Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
JOHN 8:44KJVWhat does John 8:44 mean?
John 8:44 says that some people are acting like the devil is their father because they follow his desires, not God’s. Jesus describes the devil as a murderer and liar from the very beginning, with no truth in him, and says those who lie and do evil are showing the same character.
In this verse, Jesus is speaking to a group of Jewish leaders who are challenging him. He tells them that their actions—rejecting truth and plotting harm—show they are following the devil’s ways, not God’s. Jesus uses strong language to highlight the seriousness of opposing truth and to show the deep divide between God’s character and the devil’s.
The Greek behind John 8:44
- διάβολος (diabolos, "devil"): This word means "slanderer" or "accuser." Jesus is not just calling the devil an enemy but someone who twists truth and accuses others, which fits the context of lies and murder.
- ἐπιθυμία (epithymia, "lusts" or "desires"): This word refers to strong desires or cravings, often for things that are wrong. Jesus is saying that following these desires links a person to the devil’s nature.
- ψεύστης (pseustēs, "liar"): The Greek word for "liar" is blunt and direct, emphasizing that lying is not just something the devil does, but is at the core of his character.
- πατήρ (patēr, "father"): Jesus uses this word to stress a family resemblance—not by blood, but by shared actions and attitudes.
Why John 8:44 matters
- John 8:44 clarifies that spiritual kinship is shown by actions and character, not just by heritage or religious background.
- The verse highlights how Jesus draws a sharp line between truth and lies, showing that following God means loving truth, while following the devil means embracing deception.
- This verse connects to the larger conversation in John 8, where Jesus challenges people to examine whether their lives reflect God’s truth or something else entirely.