In this verse Jesus replies to the accusation that he is demon-possessed. He says that this charge cannot be true, because he honors the Father. Then Jesus brings a charge against his opponents (but you dishonor me), which implies that by dishonoring him, they have dishonored the Father. Jerusalem Bible may suggest that they are not yet dishonoring Jesus (“but you want to dishonor me”). Some commentators believe that the verb dishonor more nearly means “you fail to respect me” (New American Bible) or “you fail to honor me” (Anchor Bible). It is true that his antagonists fail to give proper honor to Jesus as God’s own Son, but in the present context they also dishonor him by accusing him of being demon-possessed. It is not merely something they would like to do, as Jerusalem Bible suggests, but something they are actually in the act of doing.

In some languages honor is often expressed in terms of “praise,” for example, “I cause my father to be praised.” The final clause in this verse would then be translated “but you speak against me” or “say disgraceful things about me.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .