# John 8.32

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 30. As he spake these things, many believed on him. 31. Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, <span class="rl-speech">If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples;</span>
>
> **32. <span class="rl-speech">and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.</span>**
>
> 33. 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? 34. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.</span> (John 8:30-34, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 30. As he spoke these things, many believed in him. 31. Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, <span class="rl-speech">“If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.</span>
>
> **32. <span class="rl-speech">You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”</span>**
>
> 33. They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.</span> (John 8:30-34, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 30. As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
>
> **32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.**
>
> 33. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.</span> (John 8:30-34, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 30. As he is speaking these things, many believed in him; 31. Jesus, therefore, said unto the Jews who believed in him, 'If ye may remain in my word, truly my disciples ye are, and ye shall know the truth,
>
> **32. and the truth shall make you free.'**
>
> 33. They answered him, 'Seed of Abraham we are; and to no one have we been servants at any time; how dost thou say, Ye shall become free?' 34. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to you, Every one who is committing sin, is a servant of the sin,</span> (John 8:30-34, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G0225 - aletheia](/codex/g0225-aletheia/), *aletheia* (Strong's G225). Also appears in: [Mark 12](/codex/mark-12/), [Luke 22.54-62](/codex/luke-22-54-62/), [John 1.14](/codex/john-1-14/).
- [G1097 - ginosko](/codex/g1097-ginosko/), *ginosko* (Strong's G1097). Also appears in: [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/), [Mark 4.11-12](/codex/mark-4-11-12/), [Mark 6](/codex/mark-6/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Atheism Promotes Hatred Lies and Self-Idolatry](/codex/atheism-promotes-hatred-lies-and-self-idolatry/)

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 8.31-32](/codex/john-8-31-32/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G0225 - aletheia](/codex/g0225-aletheia/)
- [G1097 - ginosko](/codex/g1097-ginosko/)
- [H0571 - emet](/codex/h0571-emet/)

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