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

34But I don’t depend on human testimony. I’m telling you this to save you. 35John was a lamp that gave off brilliant light. For a time you enjoyed the pleasure of his light. But I have something that testifies more favorably on my behalf than John’s testimony. The tasks that the Father gave me to carry out, these tasks which I perform, testify on my behalf. They prove that the Father has sent me. 37The Father who sent me testifies on my behalf. You have never heard his voice, and you have never seen his form. 38So you don’t have the Father’s message within you, because you don’t believe in the person he has sent.

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 5:32Someone else testifies on my behalf, and I know that what he says about me is true.
• 1 John 5:9We accept human testimony. God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony that he has given about his Son.
• John 3:2He came to Jesus one night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that God has sent you as a teacher. No one can perform the miracles you perform unless God is with him.”
• John 9:30The man replied to them, “That’s amazing! You don’t know where he’s from. Yet, he gave me sight.
• John 10:25Jesus answered them, “I’ve told you, but you don’t believe me. The things that I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf.
• John 11:37But some of the Jews asked, “Couldn’t this man who gave a blind man sight keep Lazarus from dying?”
• John 14:10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I’m telling you doesn’t come from me. The Father, who lives in me, does what he wants.
• John 15:24If I hadn’t done among them what no one else has done, they wouldn’t have any sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
• John 17:4On earth I have given you glory by finishing the work you gave me to do.
• Acts 2:22“Men of Israel, listen to what I say: Jesus from Nazareth was a man whom God brought to your attention. You know that through this man God worked miracles, did amazing things, and gave signs.
• Matthew 11:4Jesus answered John’s disciples, “Go back, and tell John what you hear and see:

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