John 5 31

John 5:31 kjv

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

John 5:31 nkjv

"If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.

John 5:31 niv

"If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.

John 5:31 esv

If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.

John 5:31 nlt

"If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid.

John 5 verses

John 5 31 Meaning

John 5:31 presents Jesus conceding a point to His Jewish accusers based on their legalistic understanding of testimony. He acknowledges that if His witness about Himself were the only witness presented, it would not be considered "true" or legally valid according to accepted human judicial standards which require corroborating testimony. This statement is a rhetorical strategy, not a denial of His inherent truthfulness or His divine authority to testify about Himself, but rather an acknowledgment of the prevailing human expectation for multiple witnesses to establish truth in a legal dispute. It sets the stage for Jesus to introduce superior and undeniable witnesses that validate His claims.

John 5 31 Context

John chapter 5 details a pivotal confrontation between Jesus and the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem. The chapter opens with Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath (vv. 1-9), which immediately provokes the religious leaders (vv. 10-16). Their anger escalates when Jesus defends His actions by stating, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working" (v. 17). This statement is understood by the Jewish leaders as making Himself equal with God, prompting them to seek His death (v. 18).

Verses 19-30 contain Jesus' profound discourse on His intimate relationship with the Father, His authority, and His role in giving life and exercising judgment. It is in this context of grave accusations and claims of divine authority that Jesus is challenged to prove His assertions. Verse 31 ("If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true") is part of His comprehensive defense against the charge of blasphemy, engaging His accusers within the framework of their established Jewish legal tradition concerning testimony. This historical and cultural backdrop is crucial: Jewish law, based on the Torah (Deut 17:6, 19:15), stipulated that the testimony of at least two or three witnesses was required for a verdict to be valid, especially in serious matters. Jesus acknowledges this commonly accepted standard before proceeding to demonstrate how His claims are validated by multiple, indisputable witnesses.

John 5 31 Word analysis

• If (Ἐὰν - Ean): A conditional particle. It sets up a hypothetical or contingent statement, indicating "on the condition that" or "supposing that." It introduces an premise that is granted for the sake of argument, rather than an absolute statement of fact.
• I (ἐγὼ - egō): Refers to Jesus, the speaker. Emphasizes His personal claim and testimony.
• bear witness (μαρτυρῶ - martyrō): From the verb μαρτυρέω (martyreō). Means to bear witness, give evidence, testify, confirm. This term carries strong legal connotations, signifying the act of presenting evidence in a judicial setting.
• of myself (περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ - peri emautou): Literally "concerning myself" or "about myself." Indicates that Jesus is the subject of His own testimony.
• my witness (ἡ μαρτυρία μου - hē martyria mou): "My testimony" or "my evidence." μαρτυρία (martyria) is the noun form of "to bear witness," referring to the testimony itself.
• is not true (οὐκ ἔστιν ἀληθής - ouk estin alēthēs): This is a crucial phrase.
  • οὐκ (ouk): The absolute negative particle "not."
  • ἔστιν (estin): "is."
  • ἀληθής (alēthēs): Means true, real, genuine, valid, honest. In this legal context, "true" should be understood as "legally valid," "sufficiently proven," or "acceptable testimony," rather than implying falsity. Jesus is not stating that the content of His self-testimony is false, but that without corroboration, it wouldn't meet their legal criteria for acceptance.

Words-group analysis:

• If I bear witness of myself: This phrase initiates a rhetorical concession. Jesus is temporarily adopting His accusers' legal perspective, acknowledging their human standard for valid testimony. It indicates a readiness to meet them on common ground before transcending it.
• my witness is not true: This phrase refers to the legal insufficiency of sole self-attestation according to Mosaic Law and accepted Jewish judicial practice. It's a statement about validity in that specific context of human jurisprudence, not about the absolute, inherent truth of Jesus' person or claims. Jesus is perfectly capable of bearing true witness of Himself (Jn 8:14), but He knew that this alone would not convince His human audience adhering to specific legal traditions.

John 5 31 Bonus section

The apparent contradiction between John 5:31 and John 8:14 ("Even if I do bear witness of myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going") is not a contradiction but a vital distinction in context and audience. In John 5, Jesus is debating hostile Jewish leaders within a specific legal context where corroboration is demanded. In John 8, Jesus is addressing a different set of opponents, asserting His unique divine authority and origin (knowing "where I came from and where I am going"). From a divine perspective, His self-testimony is inherently true and sufficient because He is the Truth and speaks from perfect knowledge of the Father. However, in John 5, for the sake of His skeptical listeners, He allows their legal standard to frame the argument, thereby making His eventual, multifacted demonstration of witnesses even more robust. This showcases Jesus' multifaceted wisdom in appealing to various audiences according to their readiness and understanding.

John 5 31 Commentary

John 5:31 serves as a bridge in Jesus' defense against His critics. It is a brilliant example of how Jesus engaged His adversaries, often starting from their framework to then elevate the discussion to a higher, divine truth. By stating, "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true," Jesus is not admitting that His claims about Himself are false. Such an interpretation would contradict the very core of His mission and His divine nature (John 14:6, Rev 3:14). Instead, He acknowledges the universally accepted legal principle among humans, including the Jewish leaders present, that a solitary testimony lacks credible substantiation and legal weight. A person's own assertion about themselves, without any corroborating evidence, is typically not considered conclusive in a court of law.

This verse sets the stage for the powerful succession of witnesses Jesus then calls upon in the subsequent verses (John 5:32-47). He moves from human witness (John the Baptist), to tangible proof (His works), to divine testimony (the Father Himself speaking), and finally, to the prophetic confirmation within their own sacred Scriptures. Thus, John 5:31 highlights Jesus' strategic brilliance and patience; He condescends to argue on their terms, making His subsequent divine revelations all the more compelling and leaving them without excuse.