John 8:48
New International Version
The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”

New Living Translation
The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”

English Standard Version
The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

Berean Standard Bible
The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”

Berean Literal Bible
The Jews answered and said to Him, "Are we not rightly saying that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"

King James Bible
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

New King James Version
Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

New American Standard Bible
The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not rightly say that You are a Samaritan, and You have a demon?”

NASB 1995
The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

NASB 1977
The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

Legacy Standard Bible
The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

Amplified Bible
The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right when we say You are a Samaritan and [that You] have a demon [and are under its power]?”

Christian Standard Bible
The Jews responded to him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re a Samaritan and have a demon? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Jews responded to Him, “Aren’t we right in saying that You’re a Samaritan and have a demon?”

American Standard Version
The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?

Contemporary English Version
The people told Jesus, "We were right to say that you are a Samaritan and that you have a demon in you!"

English Revised Version
The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Jews replied to Jesus, "Aren't we right when we say that you're a Samaritan and that you're possessed by a demon?"

Good News Translation
They asked Jesus, "Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon in you?"

International Standard Version
The Jewish leaders replied to him, "Surely we're right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon, aren't we?"

Majority Standard Bible
The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”

NET Bible
The Judeans replied, "Aren't we correct in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?"

New Heart English Bible
Then the Judeans answered him, "Do not we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Then answered the Jews, and said to him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?

Weymouth New Testament
"Are we not right," answered the Jews, "in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?"

World English Bible
Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The Jews, therefore, answered and said to Him, “Do we not say well, that You are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”

Berean Literal Bible
The Jews answered and said to Him, "Are we not rightly saying that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"

Young's Literal Translation
The Jews, therefore, answered and said to him, 'Do we not say well, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?'

Smith's Literal Translation
Then answered the Jews, and said to him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Jews therefore answered, and said to him: Do not we say well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, the Jews responded and said to him, “Are we not correct in saying that you are a Samaritan, and that you have a demon?”

New American Bible
The Jews answered and said to him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed?”

New Revised Standard Version
The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The Jews answered and said to him, Did we not say well, that you are a Samaritan, and that you are crazy?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The Jews answered and they were saying to him, “Are we not saying correctly that you are a Samaritan and have a demon in you?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
The Jews answered, and said to him: Do we not well say that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?

Godbey New Testament
The Jews responded and said to Him, Do we not truly say that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?

Haweis New Testament
Then answered the Jews, and said to him, Do we not rightly affirm, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

Mace New Testament
The Jews answered, and said to him, are we not in the right to say, that you are a Samaritan, and are really mad?

Weymouth New Testament
"Are we not right," answered the Jews, "in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?"

Worrell New Testament
The Jews answered and said to Him, "Say we not well that Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?"

Worsley New Testament
The Jews therefore answered and said unto Him. Do we not rightly say, that thou art a Samaritan, and art possessed by a demon?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Before Abraham was Born, I Am
47Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” 48The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?” 49“I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.…

Cross References
John 7:20
“You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?”

John 10:20
Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”

Matthew 11:18-19
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ / The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

Mark 3:22
And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

Luke 11:15
but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”

Luke 7:33-34
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ / The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Acts 2:13
But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!”

Acts 10:28
He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

Acts 26:24
At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”

1 Corinthians 1:23
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

1 Peter 2:23
When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Psalm 22:6-8
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. / All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.”

Psalm 69:9
because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

Psalm 69:20-21
Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one. / They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.


Treasury of Scripture

Then answered the Jews, and said to him, Say we not well that you are a Samaritan, and have a devil?

Say.

John 8:52
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.

John 13:13
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

Matthew 15:7
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

thou.

John 4:9
Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

John 7:20
The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

John 10:20
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

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John 8
1. Jesus delivers the woman taken in adultery.
12. He declares himself the light of the world, and justifies his doctrine;
31. promises freedom to those who believe;
33. answers the Jews who boasted of Abraham;
48. answers their reviling, by showing his authority and dignity;
59. and slips away from those who would stone him.














The Jews answered Him
This phrase indicates a response from the Jewish leaders or people who were in dialogue with Jesus. In the context of the Gospel of John, "the Jews" often refers to the religious authorities who were in opposition to Jesus. Historically, this reflects the tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders who felt threatened by His teachings and growing influence. The Greek word for "answered" (ἀπεκρίθησαν) suggests a formal reply, indicating the seriousness of their accusation.

Are we not right to say
This rhetorical question implies a sense of confidence and self-righteousness among the Jewish leaders. They believed they were justified in their assessment of Jesus. The phrase reflects a common human tendency to rely on preconceived notions and societal norms rather than seeking truth. It challenges readers to consider how often they might judge others based on assumptions rather than understanding.

that You are a Samaritan
Calling Jesus a Samaritan was a significant insult. Samaritans were considered heretical and ethnically impure by the Jews due to their mixed heritage and differing religious practices. This accusation was meant to discredit Jesus by associating Him with a group that was despised and marginalized. The historical animosity between Jews and Samaritans highlights the depth of the insult and the extent of the leaders' rejection of Jesus.

and You have a demon
Accusing Jesus of having a demon was an attempt to undermine His authority and divine nature. In the ancient world, attributing someone's actions to demonic influence was a way to dismiss their teachings and miracles. This accusation reflects the spiritual blindness of the accusers, who could not recognize the work of God in Jesus. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual warfare present in the world and the importance of discernment in recognizing truth.

(48) Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?--The words imply that the saying was customary among the Pharisees. The knowledge of this, and the simple way in which the fact is told, is one of many instances of the writer's minute acquaintance with what was said and done by the leaders of the Jerusalem party. There is no instance given of the term "Samaritan" being applied to our Lord, but the term itself is frequently used by the Rabbis as one of opprobrium. The history of the fourth chapter is at once suggested to our minds, and was probably not absent from theirs. (Comp. Note on John 7:35.) There may have been facts more immediately connected with this very Feast of Tabernacles present to their minds, which are unknown to us. The going up secretly of John 7:10, must almost certainly have been through Samaria. He had kept the last Passover in the despised Galilee (John 6:4). Had He kept Tabernacles in the hated Samaria? It is worth noting that the word Samaritan, in the singular, as applied to an individual, occurs but twice, except here and in John 4. One instance is in the parable spoken at no long interval after the present discourse (Luke 10:25-37). The other tells us that the only one of the ten lepers who turned back to glorify God "was a Samaritan" (Luke 17:16).

The rendering, "and hast a devil," is one which, probably, cannot now be improved. Wiclif's word here is "fiend," which in this sense is obsolete. But every reader of the Greek must feel how little our English word can represent the two distinct ideas, represented by two distinct words here and in John 8:44. "Demon," used originally for the lower divinities, and not unfrequently for the gods, passed in the Scriptures, which taught the knowledge of the true God, into the sense of an evil spirit. Thus the word which could represent the attendant genius of Socrates came to express what we speak of as demoniacal possession, and the supposed power of witchcraft and sorcery. Socrates is made to say, "For this reason, therefore, rather than for any other, he calls them demons, because they were prudent and knowing" (da?mones, Plato, Cratylus, xxiii.). The history of Simon Magus reminds us that the people of Samaria, from the least to the greatest, had been for a long time under the influence of his sorceries (Acts 8:9 et seq.), and it is probable that there is a special connection in the words here, "Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon." (Comp. Excursus III. on Notes to St. Matthew's Gospel, p. 185.) . . .

Verse 48. - But it brought from them a shout of derision and a burst of scornful mockery. The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a daemon? They imagine that the bare charge that they, the leaders of Israel, are "not of God," and that they reveal the fact by their inability to hear the words of God then sounding in their ears, was flat heresy, a gross lack of patriotism, and proved that, in his lofty self-assertion, he was no better than a Samaritan - the most hated of their neighbours. They return a harsh tu-quoque to our Lord's refusal to admit their Abrahamic descent, and his condemnation of their utter moral dissimilarity from their putative father. The sentence, "a Samaritan art thou!" is singularly insulting in its tone and form. We cannot measure the exact amount of insult they condensed into this word, whether it be of heresy, or alienation from Israel, or accusation of impure descent. It is remarkable that our Lord had shown special kindness to Samaritans (ch. 4.), and had made in his parable "the good Samaritan" the type of neighbourly love; but these very Jews had, in the height of this controversy, accused him of being a "Galilaean," and it is not probable that they used the term otherwise than as a soubriquet of scorn. Edersheim (loc. cit., 2:174, 175) would translate into Aramaic the language here cited, and finds in its form Shomroni the real interpretation of its meaning. Shomron is, according to him, used in rabbinical writing for Ashmedai, and in the cabbalists is used for Sammael or Satan. Arabian traditions are brought in to confirm this interpretation of the speech, which he regards as equivalent to "Thou art a child of the devil," thus retorting upon Jesus the charge that they were doing the works of their father, the devil. The one expression is thought by Edersheim equivalent to that which follows, thou hast a daemon; and his explanation is thought to cover our Lord's silence respecting it. In our opinion this is far-fetched and unnatural. Christ's silence is better justified by his refusal to regard such a term as conveying opprobrium, tic had risen above the distinction of race, and could afford to despise the taunt. In John 7:20 (see note) a similar charge had been made by the angry Jews. The Lord is accused of being mastered by some daemon, who is perverting his mind and confusing his speech. Some further force is added to the charge from the language of the Talmud, 'Jebamoth,' fol. 47, a: "R. Nachman, son of Isaac, said to a Samaritan, 'Thou art a Cuthite, and testimony from thy mouth has no validity.'"

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Jews
Ἰουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.

answered
Ἀπεκρίθησαν (Apekrithēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

Him,
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“Are we not
Οὐ (Ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

right
καλῶς (kalōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2573: Well, nobly, honorably, rightly. Adverb from kalos; well.

to say
λέγομεν (legomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

You
σὺ (sy)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are
εἶ (ei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

a Samaritan
Σαμαρίτης (Samaritēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4541: A Samaritan. From Samareia; a Samarite, i.e. Inhabitant of Samaria.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

You have
ἔχεις (echeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

a demon?”
δαιμόνιον (daimonion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1140: An evil-spirit, demon; a heathen deity. Neuter of a derivative of daimon; a d?Monic being; by extension a deity.


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