John 8:44
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.
Original Language Analysis
ἐκ
of
G1537
ἐκ
of
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
2 of 46
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
πατὴρ
father
G3962
πατὴρ
father
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
3 of 46
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 46
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
7 of 46
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὰς
G3588
τὰς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 46
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 46
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατὴρ
father
G3962
πατὴρ
father
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
11 of 46
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
θέλετε
ye will
G2309
θέλετε
ye will
Strong's:
G2309
Word #:
13 of 46
to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas g1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations),
ποιεῖν
do
G4160
ποιεῖν
do
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
14 of 46
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
ἐκεῖνος
He
G1565
ἐκεῖνος
He
Strong's:
G1565
Word #:
15 of 46
that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed
ἀπ'
from
G575
ἀπ'
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
18 of 46
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
ἀρχῆς
the beginning
G746
ἀρχῆς
the beginning
Strong's:
G746
Word #:
19 of 46
(properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
20 of 46
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 46
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἔστηκεν
abode
G2476
ἔστηκεν
abode
Strong's:
G2476
Word #:
25 of 46
to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)
ὅτι
because
G3754
ὅτι
because
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
26 of 46
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
αὐτοῦ
him
G846
αὐτοῦ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
31 of 46
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὅταν
When
G3752
ὅταν
When
Strong's:
G3752
Word #:
32 of 46
whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty); also causatively (conjunctionally) inasmuch as
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
34 of 46
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐκ
of
G1537
ἐκ
of
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
36 of 46
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
37 of 46
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἰδίων
his own
G2398
ἰδίων
his own
Strong's:
G2398
Word #:
38 of 46
pertaining to self, i.e., one's own; by implication, private or separate
ὅτι
because
G3754
ὅτι
because
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
40 of 46
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
43 of 46
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
44 of 46
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Acts 13:10And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?1 John 3:12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.2 Corinthians 11:3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.John 8:38I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.John 8:41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.1 John 3:15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.Matthew 13:38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;Jude 1:6And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.1 John 2:4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Historical Context
Jews claimed Abraham as father (v. 39); Jesus says spiritual lineage is proven by deeds, not genetics (v. 39-40). This challenged first-century Judaism's assumption that Abrahamic descent guaranteed God's favor.
Questions for Reflection
- How do your attitudes and actions reveal whether you are God's child or still in darkness?
- Why is it important to understand there are only two spiritual families?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Christ's stark declaration that unbelieving Jews are 'of your father the devil' shocks modern readers but reveals spiritual paternity—children resemble their father. The devil is a 'murderer from the beginning' (referencing Cain and ultimately all death through sin) and the 'father of lies'. This establishes two families: God's children who love truth, and Satan's children who embrace lies. The harsh language shows the seriousness of rejecting Christ.