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John 8:21

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¶ Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

Then {G3767} said {G2036} Jesus {G2424} again {G3825} unto them {G846}, I {G1473} go my way {G5217}, and {G2532} ye shall seek {G2212} me {G3165}, and {G2532} shall die {G599} in {G1722} your {G5216} sins {G266}: whither {G3699} I {G1473} go {G5217}, ye {G5210} cannot {G3756}{G1410} come {G2064}.

Again he told them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin — where I am going, you cannot come.”

Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

He said therefore again unto them, I go away, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sin: whither I go, ye cannot come.

Commentary

John 8:21 (KJV) presents a stark and solemn warning from Jesus to His adversaries, primarily the Jewish religious leaders who questioned His identity and authority. This verse underscores the profound spiritual chasm between Jesus and those who reject Him, highlighting the eternal consequences of unbelief.

Context

This declaration by Jesus comes during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, a period of intense confrontation between Him and the Pharisees. Immediately preceding this, Jesus had proclaimed Himself the "Light of the world," challenging their darkness and spiritual blindness. His statement here is a reiteration of previous warnings about His impending departure and the inability of His unbelieving audience to follow Him into the divine realm.

Key Themes

  • Divine Departure: "I go my way" signifies Jesus' imminent return to the Father, His heavenly origin, and ultimate destination. This departure would remove His physical presence, and with it, the immediate opportunity for some to believe.
  • Unfruitful Seeking: "ye shall seek me" suggests a future time when these individuals might indeed seek Him, perhaps in distress or under divine judgment, but it would be too late for salvation. Their seeking would not be born of genuine faith leading to repentance.
  • Consequence of Unbelief: "and shall die in your sins." This is a grave spiritual pronouncement. It means not just physical death, but remaining in a state of unpardoned sin, under its power and condemnation, leading to eternal separation from God. The emphasis is on the fatal spiritual condition at the time of death.
  • Impassable Gulf: "whither I go, ye cannot come." This highlights the absolute barrier created by their unbelief and unrepentant state. The realm of God's glory and presence, to which Jesus was returning, is inaccessible to those who cling to their sin and reject His offer of salvation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "die in your sins" is particularly potent. The Greek word for "sins" is hamartia, which literally means "missing the mark." To "die in your sins" (apothnēskō en tais hamartiais hymōn) implies that one's state of unpardoned sin becomes their eternal destiny. It's not merely dying having committed sins, but dying while remaining under the dominion and guilt of sin, rather than being freed by Christ's atonement.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless warning about the urgency of responding to Jesus Christ. It teaches several vital lessons for believers and seekers today:

  • The Gravity of Unbelief: Rejecting Jesus has eternal consequences. Spiritual death and separation from God are the ultimate outcome of persistent unbelief and a refusal to repent. As John 3:18 states, "He that believeth not is condemned already."
  • The Exclusivity of Christ: Jesus is the only way to the Father. There is no other path to enter God's presence or escape the penalty of sin. His departure signifies His unique role as mediator and redeemer.
  • Urgency of Decision: The opportunity to accept Christ is not indefinite. There comes a point, often at the end of life, when the door to salvation through faith in Him may close. Therefore, the call to believe is always urgent.

John 8:21 powerfully conveys the reality of divine judgment for those who refuse the light and cling to their sin, emphasizing the critical choice every individual faces concerning Jesus Christ.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 7:34 (8 votes)

    Ye shall seek me, and shall not find [me]: and where I am, [thither] ye cannot come.

  • John 8:24 (5 votes)

    I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:17 (3 votes)

    And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:18 (3 votes)

    Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

  • John 13:33 (3 votes)

    Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

  • Luke 16:22 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

  • Luke 16:26 (2 votes)

    And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence.