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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 8:57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/8-57.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/43_Jhn_08_57.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 8:57 - Before Abraham was Born, I Am" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then the Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/8-57.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/8-57.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/8.htm">Chapter 8</a> > Verse 57</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad17.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/8-56.htm" title="John 8:56">◄</a> John 8:57 <a href="/john/8-58.htm" title="John 8:58">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/8.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/8.htm">New International Version</a> &#8220You are not yet fifty years old,&#8221 they said to him, &#8220and you have seen Abraham!&#8221 <a href="/nlt/john/8.htm">New Living Translation</a> The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” <a href="/esv/john/8.htm">English Standard Version</a> So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” <a href="/bsb/john/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” <a href="/blb/john/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Therefore the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?" <a href="/kjv/john/8.htm">King James Bible</a> Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? <a href="/nkjv/john/8.htm">New King James Version</a> Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” <a href="/nasb_/john/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” <a href="/nasb/john/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> So the Jews said to Him, &#8220You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/john/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> The Jews therefore said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” <a href="/lsb/john/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” <a href="/amp/john/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not even fifty years old, and You [claim to] have seen Abraham?” <a href="/csb/john/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham? ” <a href="/hcsb/john/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The Jews replied, &#8220You aren&#8217t 50 years old yet, and You&#8217ve seen Abraham?&#8221 <a href="/asv/john/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? <a href="/cev/john/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> "You are not even 50 years old!" they said. "How could you have seen Abraham?" <a href="/erv/john/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? <a href="/gwt/john/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The Jews said to Jesus, "You're not even fifty years old. How could you have seen Abraham?" <a href="/gnt/john/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> They said to him, "You are not even fifty years old--and you have seen Abraham?" <a href="/isv/john/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> Then the Jewish leaders asked him, "You are not even 50 years old, yet you have seen Abraham?" <a href="/msb/john/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Then the Jews said to Him, ?You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?? <a href="/net/john/8.htm">NET Bible</a> Then the Judeans replied, "You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?" <a href="/nheb/john/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The Judeans therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" <a href="/wbt/john/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Then said the Jews to him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? <a href="/wey/john/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "You are not yet fifty years old," cried the Jews, "and have you seen Abraham?" <a href="/web/john/8.htm">World English Bible</a> The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> The Jews, therefore, said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” <a href="/blb/john/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Therefore the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?" <a href="/ylt/john/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> The Jews, therefore, said unto him, 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and Abraham hast thou seen?' <a href="/slt/john/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Then said the Jews to him, Thou hast not yet fifty years, and hast thou seen Abraham.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> The Jews therefore said to him: Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? <a href="/cpdv/john/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And so the Jews said to him, “You have not yet reached fifty years, and you have seen Abraham?” <a href="/nabre/john/8.htm">New American Bible</a> So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” <a href="/nrsvce/john/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> The Jews said to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and yet have you seen Abraham? <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/8.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> The Jews were saying to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/8.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Then the Jews said to him: You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?<CM> <a href="/godbey/john/8.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Then the Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? <a href="/haweis/john/8.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Then said the Jews unto him, Thou hast not yet reached the age of fifty, and hast thou seen Abraham? <a href="/mace/john/8.htm">Mace New Testament</a> then said the Jews to him, you are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? <a href="/wey/john/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "You are not yet fifty years old," cried the Jews, "and have you seen Abraham?" <a href="/worrell/john/8.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> The Jews, therefore, said to Him, "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?" <a href="/worsley/john/8.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? <a href="/parallel/john/8-57.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=3179" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/8.htm">Before Abraham was Born, I Am</a> …56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.” 57<a href="/greek/3767.htm" title="3767: oun (Conj) -- Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.">Then</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2453.htm" title="2453: Ioudaioi (Adj-NMP) -- Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.">Jews</a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: Eipon (V-AIA-3P) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">said</a> <a href="/greek/4314.htm" title="4314: pros (Prep) -- To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.">to</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: auton (PPro-AM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">Him,</a> <a href="/greek/2192.htm" title="2192: echeis (V-PIA-2S) -- To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.">“You are</a> <a href="/greek/3768.htm" title="3768: oupō (Adv) -- Not yet. From ou and po; not yet.">not yet</a> <a href="/greek/4004.htm" title="4004: Pentēkonta (Adj-ANP) -- Fifty. Multiplicative of pente; fifty.">fifty</a> <a href="/greek/2094.htm" title="2094: etē (N-ANP) -- A year. Apparently a primary word; a year.">years old,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3708.htm" title="3708: heōrakas (V-RIA-2S) -- Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.">You have seen</a> <a href="/greek/11.htm" title="11: Abraam (N-AMS) -- Abraham, progenitor of the Hebrew race. Of Hebrew origin; Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch.">Abraham?”</a> 58“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/john/1-1.htm">John 1:1-3</a> In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. <a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a> The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. <a href="/john/17-5.htm">John 17:5</a> And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed. <a href="/colossians/1-17.htm">Colossians 1:17</a> He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. <a href="/hebrews/1-2.htm">Hebrews 1:2</a> But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. <a href="/philippians/2-6.htm">Philippians 2:6-7</a> Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, / but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. <a href="/revelation/1-8.htm">Revelation 1:8</a> “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty. <a href="/john/3-13.htm">John 3:13</a> No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. <a href="/john/6-62.htm">John 6:62</a> Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before? <a href="/john/17-24.htm">John 17:24</a> Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world. <a href="/micah/5-2.htm">Micah 5:2</a> But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. <a href="/isaiah/9-6.htm">Isaiah 9:6</a> For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. <a href="/proverbs/8-22.htm">Proverbs 8:22-23</a> The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old. / From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began. <a href="/genesis/1-1.htm">Genesis 1:1</a> In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. <a href="/exodus/3-14.htm">Exodus 3:14</a> God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Then said the Jews to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/8-56.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/john/7-37.htm">Cried</a> <a href="/luke/16-6.htm">Fifty</a> <a href="/john/8-52.htm">Jews</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/8-58.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/john/11-43.htm">Cried</a> <a href="/john/21-11.htm">Fifty</a> <a href="/john/9-18.htm">Jews</a><div class="vheading2">John 8</div>1. <a href="/john/8-1.htm">Jesus delivers the woman taken in adultery.</a> 12. <a href="/john/8-12.htm">He declares himself the light of the world, and justifies his doctrine;</a> 31. <a href="/john/8-31.htm">promises freedom to those who believe;</a> 33. <a href="/john/8-33.htm">answers the Jews who boasted of Abraham;</a> 48. <a href="/john/8-48.htm">answers their reviling, by showing his authority and dignity;</a> 59. <a href="/john/8-59.htm">and slips away from those who would stone him.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Then the Jews said to Him This phrase indicates a direct response from the Jewish leaders or people present during Jesus' discourse. The Jews here likely refer to the Pharisees or other religious authorities who were often in opposition to Jesus' teachings. This interaction takes place in Jerusalem, a central location for Jewish religious life, particularly in the temple courts where Jesus often taught. The Jewish leaders were known for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions, and they frequently challenged Jesus' claims and authority.“You are not yet fifty years old The mention of "fifty years old" is significant as it reflects the cultural understanding of age and maturity. In Jewish tradition, fifty years was considered an age of maturity and wisdom, often associated with the ability to teach and lead. The statement underscores their skepticism about Jesus' claim to have seen Abraham, as He was visibly much younger than fifty. This age reference also highlights the incredulity of the Jews regarding Jesus' pre-existence and divine nature.and You have seen Abraham?” This question is rooted in the Jewish understanding of their patriarchal heritage. Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, lived approximately 2,000 years before Jesus. The Jews revered Abraham as a foundational figure in their faith, and the idea that Jesus, a contemporary figure, could have seen Abraham was beyond their comprehension. This question challenges Jesus' earlier statement in <a href="/john/8-56.htm">John 8:56</a>, where He claims that Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing His day. The Jews' question reflects their misunderstanding of Jesus' divine nature and eternal existence, which is further clarified in the subsequent verse where Jesus declares, "Before Abraham was born, I am!" This declaration connects to the divine name revealed to Moses in <a href="/exodus/3-14.htm">Exodus 3:14</a>, affirming Jesus' identity as the eternal God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_jews.htm">The Jews</a> In this context, "the Jews" refers to the religious leaders and people who were questioning Jesus. They were often skeptical of His claims and teachings. 2. <a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a> The central figure in this passage, Jesus is responding to the Jews' challenge about His identity and His relationship with Abraham. 3. <a href="/topical/a/abraham.htm">Abraham</a> A patriarch of the Jewish faith, Abraham is a significant figure in the Old Testament, known for his faith and covenant with God. The Jews revered him as their ancestor. 4. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> While not explicitly mentioned in this verse, the events of <a href="/bsb/john/8.htm">John 8</a> take place in Jerusalem, a central location for Jewish worship and teaching. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_temple.htm">The Temple</a> The broader context of <a href="/bsb/john/8.htm">John 8</a> includes Jesus teaching in the temple courts, a place of significant religious activity and debate.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_jesus'_divinity.htm">Understanding Jesus' Divinity</a> Jesus' claim to have seen Abraham points to His eternal nature and divinity. This challenges us to recognize and affirm the divine nature of Christ in our faith. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_faith.htm">The Importance of Faith</a> Just as Abraham's faith was foundational to his relationship with God, our faith in Jesus as the eternal Son of God is crucial for our spiritual journey. <a href="/topical/c/confronting_skepticism.htm">Confronting Skepticism</a> The skepticism of the Jews serves as a reminder that faith often requires us to look beyond human understanding and trust in God's revelation. <a href="/topical/t/the_continuity_of_god's_plan.htm">The Continuity of God's Plan</a> Jesus' reference to Abraham highlights the continuity of God's redemptive plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament, encouraging us to see the Bible as a unified account of salvation. <a href="/topical/r/responding_to_jesus'_claims.htm">Responding to Jesus' Claims</a> How we respond to Jesus' claims about Himself is vital. We are called to respond with belief and trust, allowing His identity to transform our lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 8</a> <a href="/q/did_jesus_consume_meat.htm">What led to Jesus's crucifixion?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_beatific_vision.htm">What did Jesus mean by 'your father the devil'?</a> <a href="/q/is_jesus_the_incarnate_god.htm">Is Jesus the incarnate God?</a> <a href="/q/bible_events'_chronological_order.htm">What is the chronological order of events in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(57) Thou art not yet fifty years old.--There is no reason to doubt that we have the correct reading here, though some, from Chrysostom downward, have sought to avoid what seemed to them a difficulty, by substituting "forty" for "fifty." Others, and among them were the "Elders who in Asia conferred with John, the Lord's disciple," have held that our Lord was between forty and fifty years of age at the time of his public ministry. We know this from the testimony of Irenaeus, who appears to have this very passage in his mind, for he says, "As the gospel and all the Elders witness" (Lib. 2 chap. 22 ? 5; Oxford Translation, p. 160). But "fifty years" was the period of full manhood (<a href="/numbers/4-3.htm" title="From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.">Numbers 4:3</a>; <a href="/numbers/4-39.htm" title="From thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that enters into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,">Numbers 4:39</a>; <a href="/numbers/8-24.htm" title="This is it that belongs to the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait on the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:">Numbers 8:24</a>). This is expressed in round numbers, and there is no care to be more exact in comparison with the two thousand years which had passed since the close of Abraham's earthly life. The thought is, "Thou art still a young man, and hast thou seen Abraham who died twenty centuries ago?"<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 57. - The Jews, therefore, said unto him - once more misinterpreting his words, and giving a materialistic tone to his Divine hint - Thou hast not yet fifty years - "Thou art not fifty years old" - and hast thou seen Abraham? Christ did not say that be had seen Abraham, but that Abraham had seen and rejoiced in his day. The Jews chose to regard the language of Jesus as adding another immense improbability, if not falsehood, to his previous claims, viz. that he had actually lived to twice the age of Methuselah already. The "fifty years old" may have been simply used in round numbers for the age of man's prime and completed life (<a href="/numbers/4-3.htm">Numbers 4:3, 39</a>; <a href="/numbers/8-24.htm">Numbers 8:24</a>). There may have been, even if our Lord was only thirty-three years of age at the time of his Passion, that which apparently added to his years. A tradition is mentioned (Irenaeus, 100, 2, 22. 5) of the more advanced age of Jesus which the Ephesian presbyters preserved, and which Irenaeus regards as between the forty-fifth and fiftieth years. Ernest de Bunsen vainly finds a reference to Christ's age (<a href="/john/2-20.htm">John 2:20</a>) in the forty-six years of the temple; but it is strange that, with the exception of the statement in <a href="/luke/3-23.htm">Luke 3:23</a>, there is nothing in the extraneous chronological data, e.g. the death of Herod and recall of Pontius Pilate, which need positively compress our Lord's life within fifty years (Westcott). And Keim has made the suggestion that our Lord did carry on his ministry for a much longer period than is commonly supposed. It is far more probable, however, that the Jews were using an expression for the term of a completed life, and were supplying no chronological data whatever. <a href="/commentaries/john/8-57.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Then οὖν (oun) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3767.htm">Strong's 3767: </a> Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly. the οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Jews Ἰουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2453.htm">Strong's 2453: </a> Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah. said Εἶπον (Eipon) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. to πρὸς (pros) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_4314.htm">Strong's 4314: </a> To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward. Him, αὐτόν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. “You are ἔχεις (echeis) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2192.htm">Strong's 2192: </a> To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. not yet οὔπω (oupō) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3768.htm">Strong's 3768: </a> Not yet. From ou and po; not yet. fifty Πεντήκοντα (Pentēkonta) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4004.htm">Strong's 4004: </a> Fifty. Multiplicative of pente; fifty. years [old], ἔτη (etē) Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2094.htm">Strong's 2094: </a> A year. Apparently a primary word; a year. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. You have seen ἑώρακας (heōrakas) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3708.htm">Strong's 3708: </a> Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear. Abraham?” Ἀβραὰμ (Abraam) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_11.htm">Strong's 11: </a> Abraham, progenitor of the Hebrew race. Of Hebrew origin; Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/8-57.htm">John 8:57 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/8-57.htm">John 8:57 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/8-57.htm">John 8:57 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/8-57.htm">John 8:57 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/8-57.htm">John 8:57 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/8-57.htm">John 8:57 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/8-57.htm">John 8:57 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/8-57.htm">John 8:57 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/8-57.htm">John 8:57 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/8-57.htm">John 8:57 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/8-57.htm">NT Gospels: John 8:57 The Jews therefore said to him You (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/8-56.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 8:56"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 8:56" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/8-58.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 8:58"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 8:58" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>