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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 8:34 Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/8-34.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/43_Jhn_08_34.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 8:34 - The Truth will Set You Free" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Jesus replied, Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad14.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/8-33.htm" title="John 8:33">◄</a> John 8:34 <a href="/john/8-35.htm" title="John 8:35">►</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> Jesus replied, &#8220Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. <a href="/nlt/john/8.htm">New Living Translation</a> Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. <a href="/esv/john/8.htm">English Standard Version</a> Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. <a href="/bsb/john/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. <a href="/blb/john/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you that everyone practicing the sin is a slave of the sin. <a href="/kjv/john/8.htm">King James Bible</a> Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. <a href="/nkjv/john/8.htm">New King James Version</a> Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. <a href="/nasb_/john/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. <a href="/nasb/john/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> Jesus answered them, &#8220Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. <a href="/nasb77/john/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. <a href="/lsb/john/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. <a href="/amp/john/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, everyone who practices sin habitually is a slave of sin. <a href="/csb/john/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. <a href="/hcsb/john/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Jesus responded, &#8220I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. <a href="/asv/john/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. <a href="/cev/john/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Jesus replied: I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin! <a href="/erv/john/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. <a href="/gwt/john/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Jesus answered them, "I can guarantee this truth: Whoever lives a sinful life is a slave to sin. <a href="/gnt/john/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> Jesus said to them, "I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. <a href="/isv/john/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> Jesus answered them, "Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. <a href="/msb/john/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Jesus replied, ?Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. <a href="/net/john/8.htm">NET Bible</a> Jesus answered them, "I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. <a href="/nheb/john/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Jesus answered them, "Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. <a href="/wbt/john/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say to you, Whoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. <a href="/wey/john/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "In most solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that every one who commits sin is the slave of sin. <a href="/web/john/8.htm">World English Bible</a> Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who is committing sin, is a servant of sin, <a href="/blb/john/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you that everyone practicing the sin is a slave of the sin. <a href="/ylt/john/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Jesus answered them, 'Verily, verily, I say to you -- Every one who is committing sin, is a servant of the sin, <a href="/slt/john/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, say I to you, That every one doing sin, is servant of sin.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Jesus answered them: Amen, amen I say unto you: that whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. <a href="/cpdv/john/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Jesus answered them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. <a href="/nabre/john/8.htm">New American Bible</a> Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. <a href="/nrsvce/john/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is a servant of sin. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/8.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Yeshua said to them: “Timeless truth I speak to you: Whoever commits sin is a servant of sin.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/8.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Jesus answered them: Verily, verily I say to you, whoever works sin is the servant of sin. <a href="/godbey/john/8.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Jesus responded to them, <FR>Truly, truly, I say unto you, That every one doing sin is the slave of sin.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/john/8.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, That every one who committeth sin is the slave of sin. <a href="/mace/john/8.htm">Mace New Testament</a> Jesus answered them, I declare unto you, whosoever committeth sin, is a slave to sin. <a href="/wey/john/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "In most solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that every one who commits sin is the slave of sin. <a href="/worrell/john/8.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> Jesus answered them, <FR>"Verily, verily, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave of sin.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/john/8.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Jesus answered them, <FR>Verily, verily I say unto you, whosoever maketh a practice of sin, is the servant of sin.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/john/8-34.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=2970" 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">The Truth will Set You Free</a> …33“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?” 34<a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2424.htm" title="2424: Iēsous (N-NMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.">Jesus</a> <a href="/greek/611.htm" title="611: Apekrithē (V-AIP-3S) -- From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.">replied,</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autois (PPro-DM3P) -- 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/281.htm" title="281: Amēn (Heb) -- Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely.">“Truly,</a> <a href="/greek/281.htm" title="281: amēn (Heb) -- Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely.">truly,</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legō (V-PIA-1S) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">I tell</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymin (PPro-D2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">you,</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because."></a> <a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: pas (Adj-NMS) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">everyone</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">who</a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: poiōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/266.htm" title="266: hamartian (N-AFS) -- From hamartano; a sin.">sins</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">is</a> <a href="/greek/1401.htm" title="1401: doulos (N-NMS) -- (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.">a slave</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">to</a> <a href="/greek/266.htm" title="266: hamartias (N-GFS) -- From hamartano; a sin.">sin.</a> 35A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever.…<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="/romans/6-16.htm">Romans 6:16</a> Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? <a href="/romans/6-17.htm">Romans 6:17-18</a> But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed. / You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. <a href="/2_peter/2-19.htm">2 Peter 2:19</a> They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. <a href="/galatians/5-1.htm">Galatians 5:1</a> It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. <a href="/romans/7-14.htm">Romans 7:14</a> We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. <a href="/1_john/3-8.htm">1 John 3:8</a> The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. <a href="/romans/6-20.htm">Romans 6:20</a> For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness. <a href="/titus/3-3.htm">Titus 3:3</a> For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. <a href="/ephesians/2-1.htm">Ephesians 2:1-3</a> And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, / in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. / All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath. <a href="/1_corinthians/6-12.htm">1 Corinthians 6:12</a> “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything. <a href="/galatians/4-3.htm">Galatians 4:3</a> So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world. <a href="/proverbs/5-22.htm">Proverbs 5:22</a> The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him. <a href="/isaiah/42-7.htm">Isaiah 42:7</a> to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house. <a href="/isaiah/61-1.htm">Isaiah 61:1</a> The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, <a href="/jeremiah/13-23.htm">Jeremiah 13:23</a> Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good—you who are accustomed to doing evil.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin.Verily.<a href="/john/3-3.htm">John 3:3</a> Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.<a href="/matthew/5-18.htm">Matthew 5:18</a> For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.Whosoever.<a href="/1_kings/21-25.htm">1 Kings 21:25</a> But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.<a href="/proverbs/5-22.htm">Proverbs 5:22</a> His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.<a href="/acts/8-23.htm">Acts 8:23</a> For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/22-50.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/mark/10-44.htm">Bondservant</a> <a href="/luke/16-18.htm">Commits</a> <a href="/luke/16-18.htm">Committeth</a> <a href="/john/8-4.htm">Committing</a> <a href="/john/7-20.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/john/8-31.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/7-19.htm">Practises</a> <a href="/john/8-33.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/john/8-21.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/luke/22-50.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/john/6-53.htm">Solemn</a> <a href="/john/8-32.htm">Truth</a> <a href="/john/6-53.htm">Verily</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/8-35.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/john/8-35.htm">Bondservant</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/6-18.htm">Commits</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/6-18.htm">Committeth</a> <a href="/2_timothy/2-2.htm">Committing</a> <a href="/john/8-44.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/john/8-39.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/romans/3-12.htm">Practises</a> <a href="/john/8-35.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/john/8-46.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/john/8-35.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/john/8-51.htm">Solemn</a> <a href="/john/8-40.htm">Truth</a> <a href="/john/8-51.htm">Verily</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>Jesus replied In this passage, Jesus is responding to the Jewish leaders who questioned His authority and teachings. His reply is authoritative, indicating His role as a teacher and prophet. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus often uses direct responses to challenge prevailing thoughts and reveal deeper spiritual truths.Truly, truly, I tell you The double "truly" (or "amen, amen" in Greek) emphasizes the importance and certainty of what Jesus is about to say. This phrase is unique to Jesus in the Gospels and underscores His divine authority. It is a call for the listeners to pay close attention, as the statement is of utmost significance.everyone who sins This phrase highlights the universal nature of sin. According to biblical teaching, all humans are inherently sinful due to the fall of Adam and Eve (<a href="/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23</a>). Sin is not limited to specific actions but is a condition of the heart that separates humanity from God. The concept of sin is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where it is often associated with missing the mark of God's holiness.is a slave to sin The imagery of slavery is powerful and would have resonated with Jesus' audience, who were familiar with the concept both historically and culturally. In the Roman world, slavery was a common institution, and the Jewish people themselves had a history of enslavement in Egypt. This metaphor indicates that sin is not just an act but a bondage that controls and dictates a person's life. The Apostle Paul expands on this idea in <a href="/romans/6-16.htm">Romans 6:16-18</a>, where he contrasts slavery to sin with freedom in Christ. The statement also points to the need for redemption and liberation, which Jesus offers through His death and resurrection.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a> The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching in the temple courts, addressing the Jews who had believed in Him. His words are authoritative and reveal deep spiritual truths. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_jews.htm">The Jews</a> The audience to whom Jesus is speaking. They are described as those who had believed in Him, yet their understanding and acceptance of His teachings are being challenged. 3. <a href="/topical/t/temple_courts.htm">Temple Courts</a> The setting of this discourse, a place of teaching and worship in Jerusalem where Jesus often engaged with the people and religious leaders. 4. <a href="/topical/s/sin.htm">Sin</a> The condition or act that Jesus describes as enslaving. In the original Greek, the word for sin is "hamartia," which means missing the mark or falling short of God's standard. 5. <a href="/topical/s/slavery.htm">Slavery</a> A metaphor used by Jesus to describe the binding and controlling nature of sin. The Greek word "doulos" implies a lack of freedom and autonomy.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_sin's_enslavement.htm">The Reality of Sin's Enslavement</a> Sin is not just an act but a condition that enslaves individuals, affecting their will and actions. Recognizing the enslaving power of sin is the first step toward seeking freedom in Christ. <a href="/topical/t/the_need_for_a_savior.htm">The Need for a Savior</a> Jesus highlights the necessity of His role as the one who can free us from the bondage of sin. Believers must rely on Christ's power and grace to overcome sin's hold. <a href="/topical/l/living_in_freedom.htm">Living in Freedom</a> True freedom is found in living according to God's will and righteousness. Believers are called to live as free people, not using freedom as a cover-up for evil but as servants of God. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_abiding_in_christ.htm">The Importance of Abiding in Christ</a> Continuous relationship with Jesus is essential for maintaining freedom from sin. Abiding in Christ involves regular prayer, study of the Word, and obedience to His commands.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(34) Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.--The Cambridge MS. and some of the Fathers omit the words "of sin"; but this is clearly to avoid the difficulty of the connection of thought, and they must be regarded as an integral part of the text.Committeth sin.--The Greek word is a present participle, expressing the continuance of the deeds of sin. It means, not simply the committing individual sins, from which no man is free, but the state of the life which is sinful; the state which is opposed to doing the will of the Father, and is expressed in other words as "working iniquity" (<a href="/matthew/7-21.htm" title="Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.">Matthew 7:21</a>; <a href="/matthew/7-23.htm" title="And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.">Matthew 7:23</a>.) The truth is taught in the generality of a well-known maxim, but it has for them a special application. They claimed to be Abraham's seed, and therefore free. Let their lives decide the question of their freedom. He could appeal (<a href="/context/john/8-28.htm" title="Then said Jesus to them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.">John 8:28-29</a>) to a perfect harmony with the divine will, and therefore had a perfect freedom. For many of them the voice of conscience must have spoken in terrible words, and must have revealed the chain which had bound them, hand and foot, in the slavery of sin.Is the servant of sin.--The word means bondservant, or slave. It has been rendered by "bondman," and this brings out the connection of the word with that for "was in bondage," in the last verse.It is striking that we have this same thought in the letters of both St. Paul and St. Peter. (See margin.)<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 34. - Jesus answered them; i.e. those "Jews who believed him," but whose retort showed their faith to be of the most feeble and imperfect kind, and which, if it were momentarily assumed, was ready to disappear at the first touch of trial. A promise of Divine love had been treated by them as an insult, not so much to their national history, as to their religious triumph over their civil and political disasters. There is no reason to believe that in these, or in the following words, the unbelieving Jews had once more become the interlocutors, as Tholuck and Hengstenberg have done on different grounds. Meyer, Ellicott, Lange, and many others agree with the view here advanced. The answer to them (αὐτοῖς, those who were the subjects of ἀπεκρίθησαν) is introduced with peculiar solemnity: Verily, verily I say unto you, every one (πᾶς) that doeth sin - ὁ ποιῶν ἁμαρτίαν is different from πράσσων φαῦλα of <a href="/john/3-20.htm">John 3:20</a>; it is the precise opposite of ποιῶν ἀλήθειαν of <a href="/john/3-21.htm">John 3:21</a>, and does not mean "everyone who committeth separate acts of transgression," but it means "everyone who is living a life of sin" - is the bond slave (of sin). Godet is strongly disposed, on the ground of the exceedingly small authority of D and b alone (and certain quotations of Origen), to believe that the τῆς ἁμαρτίας is a gloss. Certainly the whole passage would be easier to interpret if our Lord had simply said that the man under the habitual power of sin is a slave, and had then, in vers. 35 and 36, advanced to the contrast between the slave and the Son. But there is great unanimity among all the authorities as to the accuracy of the Received and Revised Texts, though Westcott and Hort place it in brackets. The interpretation, consequently, is simply this, that Christ did "pass from the idea of bondage under sin to that of bondage generally, and from the idea of sonship to the Son" (Westcott). The notion of personal transgression producing a bondage, and enfettering the soul and the will, and separating it from the glorious liberty of true sonship, lay outside of their notion of discipleship. They were not requiring deliverance from sin or its bondage; what they wanted was the full realization of the national hope. The language of this verse can be paralleled from the writings of the classics and rabbis, and is largely handled by St. Paul (<a href="/romans/6.htm">Romans 6</a>. and 7.). The relation between sin as a principle and sins as acts of the will is a great New Testament revelation. The personal commission of sin augments the force of the corrupt tendency which leads to and facilitates fresh transgression. Every compliance with evil forges a new fetter, and imposes it on the will of the transgressor. "The strong man guards his house, and his goods are in peace" (<a href="/luke/11-21.htm">Luke 11:21</a>). <a href="/commentaries/john/8-34.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Jesus Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2424.htm">Strong's 2424: </a> Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites. replied, Ἀπεκρίθη (Apekrithē) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_611.htm">Strong's 611: </a> From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak. “Truly, Ἀμὴν (Amēn) Hebrew Word <a href="/greek/strongs_281.htm">Strong's 281: </a> Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely. truly, ἀμὴν (amēn) Hebrew Word <a href="/greek/strongs_281.htm">Strong's 281: </a> Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely. I tell λέγω (legō) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. you, ὑμῖν (hymin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. everyone πᾶς (pas) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole. who ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <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. sins ἁμαρτίαν (hamartian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_266.htm">Strong's 266: </a> From hamartano; a sin. is ἐστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. a slave δοῦλός (doulos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1401.htm">Strong's 1401: </a> (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave. to τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <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. sin. ἁμαρτίας (hamartias) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_266.htm">Strong's 266: </a> From hamartano; a sin. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/8-34.htm">John 8:34 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/8-34.htm">NT Gospels: John 8:34 Jesus answered them Most certainly I tell (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/8-33.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 8:33"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 8:33" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/8-35.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 8:35"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 8:35" /></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>