8:53a
Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died: In Greek this is a question about Abraham that also includes a statement about him. In many languages it may be natural to break this up into two independent clauses or sentences like the Berean Standard Bible. In other languages, it may be natural to make this one sentence. For example:
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Our father Abraham died; you do not claim to be greater than Abraham, do you? (Good News Translation)
Are You greater than our father Abraham?: This is a rhetorical question that implies that the answer is “No.” The Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus used it as a rebuke. They rebuked Jesus because he said that people who followed him would not die. They understood that this statement implied that he was greater than Abraham. Therefore, their question implied that Jesus was not greater than Abraham.
There are two ways to translate this rebuke:
• Use a rhetorical question. For example:
You aren’t greater than our father Abraham…are you? (NET Bible Bible)
• Use a statement. For example:
You are definitely not as great as our father Abraham.
Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.
greater: This word here means more important, more significant spiritually, and more righteous.
our father Abraham: Abraham had lived about two thousand years before. He was the first ancestor of the Jewish people. They all honored him highly. His death is recorded in Genesis 25:7–11.
8:53b
as did the prophets: This refers to the prophets whose lives are recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament. Although they were good men, honorable and righteous, they all died.
8:53c
Who do You claim to be?: This is a rhetorical question. The Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus used it as a rebuke. They rebuked Jesus because they thought that he thought that he was more important or special than he actually was. (Jesus did not actually think like that.) They were angry at his claim (saying something that he did not prove) that people who trusted him will not die. They understood that he implied that he was not an ordinary man. There are two ways to translate this rebuke:
• Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Who do you think you are? (New International Version)
• Use a statement. For example:
You must think that you are very important!
-or-
You clearly think you are someone special!
Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.
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