John 8:43
41 You are doing the works of your father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.
Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message.
44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!
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
- Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message.
- KJV
- Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
- WEB
- Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word.
- ASV
- Why do ye not understand my speech? [Even] because ye cannot hear my word.
- DARBY
- Why do ye not know my speech? Because ye cannot hear my word.
- BLB
- Why do you⁺ not know My speech? Because you⁺ are not able to hear My word.
- ÅB
- Hvorfor skjønner dere ikke min tale? Fordi dere ikke tåler å høre mitt ord.
- OTB
- Hvorfor er Mitt språk ikke klart for dere? Det er fordi dere ikke er i stand til å høre hva Jeg sier.
- B1930
- Hvorfor skjønner I ikke min tale? Fordi I ikke tåler å høre mitt ord.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Romans 8:7–8
because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
Read in contextJohn 12:39–40
For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:
Read in contextJohn 7:17
If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.
Read in contextJohn 5:43
I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him.
Read in contextProverbs 28:5
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD comprehend fully.
Read in contextActs 7:51
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
Read in contextJeremiah 6:10
To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.
Read in contextJohn 6:60
On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”
Read in context