Bible Strands
John 8:51
Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the Jewish crowd during a dispute about his identity, immediately after declaring he does not seek his own glory (8:50). The claim in v.51 provokes the accusation of demonic possession in v.52.
The words — The doubled Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν (Amēn amēn) is Jesus' characteristic formula for a declaration of the highest weight, marking what follows as non-negotiable.
The thread — John 5:24 pairs hearing and believing with not coming under judgment; John 11:25 narrows the scope to belief in Jesus as the resurrection and the life. Both assume the same underlying claim: a relationship to Jesus' word that outruns physical death.
Why it lands — The Jews' objection in v.52 (Abraham died, the prophets died) forces the question: does "never see death" mean never die, or never be subject to death's finality? The verse demands the reader decide which reading holds and whether they actually keep the word in question.
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
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Cross-references
- John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
- John 5:24 Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.
- John 3:15 that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
- John 6:50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die.
- John 15:20 Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.
- Luke 2:26 The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
- Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
- Psalms 89:48 What man can live and never see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah
- John 8:55 You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word.
- John 8:12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”