8:48 The Judeans 20 replied, 21 “Aren’t we correct in saying 22 that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?” 23 8:49 Jesus answered, “I am not possessed by a demon, 24 but I honor my Father – and yet 25 you dishonor me.
1 tn Grk “seeking.”
2 tn Grk “has spoken to you.”
3 tn The Greek word order is emphatic: “This Abraham did not do.” The emphasis is indicated in the translation by an exclamation point.
4 tn The word “people” is supplied in the translation to clarify that the Greek pronoun and verb are plural.
5 tn Many translations read “You are of your father the devil” (KJV, ASV, RSV, NASB) or “You belong to your father, the devil” (NIV), but the Greek preposition ἐκ (ek) emphasizes the idea of source or origin. Jesus said his opponents were the devil’s very offspring (a statement which would certainly infuriate them).
6 tn Grk “the desires of your father you want to do.”
7 tn Grk “That one” (referring to the devil).
8 tn Grk “he does not stand in the truth” (in the sense of maintaining, upholding, or accepting the validity of it).
9 tn Grk “Whenever he speaks the lie.”
10 tn Grk “he speaks from his own.”
11 tn Grk “because he is a liar and the father of it.”
12 tn Or “because I tell you.”
13 tn Or “can convict me.”
14 tn Or “of having sinned”; Grk “of sin.”
15 tn Or “if I tell you.”
16 tn Grk “who is of.”
17 tn Grk “to God hears” (in the sense of listening to something and responding to it).
18 tn Grk “you do not hear” (in the sense of listening to something and responding to it).
19 tn Grk “you are not of God.”
20 tn Grk “the Jews.” See the note on this term in v. 31. Here the phrase refers to the Jewish people in Jerusalem (“Judeans”; cf. BDAG 479 s.v. ᾿Ιουδαῖος 2.e) who had been listening to Jesus’ teaching in the temple courts (8:20) and had initially believed his claim to be the Messiah (cf. 8:31). They had become increasingly hostile as Jesus continued to teach. Now they were ready to say that Jesus was demon-possessed.
21 tn Grk “answered and said to him.”
22 tn Grk “Do we not say rightly.”
23 tn Grk “and have a demon.” It is not clear what is meant by the charge Σαμαρίτης εἶ σὺ καὶ δαιμόνιον ἔχεις (Samarith" ei su kai daimonion ecei"). The meaning could be “you are a heretic and are possessed by a demon.” Note that the dual charge gets one reply (John 8:49). Perhaps the phrases were interchangeable: Simon Magus (Acts 8:14-24) and in later traditions Dositheus, the two Samaritans who claimed to be sons of God, were regarded as mad, that is, possessed by demons.
24 tn Grk “I do not have a demon.”
25 tn “Yet” is supplied to show the contrastive element present in the context.