# John 8.46

<!-- 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/))
> 44. <span class="rl-speech">Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.</span> 45. <span class="rl-speech">But because I say the truth, ye believe me not.</span>
>
> **46. <span class="rl-speech">Which of you convicteth me of sin? If I say truth, why do ye not believe me?</span>**
>
> 47. <span class="rl-speech">He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God.</span> 48. The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon? (John 8:44-48, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 44. <span class="rl-speech">You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father.</span> 45. <span class="rl-speech">But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.</span>
>
> **46. <span class="rl-speech">Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?</span>**
>
> 47. <span class="rl-speech">He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”</span> 48. Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?” (John 8:44-48, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 44. <span class="rl-speech">Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. <sup>of his own: or, from his own will or disposition</sup></span> 45. <span class="rl-speech">And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.</span>
>
> **46. <span class="rl-speech">Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?</span>**
>
> 47. <span class="rl-speech">He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.</span> 48. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? (John 8:44-48, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 44. <span class="rl-speech">'Ye are of a father, the devil, and the desires of your father ye will to do; he was a man-slayer from the beginning, and in the truth he hath not stood, because there is no truth in him; when one may speak the falsehood, of his own he speaketh, because he is a liar, also his father.</span> 45. <span class="rl-speech">'And because I say the truth, ye do not believe me.</span>
>
> **46. <span class="rl-speech">Who of you doth convict me of sin? and if I speak truth, wherefore do ye not believe me?</span>**
>
> 47. <span class="rl-speech">he who is of God, the sayings of God he doth hear; because of this ye do not hear, because of God ye are not.'</span> 48. The Jews, therefore, answered and said to him, 'Do we not say well, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?' (John 8:44-48, 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/).
- [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/).
- [G4100 - pisteuo](/codex/g4100-pisteuo/), *pisteuo* (Strong's G4100). Also appears in: [Matthew 18.6](/codex/matthew-18-6/), [Mark 15](/codex/mark-15/), [Mark 16.16-18](/codex/mark-16-16-18/).

## 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:**

- [Jesus Said Only God Is Good Objection Defeater](/codex/jesus-said-only-god-is-good-objection-defeater/)

**Concepts:**

- [Christian Muslim Defender](/codex/christian-muslim-defender/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 8](/codex/john-8/)

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