Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses.
Parallel translations
- WEB They insulted him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
- KJV Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.
- ESV And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
- NKJV Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples.
- NASB They spoke abusively to him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
- NLT Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses!
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
The leaders insult him, claiming they are disciples of Moses while he follows Jesus. They set Moses against Jesus.
Overview
Stung by his boldness, the Pharisees revile the man and align themselves with Moses against Jesus. Ironically, Moses wrote of Christ (John 5:46), so true loyalty to Moses would lead to faith in Jesus. The verse exposes how clinging to tradition apart from Christ misreads the very Scriptures it claims to honor.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Cor 4:12We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
- 1 Cor 6:10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
- Rom 2:17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;
- John 7:47–52“Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees.
- Matt 27:39And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
- Acts 6:11–14Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
- Isa 51:7Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults.
- 1 Pet 2:23When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
- John 7:19Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill Me?”
- John 9:34They replied, “You were born in utter sin, and you are instructing us?” And they threw him out.
- John 5:45–47Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, in whom you have put your hope.
- Matt 5:11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 9:28 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.