1 John 5:9

Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The apostle John writes to early Christians, concluding his argument about the evidences that confirm Jesus’s identity. He addresses them directly to ground their faith in a verified standard rather than subjective opinion.

The words — μαρτυρία (marturia) translates literally as “testimony” or “witness statement,” appearing twice to contrast human and divine sources. λαμβάνομεν (lambanomen) means “we receive” or “accept,” establishing the baseline principle that human verification is already acknowledged.

The thread — The verse builds on the principle in John 8:17 that human testimony carries legal weight, while pointing to Matthew 17:5 where a heavenly voice publicly identifies Jesus as God’s Son. The immediate context in 1 John 5:8 and 5:10 ties this divine testimony directly to the Spirit, the water, and the blood.

Why it lands — The text states that God’s witness concerning His Son objectively surpasses all human verification. It requires the reader to anchor belief in that divine testimony rather than relying on human opinion alone.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.
Matthew 17:5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
John 8:17 Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
Acts 17:31 For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
1 John 5:10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
Hebrews 2:4 and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
John 3:32 He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
John 5:39 You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me,
John 10:38 But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”