That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Parallel translations
- WEB I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”
- KJV I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
- ESV I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
- NKJV Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
- NASB Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.”
- NLT That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus warns that those who refuse to believe he is the divine "I am" will die in their sins. Saving faith in his identity is a matter of eternal life or death.
Overview
Continuing his temple discourse, Jesus presses the consequence of unbelief: persisting in rejection of him leaves people unforgiven and under judgment. The phrase "I am he" (Greek ego eimi) deliberately echoes God's self-revelation in Exodus 3:14 and Isaiah, hinting at his deity. The gospel turns on receiving Jesus for who he truly is; faith in him is the only deliverance from sin's penalty.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- John 3:36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
- Mark 16:16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
- John 3:18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
- Heb 10:26–29If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
- Heb 12:25See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?
- Prov 8:36But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
- John 13:19I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.
- John 4:26Jesus answered, “I who speak to you am He.”
- Heb 2:3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
- Acts 4:12Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
- John 8:21Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
- Mark 13:6Many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.
- Luke 21:8Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 8:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.