John 5:34 kjv
But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
John 5:34 nkjv
Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.
John 5:34 niv
Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.
John 5:34 esv
Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
John 5:34 nlt
Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved.
John 5 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 3:11 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen..." | Jesus asserts knowledge of heavenly things |
| John 3:32 | "...and bears witness to the truth." | Reiterates witness to truth |
| John 5:19 | "The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing..." | Divine connection in works |
| John 5:30 | "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me." | Submission to the Father's will |
| John 5:36 | "But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John, for the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me." | Direct comparison and substantiation |
| John 8:14 | "Jesus answered them, 'If I bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.'" | Addresses self-testimony |
| John 8:18 | "I bear witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” | Affirms Father's witness |
| John 8:42 | "Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here.'" | Divine origin |
| John 14:10 | "Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works." | Unity with the Father |
| John 14:11 | "Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves." | Works as proof of divinity |
| John 18:37 | "Then Pilate said to him, 'So you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. To this end I was born and to this end I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to my voice.'” | Jesus as a witness to truth |
| Acts 1:8 | "...but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses..." | Christian mandate of witness |
| Acts 10:38 | "...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." | God's presence in Jesus' works |
| 1 John 5:7 | "And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is truth." | The Spirit as a witness |
| 1 John 5:9 | "If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, and this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son." | Divine testimony of the Son |
| Luke 24:44 | "Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures..." | Jesus' life and ministry fulfill OT |
| Matthew 3:17 | "And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'” | Heavenly affirmation of Jesus |
| Hebrews 2:4 | "...while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." | God confirms through various means |
| Psalm 139:1 | "O LORD, you have searched me and known me!" | God's exhaustive knowledge |
| Genesis 1:1 | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." | God as Creator |
John 5 verses
John 5 34 Meaning
Jesus states that while He does not seek human testimony, He possesses a testimony greater than that of any human, which is the testimony of God Himself. This testimony is ultimately found in the works that God has given Him to accomplish.
John 5 34 Context
In John chapter 5, Jesus had just healed a man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. The Jewish religious leaders challenged Jesus, not only because He healed on the Sabbath but also because He claimed God as His Father, making Himself equal with God. Jesus defends His actions and His authority by pointing to the testimony of God Himself, which is evident in the miraculous works He performs. He had previously addressed John the Baptist's testimony, indicating its validity but stating it was a lesser testimony compared to God's. This verse continues that defense, emphasizing the supreme authority of His divine commission and the evidence of His divine origin found in His actions.
John 5 34 Word Analysis
'I do not receive testimony from man':
- oude gar echō (οὐδὲ γὰρ ἔχω) - "not indeed have." Emphasizes possession or reception. Jesus is stating that His standard for validation is not human approval.
- apo anthrōpou (ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπου) - "from a man" (singular). Specifically rejects human endorsement, contrasting with the superior divine testimony.
'but I say these things so that you may be saved.':
- all tauta legō (ἀλλὰ ταῦτα λέγω) - "but these things I say." This contrasts His self-justification with the ultimate purpose of His communication: salvation.
- hina seisōthē (ἵνα σωθῇς) - "in order that you may be saved" (passive subjunctive). The goal is their salvation, demonstrating His compassion.
Words Group Analysis:
- 'testimony from man' vs 'testimony of God': This highlights the contrast between human opinion/approval and divine validation. Human testimony can be flawed, biased, or insufficient. God's testimony is perfect, absolute, and definitive.
- 'works that the Father has given me': This phrase underscores Jesus' submission to the Father's will and the integral connection between His actions and His divine identity. His works are not self-initiated but are divinely ordained.
John 5 34 Bonus Section
The concept of "witness" (marturia) and "testimony" (martyres) is central to the Gospel of John. Jesus consistently appeals to the Father's witness, His own works, the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit as evidence for His divine Sonship. The opposition faces Jesus not because of a lack of evidence, but because of their unwillingness to acknowledge the divine source of that evidence, particularly when it challenged their own authority and interpretations of God's law. This verse powerfully articulates Jesus' self-understanding as divinely authorized and the works He performed as the undeniable evidence of that authority, all for the ultimate purpose of human salvation.
John 5 34 Commentary
Jesus clarifies that while He had acknowledged John the Baptist's testimony in the preceding verses, He does not need human testimony to validate His identity or mission. His primary concern is the salvation of those who hear Him. The ultimate proof of His claims lies not in the words of men, but in the works that demonstrably flow from divine power and authority. These works are His own validation because they are the Father's works, confirming His unique relationship with and mission from the Father. Therefore, He offers His authoritative words and deeds, which point directly to the Father's commission, as the true basis for belief, aiming for their ultimate redemption.