John 8:44

Spiritual warfare Truth and honesty

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.

⁴³ Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message.

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!

⁴⁶ Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
WEB: You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
ASV: Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.
DARBY: Ye are of the devil, as [your] father, and ye desire to do the lusts of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks falsehood, he speaks of what is his own; for he is a liar and its father:
BLB: You⁺ are of [your] father the devil, and you⁺ want to do the desires of your⁺ father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and he has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he may speak falsehood, he speaks from [his] own, because he is a liar and the father of it.

ÅB: Dere har djevelen til far, og dere vil gjøre deres fars lyster; han var en manndraper fra begynnelsen og står ikke i sannheten; for sannhet er ikke i ham. Når han taler løgn, taler han av sitt eget, for han er en løgner og løgnens far.
OTB: Dere tilhører deres far, djevelen, og dere ønsker å utføre deres fars ønsker. Han var en morder fra begynnelsen, og holdt ikke fast ved sannheten, for det er ingen sannhet i ham. Når han lyver, taler han sitt morsmål, for han er en løgner og løgnens far.
B1930: I har djevelen til far, og I vil gjøre eders fars lyster; han var en manndraper fra begynnelsen og står ikke i sannheten; for sannhet er ikke i ham. Når han taler løgn, taler han av sitt eget, for han er en løgner og løgnens far.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Acts 13:10
and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
Read in context
1 John 3:12
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
Read in context
1 John 3:8–10
The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 11:3
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
Read in context
Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Read in context
John 8:38
I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
Read in context
Revelation 20:7–10
When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison,
Read in context
John 8:41
You are doing the works of your father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.”
Read in context