ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

John 8.40

Book: John · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"38. I speak the things which I have seen with my Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from your father. 39. They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham."

"40. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham."

"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, 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." (John 8:38-42, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"38. I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.” 39. They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham."

"40. 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."

"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, “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." (John 8:38-42, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"38. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham."

"40. 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."

"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, 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." (John 8:38-42, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"38. I, that which I have seen with my Father do speak, and ye, therefore, that which ye have seen with your father, ye do.' 39. They answered and said to him, 'Our father is Abraham;' Jesus saith to them, 'If children of Abraham ye were, the works of Abraham ye were doing;"

"40. and now, ye seek to kill me, a man who hath spoken to you the truth I heard from God; this Abraham did not;"

"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, '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;" (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

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 (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • 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 for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.