CINXE.COM

<!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 8:41 You are doing the works of your father." "We are not illegitimate children," they declared. "Our only Father is God Himself."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/8-41.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/43_Jhn_08_41.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 8:41 - The Children of the Devil" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You are doing the works of your father. We are not illegitimate children, they declared. Our only Father is God Himself." /><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/8-41.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/8-41.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 41</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="/ad1.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/8-40.htm" title="John 8:40">◄</a> John 8:41 <a href="/john/8-42.htm" title="John 8:42">►</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> You are doing the works of your own father.&#8221 &#8220We are not illegitimate children,&#8221 they protested. &#8220The only Father we have is God himself.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/john/8.htm">New Living Translation</a> No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.” <a href="/esv/john/8.htm">English Standard Version</a> You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” <a href="/bsb/john/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> You are doing the works of your father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.” <a href="/blb/john/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> You are doing the works of your father." Therefore they said to Him, "We have not been born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God." <a href="/kjv/john/8.htm">King James Bible</a> Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. <a href="/nkjv/john/8.htm">New King James Version</a> You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” <a href="/nasb_/john/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born as a result of sexual immorality; we have one Father: God.” <a href="/nasb/john/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220You are doing the deeds of your father.&#8221 They said to Him, &#8220We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/john/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.” <a href="/lsb/john/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of sexual immorality; we have one Father: God.” <a href="/amp/john/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> You are doing the works of your [own] father.” They said to Him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one [spiritual] Father: God.” <a href="/csb/john/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> You’re doing what your father does.” “We weren’t born of sexual immorality,” they said. “We have one Father—God.” <a href="/hcsb/john/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> You&#8217re doing what your father does."&#8221 We weren&#8217t born of sexual immorality,&#8221 they said. &#8220We have one Father—God.&#8221 <a href="/asv/john/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> Ye do the works of your father. They said unto him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. <a href="/cev/john/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> But you are doing exactly what your father does." "Don't accuse us of having someone else as our father!" they said. "We just have one father, and he is God." <a href="/erv/john/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> Ye do the works of your father. They said unto him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. <a href="/gwt/john/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> You're doing what your father does." The Jews said to Jesus, "We're not illegitimate children. God is our only Father." <a href="/gnt/john/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> You are doing what your father did." "God himself is the only Father we have," they answered, "and we are his true children." <a href="/isv/john/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> You are doing your father's actions." They told him, "We're not illegitimate children. We have one Father, God himself." <a href="/msb/john/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> You are doing the works of your father.? ?We are not illegitimate children,? they declared. ?Our only Father is God Himself.? <a href="/net/john/8.htm">NET Bible</a> You people are doing the deeds of your father." Then they said to Jesus, "We were not born as a result of immorality! We have only one Father, God himself." <a href="/nheb/john/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God." <a href="/wbt/john/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. <a href="/wey/john/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> You are doing the deeds of your father." "We," they replied, "are not illegitimate children. We have one Father, namely God." <a href="/web/john/8.htm">World English Bible</a> You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> you do the works of your father.” They said, therefore, to Him, “We have not been born of whoredom; we have one Father—God”; <a href="/blb/john/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> You are doing the works of your father." Therefore they said to Him, "We have not been born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God." <a href="/ylt/john/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> ye do the works of your father.' They said, therefore, to him, 'We of whoredom have not been born; one Father we have -- God;' <a href="/slt/john/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Ye do the works of your father. Then said they to him, We have not been born of fornication; for we have one Father, God.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> You do the works of your father. They said therefore to him: We are not born of fornication: we have one Father, even God. <a href="/cpdv/john/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> You do the works of your father.” Therefore, they said to him: “We were not born out of fornication. We have one father: God.” <a href="/nabre/john/8.htm">New American Bible</a> You are doing the works of your father!” [So] they said to him, “We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God.” <a href="/nrsvce/john/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> But you do the works of your father. They said to him, We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, God. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/8.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> “But you are doing the deeds of your father.” They were saying to him, “We are not from fornication; we have one father, God.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/8.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> You do the works of your father. They said to him: We were not born of lewdness; we have one father, God.<CM> <a href="/godbey/john/8.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>You are doing the works of your father.<Fr> They said to Him, We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, God. <a href="/haweis/john/8.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Ye do the works of your father. They said unto him, We are not born of whoredom; we have one Father, even God. <a href="/mace/john/8.htm">Mace New Testament</a> your actions are like your father, at this they reply'd, we are no bastards; we have but one father, even God. <a href="/wey/john/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> You are doing the deeds of your father." "We," they replied, "are not illegitimate children. We have one Father, namely God." <a href="/worrell/john/8.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>Ye do the works of your father."<Fr> They say to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father?God." <a href="/worsley/john/8.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> But<FR> ye do the works of your father.<Fr> Then said they unto Him, We are not born of fornication, we have one Father, even God. <a href="/parallel/john/8-41.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=3024" 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 Children of the Devil</a> …40But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41<a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymeis (PPro-N2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">You</a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: poieite (V-PIA-2P) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.">are doing</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ta (Art-ANP) -- 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/2041.htm" title="2041: erga (N-ANP) -- From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.">works</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymōn (PPro-G2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">your</a> <a href="/greek/3962.htm" title="3962: patros (N-GMS) -- Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a father.">father.” </a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: Hēmeis (PPro-N1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">“We</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ou (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/1080.htm" title="1080: gegennēmetha (V-RIP-1P) -- From a variation of genos; to procreate; figuratively, to regenerate.">are not illegitimate children,</a> <a href="/greek/1537.htm" title="1537: ek (Prep) -- From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.">”</a> <a href="/greek/4202.htm" title="4202: porneias (N-GFS) -- Fornication, whoredom; met: idolatry. From porneuo; harlotry; figuratively, idolatry."></a> <a href="/greek/3767.htm" title="3767: oun (Conj) -- Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly."></a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: Eipan (V-AIA-3P) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">they declared.</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autō (PPro-DM3S) -- 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/2192.htm" title="2192: echomen (V-PIA-1P) -- To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.">“Our</a> <a href="/greek/1520.htm" title="1520: hena (Adj-AMS) -- One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.">only</a> <a href="/greek/3962.htm" title="3962: Patera (N-AMS) -- Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a father.">Father</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theon (N-AMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">is God Himself.”</a> 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.…<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/8-44.htm">John 8:44</a> You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. <a href="/john/8-39.htm">John 8:39</a> “Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham. <a href="/john/8-42.htm">John 8:42</a> Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me. <a href="/john/8-47.htm">John 8:47</a> Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” <a href="/romans/9-8.htm">Romans 9:8</a> 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. <a href="/galatians/3-7.htm">Galatians 3:7</a> Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. <a href="/galatians/4-22.htm">Galatians 4:22-31</a> 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. ... <a href="/matthew/3-9.htm">Matthew 3:9</a> 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. <a href="/luke/3-8.htm">Luke 3:8</a> 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. <a href="/romans/2-28.htm">Romans 2:28-29</a> 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. <a href="/1_john/3-10.htm">1 John 3:10</a> By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother. <a href="/genesis/17-7.htm">Genesis 17:7</a> 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. <a href="/genesis/18-19.htm">Genesis 18:19</a> For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.” <a href="/genesis/21-12.htm">Genesis 21:12</a> 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. <a href="/isaiah/63-16.htm">Isaiah 63:16</a> Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>You do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.do.<a href="/john/8-38.htm">John 8:38,44</a> I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father… We be.<a href="/isaiah/57-3.htm">Isaiah 57:3-7</a> But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore… <a href="/ezekiel/23-45.htm">Ezekiel 23:45-47</a> And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands… <a href="/hosea/1-2.htm">Hosea 1:2</a> The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.we have.<a href="/exodus/4-22.htm">Exodus 4:22</a> And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:<a href="/deuteronomy/14-1.htm">Deuteronomy 14:1</a> Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.<a href="/isaiah/63-16.htm">Isaiah 63:16</a> Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/8-40.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/john/3-8.htm">Born</a> <a href="/john/8-39.htm">Children</a> <a href="/john/8-39.htm">Deeds</a> <a href="/mark/7-21.htm">Fornication</a> <a href="/hosea/5-7.htm">Illegitimate</a> <a href="/mark/7-21.htm">Immorality</a> <a href="/john/5-45.htm">Namely</a> <a href="/mark/14-31.htm">Protested</a> <a href="/mark/7-21.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/john/8-40.htm">True.</a> <a href="/hosea/6-10.htm">Whoredom</a> <a href="/john/8-39.htm">Works</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/8-52.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/john/8-58.htm">Born</a> <a href="/john/8-44.htm">Children</a> <a href="/john/10-25.htm">Deeds</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Fornication</a> <a href="/hebrews/12-8.htm">Illegitimate</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Immorality</a> <a href="/john/8-54.htm">Namely</a> <a href="/john/19-21.htm">Protested</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Sexual</a> <a href="/john/8-44.htm">True.</a> <a href="/acts/15-29.htm">Whoredom</a> <a href="/john/9-3.htm">Works</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>You are doing the works of your father. In this passage, Jesus is addressing the Jewish leaders, challenging their claim to spiritual authority and lineage. The "works" refer to actions and behaviors that reflect one's true spiritual lineage. Jesus implies that their actions align more with Satan, whom He later identifies as their father in a spiritual sense (<a href="/john/8-44.htm">John 8:44</a>). This accusation is rooted in the broader biblical theme that one's actions reveal one's true allegiance (<a href="/matthew/7-16.htm">Matthew 7:16-20</a>). The concept of spiritual paternity is significant in Jewish thought, where lineage and heritage are crucial, yet Jesus redefines it in terms of spiritual obedience and truth.“We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. The Jewish leaders respond defensively, asserting their legitimate descent from Abraham and, by extension, their covenant relationship with God. The term "illegitimate children" could imply a denial of any spiritual or moral impurity. Historically, Jewish identity was closely tied to Abrahamic descent, and being considered illegitimate would undermine their claim to God's promises. This statement also reflects a possible allusion to rumors about Jesus' own birth, which some opponents might have considered illegitimate (<a href="/matthew/1-18.htm">Matthew 1:18-25</a>). The leaders' emphasis on legitimacy underscores their misunderstanding of Jesus' spiritual message.“Our only Father is God Himself.” Here, the Jewish leaders assert their monotheistic faith and covenant relationship with God, echoing the Shema, a central declaration of Jewish faith: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one" (<a href="/deuteronomy/6-4.htm">Deuteronomy 6:4</a>). They claim God as their Father, which in Jewish tradition signifies a special relationship and chosen status (<a href="/exodus/4-22.htm">Exodus 4:22</a>). However, Jesus challenges this claim by pointing out that true children of God would recognize and accept Him, as He is sent by the Father (<a href="/john/8-42.htm">John 8:42</a>). This statement highlights the tension between physical descent and spiritual kinship, a theme that runs throughout the New Testament (<a href="/romans/9-6.htm">Romans 9:6-8</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The central figure in this passage, Jesus is addressing the Jewish leaders and people, challenging their understanding of spiritual lineage and true obedience to God. 2. <a href="/topical/j/jewish_leaders.htm">Jewish Leaders</a> The audience Jesus is speaking to, who claim Abraham as their father and assert their legitimacy as God's children. 3. <a href="/topical/a/abraham.htm">Abraham</a> Mentioned earlier in the chapter, Abraham is a patriarchal figure whom the Jewish leaders claim as their ancestor, representing their spiritual heritage. 4. <a href="/topical/g/god_the_father.htm">God the Father</a> The ultimate spiritual Father, whom Jesus contrasts with the earthly claims of the Jewish leaders. 5. <a href="/topical/s/satan.htm">Satan</a> Implicitly referenced as the "father" whose works the Jewish leaders are doing, according to Jesus, highlighting the spiritual deception and sin.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_lineage_vs._physical_descent.htm">Spiritual Lineage vs. Physical Descent</a> True spiritual lineage is determined by faith and obedience to God, not merely by physical descent or heritage. <a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_spiritual_pride.htm">The Danger of Spiritual Pride</a> Claiming a spiritual heritage without living in accordance with God's will can lead to self-deception and spiritual pride. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_true_fatherhood.htm">The Importance of True Fatherhood</a> Recognizing God as our true Father involves aligning our actions and beliefs with His will, as revealed through Jesus Christ. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_faith_in_spiritual_identity.htm">The Role of Faith in Spiritual Identity</a> Faith in Jesus Christ is the defining characteristic of being a child of God, transcending ethnic or cultural backgrounds. <a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_transformation.htm">Repentance and Transformation</a> True children of God demonstrate their relationship with Him through repentance and a transformed life that reflects His character.<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/what_did_jesus_mean_by_'greater_works'.htm">What did Jesus mean by 'greater works than these'?</a> <a href="/q/what_are_the_names_of_jesus_christ.htm">What are the names of Jesus Christ?</a> <a href="/q/what's_the_cosmic_christ_concept.htm">What does 'Called According to His Purpose' mean?</a> <a href="/q/bible's_view_on_god_vs._satan.htm">What does the Bible say about God versus Satan?</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>(41) Ye do the deeds of your father.--It is better to read works rather than "deeds," as in <a href="/john/8-39.htm" title="They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.">John 8:39</a>. They did not the works of Abraham. They did the works of that father, who is now more clearly pointed out, but still not named. Before, when he was referred to (<a href="/john/8-38.htm" title="I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have seen with your father.">John 8:38</a>), they could answer that Abraham was their father; but their works prove that they are not the true children of Abraham (<a href="/context/john/8-39.htm" title="They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.">John 8:39-40</a>). They see that a spiritual father is intended, and they will claim God as their Father.We be not born of fornication.--The meaning of this is to be found in the fact that the word became in the Old Testament prophets a frequent symbol for idolatry. Comp. <a href="/isaiah/1-21.htm" title="How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.">Isaiah 1:21</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/2-20.htm" title="For of old time I have broken your yoke, and burst your bands; and you said, I will not transgress; when on every high hill and under every green tree you wander, playing the harlot.">Jeremiah 2:20</a>; <a href="/context/jeremiah/3-8.htm" title="And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.">Jeremiah 3:8-9</a>; Ezekiel 16; <a href="/hosea/1-2.htm" title="The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take to you a wife of prostitutions and children of prostitutions: for the land has committed great prostitution, departing from the LORD.">Hosea 1:2</a> (especially), 4:12, and 5:7.) They, as distinguished from the nations among whom they dwelt, had maintained a pure monotheism, and had never been idolaters, or children born of spiritual fornication. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 41. - Instead of doing the works of Abraham, you are doing the works of your father. That is, you have a father with whom you are, nevertheless, in living, ethical relation. If you persist in boasting of your father, who is neither "the Father" nor Abraham, I must soon tell you who that father is. Loud interruption followed. Abrupt and startling was the retort: We are [were] not born of fornication; we have one Father, God. Many expositors think that these Jews began to babble against the possibility of their being bastard children of Sarah, or to protest that they were not Ishmaelites or any collateral branch of the seed of Abraham, like the Idumaeans or the sons of Keturah. This is far away from the context, and unworthy of the controversy. The idea is sufficiently explained by the second clause. The covenant relation between Jehovah and Israel is so constantly referred to in the Old Testament (<a href="/hosea/1-2.htm">Hosea 1:2</a>; <a href="/hosea/2-4.htm">Hosea 2:4</a>; <a href="/isaiah/1-21.htm">Isaiah 1:21</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/2-20.htm">Jeremiah 2:20</a>) under the image of marriage and the unfaithfulness of particular generations to Jehovah; and their false worship and idolatry are so often regarded as "fornication" and "adultery" from God, the Husband of the dedicated spouse, so that nothing is more probable, when Jesus charged them with doing the works of their father, that they should have exclaimed, "Surely we have no idolatrous sympathies. None but Jehovah is our God. Thou must not charge us with any compromise with the accursed thing." The wild rage which the Jews had shown to Pilate in the matter of the shields, their abhorrence of the defilement of idols in the matter of food, their avoidance even of the supreme court of Roman justice under fear of idolatrous contamination, explain the outflash of this indignant rejoinder. This view is, in the main, advocated by De Wette, Lampe, Lucke, Lange, and Hengstenberg; but opposed by Meyer, Westcott: "We do not owe our position to idolatrous desertion of Jehovah. We are the offspring of the union of God with his chosen people. Our spiritual descent is as pure as our historical descent." Godet modifies it: "We have no idolatrous blood in our veins; we are Hebrews of the Hebrews." They claim to be the children of God, as well as children of Abraham (<a href="/deuteronomy/32-6.htm">Deuteronomy 32:6</a>; <a href="/isaiah/63-16.htm">Isaiah 63:16</a>; <a href="/malachi/2-10.htm">Malachi 2:10</a>). <a href="/commentaries/john/8-41.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>You ὑμεῖς (hymeis) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. are doing ποιεῖτε (poieite) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4160.htm">Strong's 4160: </a> (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. the τὰ (ta) Article - Accusative Neuter 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. works ἔργα (erga) Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2041.htm">Strong's 2041: </a> From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act. of τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive 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. your ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. father.” πατρὸς (patros) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3962.htm">Strong's 3962: </a> Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. “We Ἡμεῖς (Hēmeis) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. are not illegitimate children,” γεγεννήμεθα (gegennēmetha) Verb - Perfect Indicative Passive - 1st Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1080.htm">Strong's 1080: </a> From a variation of genos; to procreate; figuratively, to regenerate. they declared. Εἶπαν (Eipan) 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. “Our ἔχομεν (echomen) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural <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. only ἕνα (hena) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1520.htm">Strong's 1520: </a> One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one. Father Πατέρα (Patera) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3962.htm">Strong's 3962: </a> Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. [is] God [Himself].” Θεόν (Theon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/8-41.htm">John 8:41 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/8-41.htm">John 8:41 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/8-41.htm">John 8:41 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/8-41.htm">John 8:41 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/8-41.htm">John 8:41 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/8-41.htm">John 8:41 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/8-41.htm">John 8:41 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/8-41.htm">John 8:41 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/8-41.htm">John 8:41 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/8-41.htm">John 8:41 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/8-41.htm">NT Gospels: John 8:41 You do the works of your father (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/8-40.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 8:40"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 8:40" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/8-42.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 8:42"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 8:42" /></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>