1 John 5:9

1 John 5:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
• New International Version (NIV)We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.

Context of 1 John 5:9

7So we have these three witnesses— 8the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. 11And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:9 word by word

εἰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν τῶν ἀνθρώπων λαμβάνομεν, ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ θεοῦ μείζων ἐστίν, ὅτι αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι μεμαρτύρηκεν περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• we receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• the witnessὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the witnessμαρτυρίαmarturia · testimonyG3141
• of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• greaterμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• forὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he hath testifiedμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Sonυἱόςuihos · sonG5207

Cross-references for 1 John 5:9

• 1 John 5:10All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.
• John 3:32He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!
• John 5:31“If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid.
• John 8:17Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact.
• John 10:38But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”
• Acts 5:32We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”
• Acts 17:31For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”
• Hebrews 2:4And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.
• Hebrews 6:18So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
• Matthew 3:16After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.
• Matthew 17:5But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”

Commentaries on 1 John 5:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9If we receive the witness of men - Which all are obliged to do, and which is deemed a sufficient testimony to truth in numberless cases; the witness of God is greater - he can neither be deceived nor deceive, but man may deceive and be deceived.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9If we receive the witness of men - As we are accustomed to do, and as we must do in courts of justice, and in the ordinary daily transactions of life. We are constantly acting on the belief that what others say is true; that what the members of our families, and our neighbors say, is true; that what is reported by travelers is true; that what we read in books, and what is sworn to in courts of justice, is true. We could not get along a single day if we…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 9-12 Nothing can be more absurd than the conduct of those who doubt as to the truth of Christianity, while in the common affairs of life they do not hesitate to proceed on human testimony, and would deem any one out of his senses who declined to do so. The real Christian has seen his guilt and misery, and his need of such a Saviour. He has seen the suitableness of such a Saviour to all his spiritual wants and circumstances. He has found and felt…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. If, &c.--We do accept (and rightly so) the witness of veracious men, fallible though they be; much more ought we to accept the infallible witness of God (the Father). "The testimony of the Father is, as it were, the basis of the testimony of the Word and of the Holy Spirit; just as the testimony of the Spirit is, as it were, the basis of the testimony of the water and the blood" [Bengel]. for--This principle applies in the present case, FOR, &c…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 5:9

• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Idol
• Hope
• John, the Epistles of
• receive, welcome, taken up, acceptance

Commentaries on 1 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
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings