB
De svarte ham: Vi er av Abrahams slekt og har aldri vært nogens slaver; hvordan kan da du si: Dere skal bli fri?
OTB
De svarte, “Vi er Abrahams etterkommere og har aldri vært slaver under noen. Hvordan kan Du si at vi skal bli satt fri?”
B1930
De svarte ham: Vi er av Abrahams ætt og har aldri vært nogens træler; hvorledes kan da du si: I skal bli fri?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Matthew 3:9

    And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

    Read in context

  • John 8:39

    “Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.

    Read in context

  • Nehemiah 5:4–8

    Still others were saying, “We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.

    Read in context

  • Nehemiah 9:27–28

    So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies.

    Read in context

  • John 8:37

    I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 15:13

    Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 1:13–14

    They worked the Israelites ruthlessly

    Read in context

  • Nehemiah 9:36–37

    So here we are today as slaves in the land You gave our fathers to enjoy its fruit and goodness— here we are as slaves!

    Read in context