John 8:43

τ. λαλιὰν τ. ἐμ … τ. λόγον τ. ἐμ. See on John 8:31. Λαλιά is the outward expression, the language used: ἡ λαλιά σου δῆλόν σε ποιεῖ (Matthew 26:73), ἡ λαλιά σου ὁμοιάζει (Mark 14:70). Elsewhere λαλιά occurs only John 4:42 and here. Λόγος is the meaning of the expression, the thoughts conveyed in the language. They perpetually misunderstand His language because they cannot appreciate His meaning. They are ἐκ τῶν κάτω (John 8:23), and He is speaking of τὰ ἄνω (Colossians 3:1); they are ἐκ τ. κόσμου τούτου (John 8:23), and He is telling of τὰ ἐπουράνια (John 3:12); they are ψυχικοί, and He is teaching πνευματικά (1 Corinthians 2:13; see notes there). They ‘cannot hear:’ it is a moral impossibility (see on John 6:44): they have their whole character to change before they can understand spiritual truths. Ἀκούειν, as in John 8:47, means ‘listen to, obey:’ comp. Psalms 81:11.