John 8:47

He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.

He that is {G5607} of {G1537} God {G2316} heareth {G191} God's {G2316} words {G4487}: ye {G5210} therefore {G5124}{G1223} hear {G191} them not {G3756}, because {G3754} ye are {G2075} not {G3756} of {G1537} God {G2316}.

Whoever belongs to God listens to what God says; the reason you don’t listen is that you don’t belong to God.”

Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Context

This verse concludes a tense and highly significant debate between Jesus and the unbelieving Jewish leaders, as recorded in John chapter 8. Throughout this chapter, Jesus challenges their claims of spiritual lineage from Abraham, asserting that their actions and inability to accept His words reveal their true spiritual father. He previously stated, "Ye are of your father the devil," which sets the stage for this sharp concluding accusation. The core issue revolves around spiritual identity, authority, and the receptivity to divine truth.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Kinship and Origin: The verse draws a stark distinction between those who are "of God" (meaning their spiritual origin or allegiance is with God) and those who are "not of God." This isn't about physical descent but a fundamental spiritual alignment and nature.
  • Receptivity to Divine Truth: To "hear God's words" implies more than just auditory perception; it signifies understanding, accepting, and obeying divine revelation. Those who are truly "of God" possess a spiritual capacity and willingness to discern and embrace truth.
  • Spiritual Blindness and Unbelief: Conversely, the inability or refusal to hear God's words points to a deeper spiritual condition—a resistance to truth rooted in unbelief, spiritual rebellion, and a fundamental lack of connection to God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "heareth God's words" (Greek: ἀκούει τοὺς λόγους τοῦ Θεοῦ - akouei tous logous tou Theou) emphasizes a spiritual hearing that leads to comprehension, acceptance, and submission, not merely the physical act of listening. It implies an inner disposition to receive and embrace divine truth. The term "of God" (Greek: ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ - ek tou Theou) denotes a spiritual origin, a belonging, or a nature derived from God, directly contrasting with the earlier accusation in John 8:44 where Jesus identifies the spiritual father of His adversaries as the devil.

Related Scriptures

This profound concept of spiritual receptivity determining one's ability to hear God's voice is echoed elsewhere in Scripture. Jesus reiterates this principle in John 10:27, stating, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." The Apostle John further confirms this truth in his epistle: "He that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." The underlying issue of rejecting light due to evil deeds is also highlighted in John 3:19.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful call to self-examination for every individual. Do we truly "hear" God's words? This involves not just reading or listening to the Bible, but internalizing its message, believing its truths, and allowing them to transform our lives. Our spiritual receptivity is a key indicator of our relationship with God. A genuine hunger for God's truth and a willingness to obey it are hallmarks of being "of God." This verse also explains the spiritual divide observed in the world: not everyone who hears the Gospel will receive it, because their fundamental spiritual orientation determines their response. It underscores the necessity of spiritual regeneration for true understanding and acceptance of divine truth.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 John 1:9

    Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

  • John 18:37

    Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

  • John 10:26

    But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

  • John 10:27

    My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

  • John 6:45

    It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

  • John 6:46

    Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

  • 1 John 3:10

    In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

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