King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Complete Jewish Bible:
They answered, “We are the seed of Avraham and have never been slaves to anyone; so what do you mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?”
Berean Standard Bible:
“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”
American Standard Version:
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?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
They answered{G611} him{G846}, We be{G2070} Abraham's{G11} seed{G4690}, and{G2532} were{G1398} never{G4455} in bondage{G1398} to any man{G3762}: how{G4459} sayest{G3004} thou{G4771},{G3754} Ye shall be made{G1096} free{G1658}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Matthew 3:9
- And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
John 8:39
- They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Nehemiah 5:4
- There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, [and that upon] our lands and vineyards.
Nehemiah 5:8
- And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing [to answer].
John 8:37
- I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Genesis 15:13
- And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Judges 3:8
- ¶ Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
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Commentary for John 8:33
John 8:33 is part of a larger discourse in the Gospel of John where Jesus is engaged in a heated exchange with a group of Jews who initially believed in Him. The verse reads, "They answered him, 'We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?'" The themes present in this verse include identity, spiritual lineage, and the nature of freedom.
The Jews in this passage are asserting their physical descent from Abraham as a source of pride and spiritual privilege, implying that they have an inherent righteousness and favor with God. They also claim to have never been enslaved, which historically is inaccurate, as the Jewish people had been enslaved by various nations, including the Egyptians and the Babylonians. Their statement reflects a misunderstanding of both their historical reality and the spiritual liberation Jesus is offering.
Jesus had just declared that the truth would set them free, which confused and offended these interlocutors. They could not comprehend how they, as descendants of Abraham and keepers of the Law, could need liberation. This reveals their reliance on their ethnic identity and adherence to the Mosaic Law for righteousness, rather than understanding the need for spiritual rebirth and a personal relationship with God through Christ.
In response to their claim of never having been in bondage, Jesus later points out in verse 34 that "everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin." He is emphasizing that true freedom is not political or physical but spiritual, and it is from the power and penalty of sin that He offers liberation. This conversation is set against the backdrop of the Roman occupation of Judea, which adds another layer to the concept of freedom being discussed—the yearning for political autonomy versus the deeper need for spiritual emancipation.
In summary, John 8:33 captures a moment where Jesus challenges the shallow understanding of heritage and freedom held by some Jewish leaders of His time. He redirects the conversation from physical descent and temporal freedom to the need for spiritual liberation through Him, which is available to all, regardless of ethnicity or historical circumstance. This verse underscores one of the central messages of Christianity: the necessity of spiritual rebirth and the transformative freedom found in Christ.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G611
There are 248 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀποκρίνομαι
Transliteration: apokrínomai
Pronunciation: ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee
Description: from ἀπό and ; to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism (compare עָנָה) to begin to speak (where an address is expected):--answer. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G2070
There are 51 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐσμέν
Transliteration: esmén
Pronunciation: es-men'
Description: first person plural indicative of εἰμί; we are:--are, be, have our being, X have hope, + (the gospel) was (preached unto) us. - Strong's Number: G11
There are 3442 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἀβραάμ
Transliteration: Abraám
Pronunciation: ab-rah-am'
Description: of Hebrew origin (אַבְרָהָם); Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch:--Abraham. (In Acts 7:16 the text should probably read Jacob.) - Strong's Number: G4690
There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σπέρμα
Transliteration: spérma
Pronunciation: sper'-mah
Description: from σπείρω; something sown, i.e. seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting):--issue, seed. - Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet. - Strong's Number: G1398
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δουλεύω
Transliteration: douleúō
Pronunciation: dool-yoo'-o
Description: from δοῦλος; to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary):--be in bondage, (do) serve(-ice). - Strong's Number: G4455
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πώποτε
Transliteration: pṓpote
Pronunciation: po'-pot-e
Description: from -πω and ποτέ; at any time, i.e. (with negative particle) at no time:--at any time, + never (…to any man), + yet, never man. - Strong's Number: G3762
There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὐδείς
Transliteration: oudeís
Pronunciation: oo-den'
Description: from οὐδέ and εἷς; not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing:--any (man), aught, man, neither any (thing), never (man), no (man), none (+ of these things), not (any, at all, -thing), nought. - Strong's Number: G4459
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πῶς
Transliteration: pōs
Pronunciation: poce
Description: adverb from the base of ποῦ; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way? (sometimes the question is indirect, how?); also as exclamation, how much!:--how, after (by) what manner (means), that. (Occasionally unexpressed in English). - Strong's Number: G3004
There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λέγω
Transliteration: légō
Pronunciation: leg'-o
Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: G4771
There are 163 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σύ
Transliteration: sý
Pronunciation: soo
Description: the personal pronoun of the second person singular; thou:-- thou. See also σέ, σοί, σοῦ; and for the plural ὑμᾶς, ὑμεῖς, ὑμῖν, ὑμῶν. - Strong's Number: G3754
There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅτι
Transliteration: hóti
Pronunciation: hot'-ee
Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why. - Strong's Number: G1096
There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: γίνομαι
Transliteration: gínomai
Pronunciation: ghin'-om-ahee
Description: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought. - Strong's Number: G1658
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐλεύθερος
Transliteration: eleútheros
Pronunciation: el-yoo'-ther-os
Description: probably from the alternate of ἔρχομαι; unrestrained (to go at pleasure), i.e. (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), or (genitive case) exempt (from obligation or liability):--free (man, woman), at liberty.