John 8:48

The Judeans ¹  replied, ²  “Aren’t we correct in saying ³  that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?” ⁴ 

The Jews answered him, "Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"

The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"

The people retorted, "You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?"

The Jews then said, "That clinches it. We were right all along when we called you a Samaritan and said you were crazy--demon-possessed!"

The Jews said to him in answer, Are we not right in saying that you are of Samaria and have an evil spirit?

The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?"

Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"

The Judeans ¹  replied, ²  “Aren’t we correct in saying ³  that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?” ⁴ 

¹ 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.

² tn Grk “answered and said to him.”

³ tn Grk “Do we not say rightly.”

⁴ 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.