John 5:32 kjv
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
John 5:32 nkjv
There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.
John 5:32 niv
There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
John 5:32 esv
There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.
John 5:32 nlt
But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true.
John 5 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 19:15 | "A single witness shall not suffice... On the testimony of two or three witnesses a matter shall be established." | Basis for two/three witnesses |
| Matt 3:16-17 | "...a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."" | Father's direct testimony at Baptism |
| Matt 17:5 | "Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them... and a voice from the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son..."" | Father's direct testimony at Transfiguration |
| Mk 1:11 | "And a voice came from heaven: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."" | Father's direct testimony |
| Lk 3:22 | "...a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased."" | Father's direct testimony |
| Jn 5:31 | "If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true." | Immediate preceding context; sets up v.32 |
| Jn 5:36 | "But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me... | Father's works as testimony |
| Jn 5:37 | "And the Father who sent Me, He has testified about Me. You have neither heard His voice..." | Explicitly identifies the Father |
| Jn 8:14 | "Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going..." | Jesus' own inherent truthfulness vs. legal need |
| Jn 8:17-18 | "Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me." | Jesus affirms the two-witness principle |
| Jn 10:25 | "...The works that I do in My Father's name, these testify about Me." | Works as the Father's testimony |
| Jn 12:28 | "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came out of heaven, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." | Father's voice testifying |
| Jn 15:26 | "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, He will testify about Me..." | Holy Spirit's testimony about Jesus |
| Acts 2:22 | "...Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs..." | God attesting Jesus through works |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "God, after He spoke long ago... in these last days has spoken to us in His Son..." | God speaks through the Son |
| 1 Pet 1:17 | "And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work..." | God as righteous judge |
| 1 Jn 5:6-11 | "For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement..." | Multiple divine witnesses |
| Gen 1:1 | "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." | God's authoritative Word/Work as testimony |
| Isa 43:10 | ""You are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "And My servant whom I have chosen..."" | God raising up witnesses |
| Heb 2:4 | "God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit..." | God attests salvation through works/Spirit |
| Rom 1:3-4 | "...concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power..." | God declaring Jesus' divine sonship |
John 5 verses
John 5 32 Meaning
John 5:32 states Jesus' affirmation that an "other" witness, identified later as God the Father, testifies about Him, and that Jesus possesses certain knowledge that this divine testimony is absolutely true. This declaration is a critical component of Jesus' defense against the Jewish leaders, establishing a divine corroboration of His identity and authority.
John 5 32 Context
John 5:32 is part of Jesus' profound discourse following His healing of an invalid on the Sabbath at the Pool of Bethesda, which led to intense persecution from Jewish leaders. The core of their opposition stemmed from Jesus' violation of Sabbath norms and, more critically, His claim of equality with God the Father ("My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working," v.17). This claim ignited accusations of blasphemy.
In verses 31-47, Jesus defends His divine authority by presenting various forms of testimony for Himself, all rooted in God. He first states in v.31 that His own singular testimony about Himself wouldn't be accepted as valid by Jewish legal standards, which required multiple witnesses (Deut 19:15). This sets the stage for v.32, where He introduces a crucial "other" witness. This "other" is unequivocally the Father (explicitly stated in v.37), and Jesus' subsequent arguments—His works (v.36), the Father's own voice (v.37), and the Scriptures (v.39-47)—are all expressions of this overarching divine testimony. The verse highlights the intimate and truthful relationship between the Father and the Son, foundational to Jesus' identity as Messiah.
John 5 32 Word analysis
- There is another (ἄλλος - allos): Distinct from Jesus Himself. Emphasizes a separate identity for this witness, specifically God the Father. This isn't just an additional witness but the primary, ultimate witness beyond any human one.
- who testifies (ὁ μαρτυρῶν - ho martyrōn): Present active participle, signifying an ongoing, continuous act of bearing witness. The verb martyreō implies a solemn, public declaration, often with a legal connotation. It means "to give testimony" or "to bear witness."
- about Me (περὶ ἐμοῦ - peri emou): Directly concerning Jesus. The focus of this divine testimony is exclusively on Jesus' person, identity, and mission.
- and I know (κἀγὼ οἶδα - kagō oida):
κἀγὼ(kagō) is emphatic "and I."οἶδα(oida) signifies a complete, certain, intuitive knowledge, rather than mere intellectual apprehension. Jesus has intrinsic, perfect knowledge of the Father's truthfulness due to His divine unity with the Father. - that the testimony (ὅτι ἡ μαρτυρία - hoti hē martyria): Martyria is the substance or content of the testimony itself, the witness that is given.
- which He gives about Me (ἣν μαρτυρεῖ περὶ ἐμοῦ - hēn martyrei peri emou): Further specifies that this "other" continually bears witness about Jesus. Reinforces the dynamic, ongoing nature of the Father's affirmation.
- is true (ἀληθής ἐστιν - alēthēs estin): Alēthēs means "true," "real," "authentic," or "genuine," in contrast to what is false or counterfeit. This divine testimony is not just accurate but inherently infallible and trustworthy, stemming from God's own nature as truth.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "There is another who testifies about Me": Jesus here identifies a distinct entity providing witness to His person. This statement sets a crucial foundation, shifting the grounds of proof from human observation or self-declaration to a divine source, thereby satisfying the legal demands of the Jewish context (Deut 19:15) while elevating the nature of the witness. This witness is not lesser than Jesus but perfectly aligned with Him.
- "and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true": This phrase highlights Jesus' unique, personal, and certain knowledge of the Father's truthfulness. It emphasizes the profound intimacy and unity between the Father and the Son, where Jesus, as the divine Son, possesses an intrinsic, non-empirical understanding that His Father's witness is perfectly genuine and reliable. This absolute knowledge underscores the authority and credibility of Jesus' entire discourse.
John 5 32 Bonus section
- While John 5:31 suggests Jesus' self-testimony alone would not be legally "true" or valid by human standards, it doesn't negate the existential truth of His being. Rather, it acknowledges the necessity of external corroboration within the legal framework Jesus was addressing, especially for the audience He sought to convince.
- The Father's testimony is multifaceted, manifesting not just through direct voice (as at baptism or transfiguration) but profoundly through Jesus' miraculous works, which demonstrably showcase divine power and approval (Jn 5:36), and through the prophetic Scriptures themselves (Jn 5:39), which bear witness to Jesus' coming and character.
- This verse subtly underscores the deity of Jesus. His capacity to "know" with such certainty about the Father's testimony speaks of an equality and direct communion that is unique to the divine Son. It differentiates Him from all prophets or messengers who merely hear from God; Jesus knows God and His truth with inherent certainty.
John 5 32 Commentary
John 5:32 serves as a pivotal assertion in Jesus' defense against those who challenged His divine authority. Recognizing the Jewish legal principle requiring at least two witnesses for a testimony to be considered valid, Jesus moves beyond John the Baptist’s testimony (which He valued but presented as secondary) to pinpoint the ultimate, incontrovertible witness: God the Father. The emphatic "I know" reveals Jesus' perfect, innate understanding of the Father's absolute veracity. This isn't a speculative belief but an inherent divine awareness, flowing from His co-eternal relationship with the Father. Thus, Jesus' claims of deity and power are not baseless assertions, but are divinely substantiated by the very source of truth, establishing an unbreakable foundation for His identity and mission.