8:49a

I do not have a demon: Jesus denied what his accusers said in 8:48. They said that a demon caused him to speak as he did. Jesus said that what they accused was false. Translate this clause as one that clearly denied the insult in 8:48. For example:

I have no demon (Good News Translation)
-or-
I am not possessed by a demon (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
No…I have no demon in me (New Living Translation (2004))

Jesus replied: The Berean Standard Bible places the words Jesus replied after the quotation of his words. Place this quote introducer where it is natural in your language. For example:

Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon” (New Revised Standard Version)

8:49b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (8:49a) to a positive statement (8:49b). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible.

• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

I do not have a demon, rather/instead I honor my father.

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

I don’t have a demon in me. I honor my Father (Contemporary English Version)

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

I honor My Father: The word honor here indicates that Jesus respected and obeyed God, who was his Father.

8:49c

and: This conjunction connects and contrasts what Jesus did and what his opponents did. In some languages it may be natural to translate it in a way that makes the contrast more explicit. For example:

I honor my Father, but you dishonor me. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I honor my Father—and yet you dishonor me (NET Bible Bible)

Nearly all English translations that use “but” in 8:49b use and here and leave the contrast here implied. You should translate this conjunction in the way that is most natural in your language.

you dishonor Me: The word dishonor here means to say evil things about someone so that others will not respect that person. Jesus’ opponents tried to make others hate him by saying that he was possessed or controlled by a demon. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

you refuse to honor me (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you are trying to dishonour me (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
you are saying evil/shameful things about me

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