Bible Strands
John 8:48
The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Jews respond to Jesus immediately after He declares that their failure to hear stems from not belonging to God.
The words — Ἀπεκρίθησαν (Apekrithēsan) = answered; οὐ (ou) = not. These frame the reply as a defensive rebuttal rather than a theological inquiry.
The thread — John 7:20 and John 8:52 record the same group leveling the identical “demon” accusation against Jesus during this same confrontation.
Why it lands — It requires the reader to observe how disagreement over divine claims rapidly devolves into personal vilification rather than engagement with the argument.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
Cross-references
- John 7:20 “You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?”
- John 8:52 “Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death.
- Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
- Matthew 10:25 It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
- Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
- Matthew 15:7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:
- John 4:9 “You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
- John 10:20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”
- James 2:19 You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
- Isaiah 49:7 Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”