John 8:24 Meaning and Explanation
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus repeats the warning with its hinge exposed: unless they believe that I am, they will die in their sins.
What Does John 8:24 Mean?
Jesus repeats the gravest sentence of the discourse and gives its reason: everything turns on believing that I am he. In the Greek the phrase is simply I am — the self-naming of the God of Israel (Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 43:10), the voice that also promises, I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions (Isaiah 43:25).
The logic is tender as well as terrible: sins can be carried away only by the one able to carry them, and to refuse him is to keep them. Jesus does not say men die in their sins for lack of learning or effort, but for unbelief in who he is. Faith in the I AM who forgives is the one door out of dying in sin — and it stands open as he speaks.
John 8:24 in the Original Language
ego eimi (ἐγώ εἰμι), 'I am he' -- literally just 'I am'; the word 'he' is supplied by the translators.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 8:24
What does John 8:24 mean?
Jesus repeats the warning with its hinge exposed: unless they believe that I am, they will die in their sins.