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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 8:48 The Jews answered Him, "Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/8-48.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/43_Jhn_08_48.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 8:48 - Before Abraham was Born, I Am" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The Jews answered Him, Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?" /><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/8-48.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/8-48.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 48</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="/ad8.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/8-47.htm" title="John 8:47">◄</a> John 8:48 <a href="/john/8-49.htm" title="John 8:49">►</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> The Jews answered him, &#8220Aren&#8217t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?&#8221 <a href="/nlt/john/8.htm">New Living Translation</a> The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?” <a href="/esv/john/8.htm">English Standard Version</a> The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” <a href="/bsb/john/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?” <a href="/blb/john/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> The Jews answered and said to Him, "Are we not rightly saying that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" <a href="/kjv/john/8.htm">King James Bible</a> Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? <a href="/nkjv/john/8.htm">New King James Version</a> Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” <a href="/nasb_/john/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not rightly say that You are a Samaritan, and You have a demon?” <a href="/nasb/john/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> The Jews answered and said to Him, &#8220Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/john/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” <a href="/lsb/john/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” <a href="/amp/john/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right when we say You are a Samaritan and [that You] have a demon [and are under its power]?” <a href="/csb/john/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The Jews responded to him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re a Samaritan and have a demon? ” <a href="/hcsb/john/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The Jews responded to Him, &#8220Aren&#8217t we right in saying that You&#8217re a Samaritan and have a demon?&#8221 <a href="/asv/john/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon? <a href="/cev/john/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The people told Jesus, "We were right to say that you are a Samaritan and that you have a demon in you!" <a href="/erv/john/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? <a href="/gwt/john/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The Jews replied to Jesus, "Aren't we right when we say that you're a Samaritan and that you're possessed by a demon?" <a href="/gnt/john/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> They asked Jesus, "Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon in you?" <a href="/isv/john/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> The Jewish leaders replied to him, "Surely we're right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon, aren't we?" <a href="/msb/john/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> The Jews answered Him, ?Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?? <a href="/net/john/8.htm">NET Bible</a> The Judeans replied, "Aren't we correct in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?" <a href="/nheb/john/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Then the Judeans answered him, "Do not we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?" <a href="/wbt/john/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Then answered the Jews, and said to him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon? <a href="/wey/john/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Are we not right," answered the Jews, "in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?" <a href="/web/john/8.htm">World English Bible</a> Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> The Jews, therefore, answered and said to Him, “Do we not say well, that You are a Samaritan, and have a demon?” <a href="/blb/john/8.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> The Jews answered and said to Him, "Are we not rightly saying that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" <a href="/ylt/john/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> The Jews, therefore, answered and said to him, 'Do we not say well, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?' <a href="/slt/john/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Then answered the Jews, and said to him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> The Jews therefore answered, and said to him: Do not we say well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? <a href="/cpdv/john/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Therefore, the Jews responded and said to him, “Are we not correct in saying that you are a Samaritan, and that you have a demon?” <a href="/nabre/john/8.htm">New American Bible</a> The Jews answered and said to him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed?” <a href="/nrsvce/john/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> The Jews answered and said to him, Did we not say well, that you are a Samaritan, and that you are crazy? <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/8.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> The Jews answered and they were saying to him, “Are we not saying correctly that you are a Samaritan and have a demon in you?”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/8.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> The Jews answered, and said to him: Do we not well say that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon? <a href="/godbey/john/8.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> The Jews responded and said to Him, Do we not truly say that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon? <a href="/haweis/john/8.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Then answered the Jews, and said to him, Do we not rightly affirm, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? <a href="/mace/john/8.htm">Mace New Testament</a> The Jews answered, and said to him, are we not in the right to say, that you are a Samaritan, and are really mad? <a href="/wey/john/8.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Are we not right," answered the Jews, "in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?" <a href="/worrell/john/8.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> The Jews answered and said to Him, "Say we not well that Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?" <a href="/worsley/john/8.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> The Jews therefore answered and said unto Him. Do we not rightly say, that thou art a Samaritan, and art possessed by a demon? <a href="/parallel/john/8-48.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=3098" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/8.htm">Before Abraham was Born, I Am</a> 47Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” 48<a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">The</a> <a href="/greek/2453.htm" title="2453: Ioudaioi (Adj-NMP) -- Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.">Jews</a> <a href="/greek/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.">answered</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: eipan (V-AIA-3P) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say."></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.">Him,</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.">“Are we not</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmeis (PPro-N1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I."></a> <a href="/greek/2573.htm" title="2573: kalōs (Adv) -- Well, nobly, honorably, rightly. Adverb from kalos; well.">right</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legomen (V-PIA-1P) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">to say</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.">that</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: sy (PPro-N2S) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">You</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ei (V-PIA-2S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">are</a> <a href="/greek/4541.htm" title="4541: Samaritēs (N-NMS) -- A Samaritan. From Samareia; a Samarite, i.e. Inhabitant of Samaria.">a Samaritan</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/2192.htm" title="2192: echeis (V-PIA-2S) -- To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.">You have</a> <a href="/greek/1140.htm" title="1140: daimonion (N-ANS) -- An evil-spirit, demon; a heathen deity. Neuter of a derivative of daimon; a d?Monic being; by extension a deity.">a demon?”</a> 49“I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor 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/7-20.htm">John 7:20</a> “You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?” <a href="/john/10-20.htm">John 10:20</a> Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?” <a href="/matthew/11-18.htm">Matthew 11:18-19</a> For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ / The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.” <a href="/mark/3-22.htm">Mark 3:22</a> And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.” <a href="/luke/11-15.htm">Luke 11:15</a> but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.” <a href="/luke/7-33.htm">Luke 7:33-34</a> For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ / The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ <a href="/acts/2-13.htm">Acts 2:13</a> But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!” <a href="/acts/10-28.htm">Acts 10:28</a> He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. <a href="/acts/26-24.htm">Acts 26:24</a> At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!” <a href="/1_corinthians/1-23.htm">1 Corinthians 1:23</a> but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, <a href="/1_peter/2-23.htm">1 Peter 2:23</a> When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. <a href="/isaiah/53-3.htm">Isaiah 53:3</a> He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. <a href="/psalms/22-6.htm">Psalm 22:6-8</a> But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. / All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.” <a href="/psalms/69-9.htm">Psalm 69:9</a> because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me. <a href="/psalms/69-20.htm">Psalm 69:20-21</a> Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one. / They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Then answered the Jews, and said to him, Say we not well that you are a Samaritan, and have a devil?Say.<a href="/john/8-52.htm">John 8:52</a> Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.<a href="/john/13-13.htm">John 13:13</a> Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.<a href="/matthew/15-7.htm">Matthew 15:7</a> Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,thou.<a href="/john/4-9.htm">John 4:9</a> Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.<a href="/john/7-20.htm">John 7:20</a> The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?<a href="/john/10-20.htm">John 10:20</a> And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/7-20.htm">Demon</a> <a href="/john/7-20.htm">Demon-Possessed</a> <a href="/john/8-44.htm">Devil</a> <a href="/john/8-44.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/john/8-31.htm">Jews</a> <a href="/john/7-20.htm">Possessed</a> <a href="/john/8-16.htm">Right</a> <a href="/john/4-17.htm">Rightly</a> <a href="/john/4-9.htm">Samaria</a> <a href="/john/4-39.htm">Samaritan</a> <a href="/john/7-39.htm">Spirit</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/8-49.htm">Demon</a> <a href="/john/8-52.htm">Demon-Possessed</a> <a href="/john/8-49.htm">Devil</a> <a href="/john/8-49.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/john/8-52.htm">Jews</a> <a href="/john/8-49.htm">Possessed</a> <a href="/john/13-13.htm">Right</a> <a href="/john/13-13.htm">Rightly</a> <a href="/acts/1-8.htm">Samaria</a> <a href="/acts/8-25.htm">Samaritan</a> <a href="/john/8-49.htm">Spirit</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>The Jews answered Him This phrase indicates a response from the Jewish leaders or people, often referring to the Pharisees or other religious authorities. In the context of <a href="/john/8.htm">John 8</a>, Jesus is engaged in a heated dialogue with these leaders, challenging their understanding of the law and their spiritual blindness. The term "Jews" in the Gospel of John frequently refers to the religious authorities rather than the Jewish people as a whole. This reflects the tension between Jesus and the established religious order of the time.“Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan The accusation of being a Samaritan was a significant insult in the Jewish context. Samaritans were considered heretical and ethnically impure by the Jews due to their mixed heritage and differing religious practices. This reflects the deep-seated animosity between Jews and Samaritans, which dates back to the Assyrian conquest and the subsequent intermarriage of Israelites with foreign settlers. By calling Jesus a Samaritan, the Jewish leaders are attempting to discredit Him and His teachings, associating Him with a group they viewed as outside the covenant community.and You have a demon?” Accusing Jesus of having a demon was a way to dismiss His authority and the divine nature of His mission. In the cultural and religious context of the time, attributing someone's actions or words to demonic influence was a serious charge, implying that they were not only wrong but spiritually corrupt. This accusation is a continuation of the theme in the Gospels where Jesus is misunderstood and rejected by the religious leaders. It also echoes earlier instances in the Gospels where Jesus is accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul (e.g., <a href="/matthew/12-24.htm">Matthew 12:24</a>). This reflects the spiritual blindness and hardness of heart that Jesus often confronted in His ministry.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_jews.htm">The Jews</a> In this context, "the Jews" refers to the religious leaders and people who were in opposition to Jesus. They often challenged His teachings and authority. 2. <a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a> The central figure of the New Testament, Jesus is the one being accused in this verse. He is engaged in a dialogue with the Jewish leaders, defending His identity and mission. 3. <a href="/topical/s/samaritans.htm">Samaritans</a> A group of people living in Samaria, often despised by the Jews due to historical and religious differences. Calling Jesus a Samaritan was meant as an insult. 4. <a href="/topical/d/demon.htm">Demon</a> The accusation that Jesus has a demon is a serious charge, implying that His teachings and actions are influenced by evil forces. 5. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The setting of this confrontation, where Jesus often taught and faced opposition from religious leaders.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_prejudice.htm">Understanding Prejudice</a> The accusation of being a Samaritan reveals deep-seated prejudices. As Christians, we are called to examine and overcome our own biases, recognizing the image of God in all people. <a href="/topical/r/responding_to_false_accusations.htm">Responding to False Accusations</a> Jesus faced false accusations with truth and composure. We can learn to respond to misunderstandings and slander with grace and truth, trusting God to vindicate us. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_discernment.htm">Spiritual Discernment</a> The charge of having a demon shows a lack of spiritual discernment. We must seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to discern truth from falsehood in our spiritual journey. <a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_words.htm">The Power of Words</a> Words can be used to harm or heal. As followers of Christ, we should use our words to build up and encourage, rather than to insult or tear down. <a href="/topical/i/identity_in_christ.htm">Identity in Christ</a> Jesus' identity was constantly challenged, yet He remained secure in His mission and relationship with the Father. Our identity should be rooted in Christ, not in the opinions of others.<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/bible's_view_on_wealth.htm">How did Jesus interact with women?</a> <a href="/q/why_delay_in_samaritans'_holy_spirit.htm">Why didn't Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit immediately?</a> <a href="/q/what_did_jesus_mean_by_'your_father'.htm">What did Jesus mean by "your father the devil"?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_samaritanism's_belief.htm">What is the belief system of Samaritanism?</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>(48) Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?--The words imply that the saying was customary among the Pharisees. The knowledge of this, and the simple way in which the fact is told, is one of many instances of the writer's minute acquaintance with what was said and done by the leaders of the Jerusalem party. There is no instance given of the term "Samaritan" being applied to our Lord, but the term itself is frequently used by the Rabbis as one of opprobrium. The history of the fourth chapter is at once suggested to our minds, and was probably not absent from theirs. (Comp. Note on <a href="/john/7-35.htm" title="Then said the Jews among themselves, Where will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go to the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?">John 7:35</a>.) There may have been facts more immediately connected with this very Feast of Tabernacles present to their minds, which are unknown to us. The going up secretly of <a href="/john/7-10.htm" title="But when his brothers were gone up, then went he also up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.">John 7:10</a>, must almost certainly have been through Samaria. He had kept the last Passover in the despised Galilee (<a href="/john/6-4.htm" title="And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.">John 6:4</a>). Had He kept Tabernacles in the hated Samaria? It is worth noting that the word Samaritan, in the singular, as applied to an individual, occurs but twice, except here and in John 4. One instance is in the parable spoken at no long interval after the present discourse (<a href="/context/luke/10-25.htm" title="And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?">Luke 10:25-37</a>). The other tells us that the only one of the ten lepers who turned back to glorify God "was a Samaritan" (<a href="/luke/17-16.htm" title="And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.">Luke 17:16</a>).The rendering, "and hast a devil," is one which, probably, cannot now be improved. Wiclif's word here is "fiend," which in this sense is obsolete. But every reader of the Greek must feel how little our English word can represent the two distinct ideas, represented by two distinct words here and in <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>. "Demon," used originally for the lower divinities, and not unfrequently for the gods, passed in the Scriptures, which taught the knowledge of the true God, into the sense of an evil spirit. Thus the word which could represent the attendant genius of Socrates came to express what we speak of as demoniacal possession, and the supposed power of witchcraft and sorcery. Socrates is made to say, "For this reason, therefore, rather than for any other, he calls them demons, because they were prudent and knowing" (da?mones, Plato, Cratylus, xxiii.). The history of Simon Magus reminds us that the people of Samaria, from the least to the greatest, had been for a long time under the influence of his sorceries (<a href="/acts/8-9.htm" title="But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:">Acts 8:9</a> et seq.), and it is probable that there is a special connection in the words here, "Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon." (Comp. Excursus III. on Notes to St. Matthew's Gospel, p. 185.) . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 48. - But it brought from them a shout of derision and a burst of scornful mockery. The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a daemon? They imagine that the bare charge that they, the leaders of Israel, are "not of God," and that they reveal the fact by their inability to hear the words of God then sounding in their ears, was flat heresy, a gross lack of patriotism, and proved that, in his lofty self-assertion, he was no better than a Samaritan - the most hated of their neighbours. They return a harsh tu-quoque to our Lord's refusal to admit their Abrahamic descent, and his condemnation of their utter moral dissimilarity from their putative father. The sentence, "a Samaritan art thou!" is singularly insulting in its tone and form. We cannot measure the exact amount of insult they condensed into this word, whether it be of heresy, or alienation from Israel, or accusation of impure descent. It is remarkable that our Lord had shown special kindness to Samaritans (ch. 4.), and had made in his parable "the good Samaritan" the type of neighbourly love; but these very Jews had, in the height of this controversy, accused him of being a "Galilaean," and it is not probable that they used the term otherwise than as a soubriquet of scorn. Edersheim (loc. cit., 2:174, 175) would translate into Aramaic the language here cited, and finds in its form Shomroni the real interpretation of its meaning. Shomron is, according to him, used in rabbinical writing for Ashmedai, and in the cabbalists is used for Sammael or Satan. Arabian traditions are brought in to confirm this interpretation of the speech, which he regards as equivalent to "Thou art a child of the devil," thus retorting upon Jesus the charge that they were doing the works of their father, the devil. The one expression is thought by Edersheim equivalent to that which follows, thou hast a daemon; and his explanation is thought to cover our Lord's silence respecting it. In our opinion this is far-fetched and unnatural. Christ's silence is better justified by his refusal to regard such a term as conveying opprobrium, tic had risen above the distinction of race, and could afford to despise the taunt. In <a href="/john/7-20.htm">John 7:20</a> (see note) a similar charge had been made by the angry Jews. The Lord is accused of being mastered by some daemon, who is perverting his mind and confusing his speech. Some further force is added to the charge from the language of the Talmud, 'Jebamoth,' fol. 47, a: "R. Nachman, son of Isaac, said to a Samaritan, 'Thou art a Cuthite, and testimony from thy mouth has no validity.'" <a href="/commentaries/john/8-48.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>The οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Jews Ἰουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2453.htm">Strong's 2453: </a> Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah. answered Ἀπεκρίθησαν (Apekrithēsan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural <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. Him, αὐτῷ (autō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. “Are we not Οὐ (Ou) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3756.htm">Strong's 3756: </a> No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. right καλῶς (kalōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_2573.htm">Strong's 2573: </a> Well, nobly, honorably, rightly. Adverb from kalos; well. to say λέγομεν (legomen) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural <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. that ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3754.htm">Strong's 3754: </a> Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. You σὺ (sy) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. are εἶ (ei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd 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 Samaritan Σαμαρίτης (Samaritēs) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4541.htm">Strong's 4541: </a> A Samaritan. From Samareia; a Samarite, i.e. Inhabitant of Samaria. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. You have ἔχεις (echeis) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2192.htm">Strong's 2192: </a> To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. a demon?” δαιμόνιον (daimonion) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1140.htm">Strong's 1140: </a> An evil-spirit, demon; a heathen deity. Neuter of a derivative of daimon; a d?Monic being; by extension a deity. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/8-48.htm">John 8:48 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/8-48.htm">John 8:48 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/8-48.htm">John 8:48 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/8-48.htm">John 8:48 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/8-48.htm">John 8:48 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/8-48.htm">John 8:48 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/8-48.htm">John 8:48 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/8-48.htm">John 8:48 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/8-48.htm">John 8:48 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/8-48.htm">John 8:48 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/8-48.htm">NT Gospels: John 8:48 Then the Jews answered him Don't we (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/8-47.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 8:47"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 8:47" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/8-49.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 8:49"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 8:49" /></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>