1 John 5 9

1 John 5:9 kjv

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

1 John 5:9 nkjv

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.

1 John 5:9 niv

We accept human testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.

1 John 5:9 esv

If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.

1 John 5:9 nlt

Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son.

1 John 5 verses

1 John 5 9 Meaning

If we readily accept the declarations made by humans, often relied upon in legal matters and daily life, then it stands to reason that we should accept, and indeed prioritize, the testimony that comes directly from God. This divine witness possesses infinitely greater truthfulness, reliability, and authority. The specific, pivotal witness of God referenced here is His eternal and absolute declaration concerning the person, nature, and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, affirming Him as His divine Son. This foundational truth is the bedrock of Christian faith and provides assurance of salvation.

1 John 5 9 Context

This verse is situated in 1 John's concluding chapter, where the Apostle reinforces key truths about faith, victory, and assurance in Christ. It immediately follows the affirmation of the unified witness of the Spirit, the water, and the blood (1 Jn 5:6-8), which together confirm Jesus' true identity as the Christ who came "by water and by blood"—a strong polemic against emerging Gnostic teachings (like Docetism) that denied Jesus' full humanity or separated the "Christ spirit" from the man Jesus. John emphasizes that this multiple, consistent testimony validates who Jesus truly is. The broader context of 1 John frequently addresses assurance of salvation, overcoming sin, discernment between true believers and false teachers, and the practical outworking of faith through love, highlighting that the correct understanding of Jesus' person is paramount to true fellowship with God and victorious Christian living.

1 John 5 9 Word Analysis

• If we receive (Εἰ λαμβάνομεν - Ei lambanomen): The conjunction "If" does not imply doubt but introduces a conditional clause assumed to be true; it's an "if-as-is-the-case." Lambanomen (receive/accept) implies an act of acknowledging, admitting, or appropriating something as true or valid. This verb highlights human receptivity to testimony.
• the witness (τὴν μαρτυρίαν - tēn martyrian): From martyria, meaning "testimony," "witness," "attestation," "proof." This is a recurring, crucial term in John's writings, carrying a strong legal or judicial sense. It refers to a solemn declaration of truth.
• of men (τῶν ἀνθρώπων - tōn anthrōpōn): Refers to human beings in general. Human testimony forms the basis of legal systems and daily trust, though it is fallible and imperfect (e.g., Dt 17:6).
• the witness (ἡ μαρτυρία - hē martyria): Repetition emphasizes the direct comparison.
• of God (τοῦ Θεοῦ - tou Theou): Signifies the source. God Himself is the ultimate witness.
• is greater (μείζων ἐστίν - meizōn estin): Meizōn is the comparative adjective, meaning "greater," "larger," "superior." It indicates qualitative superiority in reliability, authority, and truthfulness. God's testimony surpasses that of men not just in degree but in nature.
• for this is (ὅτι αὕτη ἐστίν - hoti hautē estin): "For" (ὅτι) introduces the explanation or reason for the previous statement. "This" (αὕτη) clearly points to the specific witness that God has provided.
• the witness of God (ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ Θεοῦ - hē martyria tou Theou): Reinforces the unparalleled divine origin.
• which He has testified (ἣν μεμαρτύρηκεν - hēn memartyrekhen): Memartyrekhen is in the perfect active indicative tense. This tense is highly significant: it means God's act of testifying concerning His Son was completed in the past, but its effects and validity continue into the present with abiding power and certainty. It is a settled, unchanging, and eternally effective declaration.
• concerning His Son (περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ - peri tou huiou autou): This phrase pinpoints the precise content and subject of God's most vital testimony: Jesus Christ, affirmed as His divine Son. This specifically counters the heretical teachings that denied Jesus' true divine-human identity.

Words-group analysis:

• "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater": This establishes a logical argument from the lesser to the greater. Human courts accept the imperfect witness of men as grounds for judgment and action. How much more should believers accept the infallible, perfect witness of God. It underlines God's unquestionable authority.
• "for this is the witness of God which He has testified concerning His Son": This clause defines the specific and paramount content of God's supreme testimony. It's not a general witness about creation or morality, but God's personal, decisive, and eternal declaration regarding the identity and salvific work of Jesus, His uniquely begotten Son. This directly links faith in God's witness to belief in Jesus' divine Sonship, a core doctrine of Christianity and a direct confrontation to errors of the time.

1 John 5 9 Bonus section

• The term martyria (witness/testimony) and its related verb martyreō (to bear witness) are extremely significant throughout the Gospel of John and 1 John, underscoring the legal framework of truth and validation that permeates the Apostle's theology. John frequently presents evidence for Jesus' claims, compelling his readers to believe based on the cumulative witness of God, John the Baptist, Jesus' works, the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit.
• The comparison between "witness of men" and "witness of God" sets a definitive standard for discerning truth. It implies that genuine faith is rooted not in human philosophical constructs or subjective feelings, but in God's objective, historical, and revealed truth concerning His Son.
• This verse underpins the concept of Christian assurance. Because God's testimony is infallible and about His Son (who grants eternal life), those who believe this testimony can have absolute certainty about their salvation and fellowship with God.

1 John 5 9 Commentary

1 John 5:9 functions as a pivotal declaration of assurance based on the undeniable authority of God's witness. The Apostle John, confronting the specific Gnostic-like heresies that diminished the true identity of Jesus Christ, posits a compelling argument: if humanity relies on human testimony—fallible yet foundational to our justice systems—then the unimpeachable, divine testimony of God concerning His own Son must be infinitely more trustworthy and deserving of acceptance. God's "witness" (martyria) is a deliberate, public declaration, given through various means (the water of baptism, the blood of crucifixion, the indwelling Spirit, miracles, prophecy, resurrection, and ultimately, His own voice from heaven). The use of the perfect tense for "testified" emphasizes that this testimony is not a fleeting event but a completed, historical, and eternally valid pronouncement that stands forever. The core message of this divine testimony is the precise identity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, affirming both His humanity (by water and blood) and His deity. Accepting this witness is not merely an intellectual assent but the essence of saving faith, which in turn grants believers victory over the world and assurance of eternal life, as explored throughout 1 John. To reject this divine testimony is to accuse God Himself of lying, a grave error that leads away from the truth (1 Jn 5:10).