# John 8.34-36

<!-- 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/))
> 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> 35. <span class="rl-speech">And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever.</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.</span>**
>
> 37. <span class="rl-speech">I know that ye are Abraham's seed: yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.</span> 38. <span class="rl-speech">I speak the things which I have seen with my Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from your father.</span> (John 8:32-38, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 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> 35. <span class="rl-speech">A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever.</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.</span>**
>
> 37. <span class="rl-speech">I know that you are Abraham’s offspring, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.</span> 38. <span class="rl-speech">I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.”</span> (John 8:32-38, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 32. <span class="rl-speech">And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.</span> 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> 35. <span class="rl-speech">And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.</span>**
>
> 37. <span class="rl-speech">I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.</span> 38. <span class="rl-speech">I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.</span> (John 8:32-38, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 32. <span class="rl-speech">and the truth shall make you free.'</span> 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> 35. <span class="rl-speech">and the servant doth not remain in the house, to the age, the son doth remain, to the age;</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">if then the son may make you free, in reality ye shall be free.</span>**
>
> 37. <span class="rl-speech">'I have known that ye are seed of Abraham, but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you;</span> 38. <span class="rl-speech">I, that which I have seen with my Father do speak, and ye, therefore, that which ye have seen with your father, ye do.'</span> (John 8:32-38, 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

- [G0165 - aion](/codex/g0165-aion/), *aion* (Strong's G165). Also appears in: [Matthew 12.31-32](/codex/matthew-12-31-32/), [Matthew 28.18-20](/codex/matthew-28-18-20/), [Mark 3.20-30](/codex/mark-3-20-30/).
- [G0266 - hamartia](/codex/g0266-hamartia/), *hamartia* (Strong's G266). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.21](/codex/matthew-1-21/), [Matthew 9.4-8](/codex/matthew-9-4-8/), [Matthew 12.31-32](/codex/matthew-12-31-32/).
- [G1401 - doulos](/codex/g1401-doulos/), *doulos* (Strong's G1401). Also appears in: [Matthew 8.5-12](/codex/matthew-8-5-12/), [Matthew 18.23-35](/codex/matthew-18-23-35/), [Matthew 20.25-28](/codex/matthew-20-25-28/).
- [G2424 - Iesous](/codex/g2424-iesous/), *Iesous* (Strong's G2424). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.16](/codex/matthew-1-16/), [Matthew 1.18](/codex/matthew-1-18/).
- [G3956 - pas](/codex/g3956-pas/), *pas* (Strong's G3956). Also appears in: [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/), [Matthew 2.1-6](/codex/matthew-2-1-6/), [Matthew 2.16](/codex/matthew-2-16/).
- [G5207 - huios](/codex/g5207-huios/), *huios* (Strong's G5207). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.20](/codex/matthew-1-20/), [Matthew 1.21](/codex/matthew-1-21/).

## 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

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 8](/codex/john-8/)
- [Spirit of Bondage](/codex/spirit-of-bondage/), via [John 8.36](/codex/john-8-36/)
- [Spirit of Hatred](/codex/spirit-of-hatred/), via [John 8.36](/codex/john-8-36/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G0165 - aion](/codex/g0165-aion/), via [John 8.35](/codex/john-8-35/)
- [G1401 - doulos](/codex/g1401-doulos/)

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