John 5:36

John 5:36 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
• New International Version (NIV)“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

Context of John 5:36

34I do not need any man to speak on my behalf. But I am telling you this to help you. Then God will be able to save you. 35John was like a light that shone brightly. For a certain time, you enjoyed the light that he gave. But it is not only John who shows who I am. There are other things that show it more strongly. My Father has given work to me so that I could finish it. These are the things that I do, and they show who I am. They show clearly that the Father has sent me. 37Also, the Father himself has spoken about me. You have never heard his voice. And you have never seen his shape. 38I am the one that he has sent. You do not receive his message because you do not believe in me.

John 5:36 word by word

ἐγὼ δὲ ἔχω τὴν μαρτυρίαν μείζω τοῦ Ἰωάννου· τὰ γὰρ ἔργα ἃ δέδωκέν μοι ὁ πατὴρ ἵνα τελειώσω αὐτά, αὐτὰ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ποιῶ, μαρτυρεῖ περὶ ἐμοῦ ὅτι ὁ πατήρ με ἀπέσταλκεν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• greaterμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• witnessμαρτυρίαmarturia · testimonyG3141
• thanἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• of JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• the worksἔργονergon · workG2041
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• the Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• hath givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• finishτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
• the sameαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• bear witnessμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• hath sentἀποστέλλωapostellō · to sendG649

Cross-references for John 5:36

• John 5:32But there is someone else who speaks about me. I know that what he says about me is true.
• 1 John 5:9We believe people who tell us about things that they know. So we can believe even more what God says. He has told us what is true about his Son. So we should believe his message.
• John 3:2He came to speak with Jesus at night. He said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we know that God has sent you to us. We have seen the miracles that you are doing. Nobody could do these things unless God was with him.’
• John 9:30The man answered, ‘That is a very strange thing! You do not know where this man comes from. But he is the one who made my eyes able to see.
• John 10:25Jesus answered, ‘I have already told you, but you do not believe. The things that I do by my Father's authority show you who I am.
• John 11:37But some of them said, ‘He opened the eyes of the blind man. So surely he would have been able to stop the death of Lazarus.’
• John 14:10I am in the Father and the Father is in me. You should believe that. The words that I say to you do not come from me myself. But the Father lives in me, and he is doing his work.
• John 15:24When I was with them, I did many great things. Nobody else ever did things like that. If I had not done those great things among them, they would not have known what is wrong. But they have seen what I did. As a result, they have hated me, and they have hated my Father too.
• John 17:4I have shown people here on the earth how great you are. In that way, I have finished the work that you gave to me to do.
• Acts 2:22Peter then said, ‘People of Israel, listen to what I am saying! Jesus, the man from Nazareth, came with God's authority to do his work. God did many powerful and special things through him. These miracles showed you clearly that God had sent him. You know about all this. These things happened here, and you saw them.
• Matthew 11:4Jesus replied, ‘Go back to John. Tell him what you have been hearing. Also, tell him what you have been seeing.

Commentaries on John 5:36

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 36But I have greater witness - However decisive the judgment of such a man as John may be, who was the lamp of Israel, a miracle of grace, filled with the spirit of Elijah, and more than any prophet, because he pointed out, not the Messiah who was to come, but the Messiah who was already come: nevertheless, I am not obliged to depend on his testimony alone; for I have a greater one, that of Him whom you acknowledge to be your God. And how do I prove that…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 36Greater witness - Stronger, more decisive evidence. The works - The miracles - healing the sick and raising the dead. Hath given me - Hath committed to me, or appointed me to do. Certain things he intrusted in his hands to accomplish. To finish - To do or to perform until the task is completed. The word is applied to the “termination” of anything, as we say a task is “ended” or a work is completed. So Jesus said, when he expired, It is “finished” John…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 30-38Verses 30-38 Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 36The third witness of Jesus was his teachings and miracles. These were signs that revealed his true identity and indicated that the Father sent him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 36-3836-38. I have greater witness--rather, "The witness which I have is greater." the works ... bear witness of me--not simply as miracles nor even as a miracle of mercy, but these miracles, as He did them, with a will and a power, a majesty and a grace manifestly His own.Read the comment

Topics related to John 5:36

• God
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Miracles

In the dictionaries

• Folk
• Judgment
• Lest
• Light
• Miracle
• Step
• Trouble
• Troubling
• Witness
• Children of God

Commentaries on John 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings