There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.
Parallel translations
- WEB It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.
- KJV There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
- BSB There is another who testifies about Me, and I know that His testimony about Me is valid.
- NKJV There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.
- NASB There is another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.
- NLT But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Another bears witness to Jesus, and that testimony is true. Jesus points beyond himself to the Father's witness.
Overview
Jesus refers to another witness, ultimately the Father, whose testimony about him is true. This begins his marshaling of witnesses to validate his claims. It assures readers that Jesus' identity rests on the sure testimony of God himself.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Jn 5:6–9This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
- John 1:33I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’
- John 8:17–18It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.
- John 12:50I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”
- Matt 17:5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
- John 5:36–37But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.
- John 12:28–30Father, glorify your name!” Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
- Matt 3:17Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
- Luke 3:22and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.”
- Mark 1:11A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 5:32 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.