John 8:55

Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

Yet {G2532} ye have {G1097} not {G3756} known {G1097} him {G846}; but {G1161} I {G1473} know {G1492} him {G846}: and {G2532} if {G1437} I should say {G2036},{G3754} I know {G1492} him {G846} not {G3756}, I shall be {G2071} a liar {G5583} like {G3664} unto you {G5216}: but {G235} I know {G1492} him {G846}, and {G2532} keep {G5083} his {G846} saying {G3056}.

Now you have not known him, but I do know him; indeed, if I were to say that I don’t know him, I would be a liar like you! But I do know him, and I obey his word.

You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word.

and ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know him, and keep his word.

John 8:55 is a powerful declaration by Jesus concerning His unique relationship with God the Father, delivered amidst a tense confrontation with the Jewish religious leaders in the Temple. This verse underscores the vast chasm between Jesus' perfect knowledge of God and the spiritual blindness of His adversaries.

Context

This verse is part of an intense debate where Jesus asserts His divine origin and authority, while the Jewish leaders question His claims, particularly His relationship to Abraham and God. They boast of their lineage and knowledge of God, but Jesus consistently challenges their understanding. Just prior to this, Jesus declared that Abraham rejoiced to see His day (John 8:56), further provoking their disbelief. This entire chapter highlights the profound spiritual blindness of those who refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah, despite His clear words and signs, often because they could not understand His speech.

Key Themes

  • Unique Knowledge of God: Jesus unequivocally states, "I know him," emphasizing an intimate, personal, and complete understanding of the Father that no one else possessed. This contrasts sharply with the leaders' claim to know God, which Jesus exposes as false. This unique relationship is a cornerstone of His identity as the Son of God.
  • Truth and Integrity: Jesus asserts that denying His knowledge of the Father would make Him "a liar like unto you," directly accusing His opponents of falsehood and hypocrisy. His own integrity is tied to speaking the absolute truth about His divine relationship, aligning Himself with the very essence of truth (John 14:6).
  • Obedience as Proof of Relationship: The phrase "and keep his saying" is crucial. For Jesus, knowing God is not merely intellectual assent but involves perfect obedience to the Father's will and word. This principle also serves as a model for true discipleship, demonstrating that genuine knowledge of God leads to faithful action.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek verb translated "known" (ἔγνωκα - egnōka) is in the perfect tense, indicating a settled, complete, and ongoing knowledge, not a superficial acquaintance. It signifies a deep, personal, and experiential relationship with the Father. Similarly, "keep his saying" (τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ τηρῶ - ton logon autou tērō) uses a verb that means to guard, observe, or obey. It highlights active adherence to God's word (logos), underscoring that true knowledge of God is demonstrated through active obedience, a theme powerfully echoed in 1 John 2:3, which states, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."

Practical Application

This verse challenges us to examine the nature of our own knowledge of God. Do we truly know Him, or merely know about Him? Jesus sets the standard: genuine knowledge of God is inseparable from obedience to His word. Our claim to know God must be validated by our willingness to "keep his saying." This requires a personal relationship, humility, and a commitment to living according to His truth, rather than relying on religious titles or outward appearances. Just as Jesus perfectly demonstrated His relationship with the Father through obedience, we are called to follow His example, seeking a deeper, more intimate knowledge of God that transforms our lives and leads to faithful action. Consider John 14:15: "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

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.

  • John 8:19

    Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

  • John 7:28

    Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

  • John 7:29

    But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.

  • John 8:44

    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.

  • John 8:51

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

  • Matthew 11:27

    All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].

  • Revelation 3:9

    Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

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