Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
Parallel translations
- WEB It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.
- KJV It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
- NKJV It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.
- NASB Even in your Law it has been written that the testimony of two people is true.
- NLT Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact.
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
Jesus appeals to their own law, which says the testimony of two witnesses is valid. He uses their legal standard to support His claim.
Overview
Citing the Mosaic requirement of two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15), Jesus turns the Pharisees' own legal principle to His advantage. He prepares to name His two witnesses: Himself and the Father. This shows Jesus meeting their objection on their own terms while pointing to the divine testimony behind Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Deut 19:15A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- Deut 17:6On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness.
- Heb 10:28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- Matt 18:16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
- Gal 3:24So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
- 2 Cor 13:1This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
- Gal 4:21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?
- Rev 11:3And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
- 1 Kgs 21:10But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
- 1 Jn 5:9Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.
- John 15:25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’
- John 10:34Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?
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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.
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Original language
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