# John 8.40

<!-- 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/))
> 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> 39. They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus saith unto them, <span class="rl-speech">If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.</span>
>
> **40. <span class="rl-speech">But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham.</span>**
>
> 41. Ye do the works of your father. They said unto him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42. Jesus said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I came forth and am come from God; for neither have I come of myself, but he sent me.</span> (John 8:38-42, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 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> 39. They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, <span class="rl-speech">“If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.</span>
>
> **40. <span class="rl-speech">But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this.</span>**
>
> 41. You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.” 42. Therefore Jesus said to them, <span class="rl-speech">“If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me.</span> (John 8:38-42, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 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> 39. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, <span class="rl-speech">If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.</span>
>
> **40. <span class="rl-speech">But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.</span>**
>
> 41. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42. Jesus said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.</span> (John 8:38-42, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 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> 39. They answered and said to him, 'Our father is Abraham;' Jesus saith to them, <span class="rl-speech">'If children of Abraham ye were, the works of Abraham ye were doing;</span>
>
> **40. <span class="rl-speech">and now, ye seek to kill me, a man who hath spoken to you the truth I heard from God; this Abraham did not;</span>**
>
> 41. ye do the works of your father.' They said, therefore, to him, 'We of whoredom have not been born; one Father we have, God;' 42. Jesus then said to them, <span class="rl-speech">'If God were your father, ye were loving me, for I came forth from God, and am come; for neither have I come of myself, but He sent me;</span> (John 8:38-42, 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/).
- [G2316 - theos](/codex/g2316-theos/), *theos* (Strong's G2316). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.23](/codex/matthew-1-23/), [Matthew 3.16](/codex/matthew-3-16/), [Matthew 5.9](/codex/matthew-5-9/).

## 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.

<!-- BACKLINKS:START -->
## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

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

<!-- BACKLINKS:END -->