John Calvin Commentary John 8:43

"Why do ye not understand my speech? [Even] because ye cannot hear my word." — John 8:43 (ASV)

Why do you not understand my language? In this passage, He reproaches the Jews for their obstinacy, which was so great that they could not even endure to hear Him speak. Therefore, He infers that they are driven and hurried away by diabolical rage. Some make a distinction here between language and speech, as if speech had a more extensive meaning; but I do not see it. Besides, it would not be appropriate for the word with lesser meaning to be placed first.

Many punctuate this verse so that the question ends with the word language, as if the question consisted only of these words: Why do you not understand my language? The reason, then, is immediately given: Because you cannot hear my word. But I think it should rather be read as a continuous statement, as if He had said, “What is the reason why my speech appears to you foreign and unintelligible, so that I gain nothing by speaking to you, and so that you do not even condescend to open your ears to receive what I say?”

In the former clause, therefore, He reproves their stupidity; in the latter, He reproves their obstinate and ungovernable hatred of His doctrine. He later assigns a reason for both when He says that they originate from the devil. For by putting the question, He intended to dismantle their continual boast that they were opposing Him based on reason and judgment.