Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Jews speak directly to Jesus immediately after He declares that keeping His word prevents tasting death. This occurs during a direct confrontation in Jerusalem where they challenge His authority.
The words — They declare ἐγνώκαμεν (egnōkamen), meaning “we have known,” to assert absolute certainty. They follow it with οὖν (oun), “therefore,” to present their conclusion as a logical deduction from His previous claim.
The thread — The group’s accusation mirrors the earlier charge in John 8:48 that He possesses a demon. The dispute over mortality and divine promise continues in Hebrews 2:9, which contrasts human death with Christ’s exaltation.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to confront the tension between historical mortality and a claimed spiritual permanence. It demands an evaluation of whether Jesus’ promise addresses physical demise or a different category of existence.
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 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.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
- John 8:48 The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”
- John 8:51 Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”
- John 9:24 So a second time they called for the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”
- Zechariah 1:5 Where are your fathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever?
- Hebrews 11:13 All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.