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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 8:33 "We are Abraham's descendants," they answered. "We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/8-33.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/43_Jhn_08_33.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 8:33 - The Truth will Set You Free" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="We are Abraham's descendants, they answered. We have never been slaves to anyone. 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How can you say that we shall be set free?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/john/8.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/john/8.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/john/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />They answered unto Him, "We are Abraham's seed, and to no one ever have we been under bondage. How do You say, 'You will become free'?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/john/8.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/john/8.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How <i>can</i> You say, ‘You will be made free’?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/john/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how <i>is it that</i> You say, ‘You will become free’?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/john/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />They answered Him, &#8220We are Abraham&#8217s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, &#8216You will become free &#8216?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/john/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You shall become free’?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/john/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s seed and have never yet been enslaved to anyone. How is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/john/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone. What do You mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/john/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/john/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />We are descendants of Abraham,&#8221 they answered Him, &#8220and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, You will become free?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/john/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />They answered unto him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/john/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />They answered, "We are Abraham's children! We have never been anyone's slaves. How can you say we will be set free?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/john/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />They answered unto him, We be Abraham's seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/john/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They replied to Jesus, "We are Abraham's descendants, and we've never been anyone's slaves. So how can you say that we will be set free?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/john/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"We are the descendants of Abraham," they answered, "and we have never been anybody's slaves. What do you mean, then, by saying, 'You will be free'?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/john/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />They replied to him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves to anybody. So how can you say, 'You will be set free'?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/john/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/john/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"We are descendants of Abraham," they replied, "and have never been anyone's slaves! How can you say, 'You will become free'?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/john/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free?'"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/john/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />They answered him, We are Abraham's offspring, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"We are descendants of Abraham," they answered, "and have never at any time been in slavery to any one. What do those words of yours mean, 'You shall become free'?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/john/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/john/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />They answered Him, “We are seed of Abraham; and we have been servants to no one at any time; how do You say—You will become free?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />They answered unto Him, "We are Abraham's seed, and to no one ever have we been under bondage. How do You say, 'You will become free'?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/john/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> They answered him, 'Seed of Abraham we are; and to no one have we been servants at any time; how dost thou say -- Ye shall become free?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/john/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />They answered him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never served any; how sayest thou, That ye shall be free?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/john/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />They answered him: We are the seed of Abraham, and we have never been slaves to any man: how sayest thou: you shall be free? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/john/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />They answered him: “We are the offspring of Abraham, and we have never been a slave to anyone. How can you say, ‘You shall be set free?’ ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/john/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/john/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/john/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />They said to him, We are the seed of Abraham, and we have never been enslaved to any man; how do you say, You will be free sons?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/8.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />And they were saying to him, “We are the seed of Abraham, and never have we served in bondage to a man; how do you say, “You shall be children of liberty”?<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/john/8.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />They answered him: We are the posterity of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How say you, You shall be made free?<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/john/8.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />They responded to Him, we are the seed of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one: How do You say, that you shall be free?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/john/8.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />They answered him, We are Abraham鈥檚 seed, and never were in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, That we shall be made free?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/john/8.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />they answered him, we are Abraham's offspring, and were never slaves to any man: why then do you say, "ye shall be made free?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"We are descendants of Abraham," they answered, "and have never at any time been in slavery to any one. What do those words of yours mean, 'You shall become free'?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/john/8.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />They answered Him, "We are Abraham's seed, and to no one have we at any time been in bondage; how sayest Thou, <FR>'Ye shall be made free?'<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/john/8.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />They answered Him, We are the seed of Abraham, and never were slaves to any one, how <i>then</i> dost thou say, <FR>Ye shall be made free?<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/john/8-33.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=2960" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/john/8.htm">The Truth will Set You Free</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">32</span>Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” <span class="reftext">33</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: esmen (V-PIA-1P) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">“We are</a> <a href="/greek/11.htm" title="11: Abraam (N-GMS) -- Abraham, progenitor of the Hebrew race. Of Hebrew origin; Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch.">Abraham’s</a> <a href="/greek/4690.htm" title="4690: Sperma (N-NNS) -- From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant.">descendants,”</a> <a href="/greek/611.htm" title="611: Apekrithēsan (V-AIP-3P) -- From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.">they answered.</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."></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."></a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/1398.htm" title="1398: dedouleukamen (V-RIA-1P) -- To be a slave, be subject to, obey, be devoted. From doulos; to be a slave to.">“We have never been slaves</a> <a href="/greek/4455.htm" title="4455: pōpote (Adv) -- At any time, ever. From po and pote; at any time, i.e. at no time."></a> <a href="/greek/3762.htm" title="3762: oudeni (Adj-DMS) -- No one, none, nothing. ">to anyone.</a> <a href="/greek/4459.htm" title="4459: pōs (Adv) -- Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!">How</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: sy (PPro-N2S) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">can You</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legeis (V-PIA-2S) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">say</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because."></a> <a href="/greek/1096.htm" title="1096: genēsesthe (V-FIM-2P) -- A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.">we will be set</a> <a href="/greek/1658.htm" title="1658: Eleutheroi (Adj-NMP) -- Free, delivered from obligation. Probably from the alternate of erchomai; unrestrained, i.e. not a slave, or exempt.">free?”</a> </span> <span class="reftext">34</span>Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-6.htm">Romans 9:6-8</a></span><br />It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. / Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-7.htm">Galatians 3:7-9</a></span><br />Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. / The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” / So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-22.htm">Galatians 4:22-31</a></span><br />For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. / His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise. / These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/3-9.htm">Matthew 3:9</a></span><br />And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-8.htm">Luke 3:8</a></span><br />Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-28.htm">Romans 2:28-29</a></span><br />A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. / No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13-16</a></span><br />For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. / For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, / because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-1.htm">Romans 11:1-5</a></span><br />I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. / God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel: / “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/3-3.htm">Philippians 3:3-4</a></span><br />For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— / though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/13-26.htm">Acts 13:26</a></span><br />Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/17-7.htm">Genesis 17:7-8</a></span><br />I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. / And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/21-10.htm">Genesis 21:10-12</a></span><br />and she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!” / Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. / But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17-18</a></span><br />I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. / And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/4-22.htm">Exodus 4:22</a></span><br />Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/10-15.htm">Deuteronomy 10:15</a></span><br />Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers and loved them. And He has chosen you, their descendants after them, above all the peoples, even to this day.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say you, You shall be made free?</p><p class="hdg">We be.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/8-39.htm">John 8:39</a></b></br> 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.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/25-42.htm">Leviticus 25:42</a></b></br> For they <i>are</i> my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/3-9.htm">Matthew 3:9</a></b></br> And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to <i>our</i> father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.</p><p class="hdg">and were.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/19-25.htm">John 19:25</a></b></br> Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the <i>wife</i> of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Genesis 15:13</a></b></br> And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land <i>that is</i> not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/1-13.htm">Exodus 1:13,14</a></b></br> And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/20-37.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/luke/16-22.htm">Abraham's</a> <a href="/luke/13-16.htm">Bondage</a> <a href="/john/7-42.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/nahum/3-4.htm">Enslaved</a> <a href="/john/8-32.htm">Free</a> <a href="/john/7-47.htm">Mean</a> <a href="/luke/3-7.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/john/7-42.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/luke/22-56.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/luke/21-24.htm">Slavery</a> <a href="/john/8-20.htm">Time</a> <a href="/john/7-36.htm">Will</a> <a href="/john/8-30.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/8-37.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/john/8-37.htm">Abraham's</a> <a href="/acts/7-6.htm">Bondage</a> <a href="/john/8-37.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/acts/7-6.htm">Enslaved</a> <a href="/john/8-36.htm">Free</a> <a href="/john/9-27.htm">Mean</a> <a href="/john/8-37.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/john/8-37.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/john/8-34.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/acts/7-6.htm">Slavery</a> <a href="/john/9-24.htm">Time</a> <a href="/romans/9-19.htm">Will</a> <a href="/john/8-38.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">John 8</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/8-1.htm">Jesus delivers the woman taken in adultery.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/8-12.htm">He declares himself the light of the world, and justifies his doctrine;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/8-31.htm">promises freedom to those who believe;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/8-33.htm">answers the Jews who boasted of Abraham;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">48. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/8-48.htm">answers their reviling, by showing his authority and dignity;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">59. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/8-59.htm">and slips away from those who would stone him.</a></span><br></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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/john/8.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>We are Abraham’s descendants</b><br />This phrase is a declaration of ethnic and spiritual heritage. The Jewish people took great pride in their lineage from Abraham, the patriarch with whom God made a covenant. The Greek word for "descendants" here is "σπέρμα" (sperma), meaning seed or offspring. This term emphasizes the physical lineage and the covenantal promises given to Abraham and his descendants. Historically, being a descendant of Abraham was seen as a guarantee of God's favor and a special status among the nations. However, Jesus challenges this notion by emphasizing spiritual rather than merely physical descent.<p><b>they answered</b><br />The "they" refers to the Jewish leaders and people who were engaging in dialogue with Jesus. This response is part of a larger conversation where Jesus is teaching about true freedom and spiritual bondage. The Greek verb "ἀπεκρίθησαν" (apekrithēsan) indicates a formal reply, suggesting that the speakers are confident in their understanding and position. This interaction highlights the tension between Jesus and the religious authorities, who often misunderstood or resisted His teachings.<p><b>We have never been slaves to anyone</b><br />This statement is historically and contextually significant. The Jewish people had experienced slavery and oppression under various empires, including Egypt, Babylon, and Rome. The claim here is likely a reference to their spiritual freedom as God's chosen people, rather than a literal historical account. The Greek word "δουλεύω" (douleuō) means to be enslaved or in bondage. This phrase reveals a misunderstanding of true spiritual freedom, which Jesus is about to address. It also reflects a common human tendency to deny or minimize one's own bondage to sin or external powers.<p><b>How can You say</b><br />This question reflects skepticism and perhaps indignation. The Jewish leaders are challenging Jesus' authority and understanding. The Greek phrase "πῶς σὺ λέγεις" (pōs sy legeis) indicates a questioning of Jesus' right or ability to make such a statement. This challenge is a common theme in the Gospels, where Jesus' teachings often provoke questions and resistance from those who are confident in their own understanding of the law and tradition.<p><b>‘You will be set free’?</b><br />This promise of freedom is central to Jesus' message. The Greek word "ἐλεύθερος" (eleutheros) means to be free or liberated. Jesus is speaking of a deeper, spiritual freedom from sin and its consequences, rather than political or social liberation. This concept of freedom is rooted in the truth of the Gospel and the transformative power of Christ's work. The promise of being "set free" is an invitation to experience the fullness of life that comes from a relationship with God, transcending any earthly bondage or limitation.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(33) <span class= "bld">They answered him</span>--<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> the Jews who had believed in Him (<a href="/john/8-31.htm" title="Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed;">John 8:31</a>). There is no indication that this answer was made by others standing near, nor would this supposition have been made but for the difficulty of applying some of the words which follow (<a href="/john/8-40.htm" title="But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.">John 8:40</a>; <a href="/john/8-44.htm" title="You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.">John 8:44</a>) to those who had ever professedly been believers; but the explanation is to be found in our Lord's own warning words in <a href="/john/8-31.htm" title="Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed;">John 8:31</a>. He has tested their faith, and they fail in the first steps of discipleship.<p><span class= "bld">We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man.</span>--Their pride misinterprets His words, and expresses itself in a boast which passes the limits of historical truth. It had been promised to Abraham, "I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies" (<a href="/genesis/22-17.htm" title="That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is on the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;">Genesis 22:17</a>). This seed they were. This promise they interpret of national prosperity. Abraham's seed in bondage! the thought is impossible. As in other cases (comp. <a href="/john/7-52.htm" title="They answered and said to him, Are you also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee rises no prophet.">John 7:52</a>), they forget part of the facts of history, for they have never learned their lessons. The Egyptian slavery and Babylonian captivity are passed over. That very generation witnessed around them the insignia of Rome, paid taxes to Rome, used the coin of Rome, but it was the policy of the empire to leave to the subject provinces a nominal freedom; and it may be that stress is laid on the words "been in bondage," which occur nowhere else in the Gospels. Those then living may have said with truth that they had never been in actual bondage, and the current expectation of the Messiah at that time may have led them to interpret the promise to Abraham specially of themselves. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 33-46.</span> - <p><span class="note_emph">(5)</span> <span class="accented">The offer of spiritual freedom to the seed of Abraham provoked bitter hostility and misapprehension.</span> <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 33.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">They answered him,</span> <span class="cmt_word">We be Abraham's seed</span> - taking the highest position of national grandeur and racial pride. Vast were the pretensions which the Jews often assumed from this lofty ancestry. "They were all children of kings;" "Solomon's feast was not too good for them;" "He was heir of the world;" "They were the inheritors in him of all the nations." They had rung this cry into the ears of John the Baptist, when this last prophet had called upon them for repentance. Their following boast is difficult to understand: <span class="cmt_word">We have never yet been enslaved to anyone;</span> and great difference of opinion has prevailed over the meaning cf. these words. It is incredible that John should represent: the Jews as ignorant of their national political history. The first word of their Decalogue included a reference to the "house of bondage" from which Jehovah had delivered the seed of Abraham. Moreover, their political humiliation at the hand of the border kingdoms of Assyria, Babylon, and Syria was the perpetual theme of prophet and psalmist. The terrible reverses that they had subsequently experienced at the hand of Antiochus and of the Roman power, and the galling submission to Rome which at the moment was rousing their fiercest passion, would render any such boast simply preposterous. Godet's suggestion, that they were making a boast of their personal civil freedom, that Abraham's seed were not sold into positive slavery, however mortifying their political servitude had proved, is far fetched and too far away from the facts of the case; neither does it harmonize with the character of this angry retort. Probably a reference is made to the ideal freedom from slavery and from dependence which they had, in their hour of deepest depression from all and every form of tyranny whatsoever, religiously maintained. They did, as their wonderful psalter shows, cherish a conviction that David's throne and Abraham's inheritance ideally stood through all the ages, lustrous and magnificent to the eye of faith. When the holy and beautiful house was burned with fire, when their exile was complete, they still saw all visible things, even "heaven and earth," departing or rolled up like a scroll, while their Creator and redeeming King was seated still on his eternal throne. From St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, they clearly held that the mere possession of the Law, whether they kept it or not, was their much-prized pledge of independence from all other authority or servitude. If so, they may have been on this occasion boasting of their ideal freedom in virtue of their he reditary privileges, and forgetful of the lessons even of the agelong story of Ishmael and Esau, and the deportation and abolition of Israel as a nation. One can scarcely refrain a momentary thrill of admiration at the hardihood of their eager faith, and the overwhelming strength of confidence they manifested in their destiny as a people. All the spiritual salvation and ideal freedom which they desired they possessed as children of Abraham. <span class="cmt_word">How sayest thou</span> - "Upon what possible principle dost thou promise to us that which we already are proud of possessing, viz. glorious liberty?" Is it from the emancipating power of truth? We have the truth; we are the depositaries of infallible truth. We already possess as our birthright what thou art offering to us as the full result of discipleship. How sayest thou, <span class="cmt_word">Ye shall be made free?</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/john/8-33.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">“We are</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐσμεν</span> <span class="translit">(esmen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Abraham’s</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἀβραάμ</span> <span class="translit">(Abraam)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_11.htm">Strong's 11: </a> </span><span class="str2">Abraham, progenitor of the Hebrew race. Of Hebrew origin; Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">descendants,”</span><br /><span class="grk">Σπέρμα</span> <span class="translit">(Sperma)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4690.htm">Strong's 4690: </a> </span><span class="str2">From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they answered.</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἀπεκρίθησαν</span> <span class="translit">(Apekrithēsan)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_611.htm">Strong's 611: </a> </span><span class="str2">From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“We have never been slaves</span><br /><span class="grk">δεδουλεύκαμεν</span> <span class="translit">(dedouleukamen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1398.htm">Strong's 1398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be a slave, be subject to, obey, be devoted. From doulos; to be a slave to.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to [anyone].</span><br /><span class="grk">οὐδενὶ</span> <span class="translit">(oudeni)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3762.htm">Strong's 3762: </a> </span><span class="str2">No one, none, nothing. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">How</span><br /><span class="grk">πῶς</span> <span class="translit">(pōs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4459.htm">Strong's 4459: </a> </span><span class="str2">Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">{can} You</span><br /><span class="grk">σὺ</span> <span class="translit">(sy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">say</span><br /><span class="grk">λέγεις</span> <span class="translit">(legeis)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">[we] will be set</span><br /><span class="grk">γενήσεσθε</span> <span class="translit">(genēsesthe)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1096.htm">Strong's 1096: </a> </span><span class="str2">A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">free?”</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἐλεύθεροι</span> <span class="translit">(Eleutheroi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1658.htm">Strong's 1658: </a> </span><span class="str2">Free, delivered from obligation. Probably from the alternate of erchomai; unrestrained, i.e. not a slave, or exempt.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/8-33.htm">John 8:33 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/john/8-33.htm">John 8:33 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/john/8-33.htm">John 8:33 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/john/8-33.htm">John 8:33 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/john/8-33.htm">John 8:33 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/john/8-33.htm">John 8:33 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/8-33.htm">John 8:33 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/8-33.htm">John 8:33 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/john/8-33.htm">John 8:33 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/john/8-33.htm">John 8:33 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/john/8-33.htm">NT Gospels: John 8:33 They answered him We are Abraham's seed (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/8-32.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 8:32"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 8:32" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/8-34.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 8:34"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 8:34" /></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>