John 8:47 (DBY)

Passage

He that is of God hears the words of God: therefore ye hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.

Nearby Context

John 8:45 and because I speak the truth, ye do not believe me.

John 8:46 Which of you convinces me of sin? If I speak truth, why do ye not believe me?

John 8:47 He that is of God hears the words of God: therefore ye hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.

John 8:48 The Jews answered and said to him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a demon?

John 8:49 Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honour my Father, and ye dishonour me.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hears", "words", and "therefore". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hears" and "words", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 46's "Which of you convinces me of sin..." into verse 48's "The Jews answered and said to him...", so "hears" and "words" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "hears" and "words" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.