Paragraph 8:34–38

Jesus spoke about freedom and slavery (being slaves). He said that as the Son he could give people true freedom.

8:34a

Truly, truly, I tell you: Jesus often used this phrase to emphasize what he said next. See, for example, 3:3, 3:5, and 6:53. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

I tell you the truth (NIV93)
-or-
I assure you (New Living Translation (2004))

8:34b

everyone who sins is a slave to sin: There is a textual problem here:

(1) Many Greek manuscripts include the words to sin or “of sin.”

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, NET Bible Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation, New Century Version)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts do not include the words to sin. For example:

everyone who commits sin is a slave (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) because most English translations follow it. The UBS Handbook Handbook Committee gave this reading a C rating, which indicates much doubt about the correct text. However, even if the words were not included, they were implied. You may want to follow the reading of your national or major-language Bible translation

In some languages it may be natural to use plural forms here:

all who commit sin are slaves

who sins: This phrase refers to a person who continues to sin regularly and as a habit.

a slave to sin: This phrase is a metaphor. It indicates that this person is forced to obey something (here, forced to obey sin). He or she cannot stop sinning. It is good to keep this figure of speech, but in some languages it may be necessary to do one of the following:

• Translate it as a simile. For example:

Everyone who continues to sin is like a slave of sin

• Explain something of the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:

all people who continue to sin are slaves, ⌊controlled by their desire to⌋ sin

a slave: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as slave can refer to either a slave or a servant. A slave is forced to work and may receive little or no pay, while a servant usually works freely and receives pay. Here, use a word that means slave, a person who is not free to choose whether to obey the master.

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