John 8:43

Contemporary English Version

Why can't you understand what I am talking about? Can't you stand to hear what I am saying?

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
You don't understand the things I say, because you cannot accept my teaching.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Why do ye not knowe my speache? Even because ye cannot abyde the hearynge of my wordes.

Hebrew Names Version
Why don't you understand my speech? Because you can't hear my word.

International Standard Version
Why don't you understand my language? It's because you can't listen to my words.John 7:17;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
"Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot listen to My word.

New Century Version
You don't understand what I say, because you cannot accept my teaching.

Update Bible Version
Why do you not understand my speech? [Even] because you can't hear my word.

Webster's Bible Translation
Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word.

English Standard Version
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

World English Bible
Why don't you understand my speech? Because you can't hear my word.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Why do ye not understand my discourse? Even because ye cannot hear my word.

Weymouth's New Testament
How is it you do not understand me when I speak? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my words.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whi knowen ye not my speche? for ye moun not here my word.

English Revised Version
Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.

Berean Standard Bible
Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message.

Amplified Bible
"Why do you misunderstand what I am saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are unable to hear [the truth of] My word.

American Standard Version
Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.

Bible in Basic English
Why are my words not clear to you? It is because your ears are shut to my teaching.

Complete Jewish Bible
Why don't you understand what I'm saying? Because you can't bear to listen to my message.

Darby Translation
Why do ye not know my speech? Because ye cannot hear my word.

Etheridge Translation
Wherefore my word do you not acknowledge ? Because you cannot hear my word.

Murdock Translation
Why do ye not understand my speech? It is because ye cannot hear my speech.

King James Version (1611)
Why doe yee not vnderstand my speech? euen because yee cannot heare my word.

New Living Translation
Why can't you understand what I am saying? It's because you can't even hear me!

New Life Bible
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you do not want to hear My teaching.

New Revised Standard
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Why doe ye not vnderstande my talke? because ye cannot heare my worde.

George Lamsa Translation
Why therefore do you not understand my word? Because you cannot obey my word?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Wherefore, is it, that, my speech, ye do not understand? because ye cannot hear my word.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Why do you not know my speech? Because you cannot hear my word.

Revised Standard Version
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Why do ye not knowe my speache? euen because ye cannot heare my word.

Good News Translation
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message.

Christian Standard Bible®
Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to

King James Version
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Lexham English Bible
Why do you not understand my way of speaking? Because you are not able to listen to my message.

Literal Translation
Why do you not know My speech? It is because you are not able to hear My Word.

Young's Literal Translation
wherefore do ye not know my speech? because ye are not able to hear my word.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Why knowe ye not the my speach? Eue because ye can not abyde the hearinge of my worde.

Mace New Testament (1729)
why do not you understand my language? unless because ye cannot bear my doctrine?

New English Translation
Why don't you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot accept my teaching.

New King James Version
Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Why do y'all not understand this? Am I speaking a foreign language that you've never heard?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.

Legacy Standard Bible
Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.

Contextual Overview

³⁸ I am telling you what my Father has shown me, just as you are doing what your father has taught you. ³⁹ The people said to Jesus, "Abraham is our father!" Jesus replied, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰ Instead, you want to kill me for telling you the truth that God gave me. Abraham never did anything like that. ⁴¹ But you are doing exactly what your father does." "Don't accuse us of having someone else as our father!" they said. "We just have one father, and he is God." ⁴² Jesus answered: If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and only from him. He sent me. I did not come on my own. ⁴³ Why can't you understand what I am talking about? Can't you stand to hear what I am saying? ⁴⁴ Your father is the devil, and you do exactly what he wants. He has always been a murderer and a liar. There is nothing truthful about him. He speaks on his own, and everything he says is a lie. Not only is he a liar himself, but he is also the father of all lies. ⁴⁵ Everything I have told you is true, and you still refuse to have faith in me.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

do: John 8:27, John 5:43, John 7:17, John 12:39, John 12:40, Proverbs 28:5, Isaiah 44:18, Hosea 14:9, Micah 4:12, Romans 3:11

ye cannot: John 6:60, Isaiah 6:9, Jeremiah 6:10, Acts 7:51, Romans 8:7, Romans 8:8

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 29:4 - General Isaiah 56:11 - are shepherds Hosea 4:14 - therefore Matthew 13:15 - ears Matthew 13:19 - and understandeth Matthew 16:11 - General Luke 22:67 - If John 5:44 - can John 6:44 - man John 8:37 - because John 8:47 - General John 10:6 - they understood not John 10:27 - sheep 1 Corinthians 2:14 - receiveth

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Why do ye not understand my speech?.... Language, idiom, dialect, and form of speaking, in a figurative way; for they did not know what he meant by liberty, and bondage, and by having another father than Abraham, or by his own procession and coming forth from God:

[even] because ye cannot hear my word; as they had no spiritual discerning and understanding of the doctrine of Christ, which showed them to be carnal, and natural men, and not regenerate ones, and the children of God; so they had an aversion to it, and could not bear to hear it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Why do ye not ... - My meaning is clear, if you were disposed to understand me.

Even because ye cannot hear my word - The word “hear” in this place is to be understood in the sense of bear or tolerate, as in John 6:60. His doctrine was offensive to them. They hated it, and hence they perverted his meaning, and were resolved not to understand him. Their pride, vanity, and wickedness opposed it. The reason why sinners do not understand the Bible and its doctrines is because they cannot bear them. They hate them, and their hatred produces want of candor, a disposition to cavil and to pervert the truth, and an obstinate purpose that it shall not be applied to their case. Hence, they embrace every form of false doctrine, and choose error rather than truth, and darkness rather than light. A disposition to believe God is one of the best helps for understanding the Bible.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 43. Why do ye not understand my speech? — την λαλιαν την εμην, This my mode of speaking - when illustrating spiritual by natural things: λαλια refers to the manner of speaking; λογος, to the matter or subject on which he spoke. For λαλιαν, the Codex Bezae had originally αληθειαν: why do ye not acknowledge this TRUTH of mine? A few other MSS. agree in this reading.

Because ye cannot hear my word. — That is, ye cannot bear my doctrine: it comes too close to you; it searches your hearts, detects your hypocrisy, and exposes your iniquitous intentions and designs; and as ye are determined not to leave your sins, so ye are purposed not to hear my doctrine.