Bible Strands
John 5:33
You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, following His healing of a paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda. He shifts their focus from His own works to John the Baptist as a recognized witness.
The words — The verb ἀπεστὠλκατε (apestalkate) means "you have sent," denoting a deliberate commissioning by the authorities. The perfect participle μεμαρτύρηκεν (memarturēken) translates to "he has borne witness," indicating a completed, authoritative testimony that remains in effect.
The thread — The text states that the leaders sent John and he testified to the truth, which aligns with John 1:6, 1:15, and 1:29 where John is repeatedly identified as a man sent from God to witness to the light. The leaders acknowledge the commission but the narrative records their failure to accept the witness as valid.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that truth is validated by a commissioned witness rather than by human consensus. It demands a direct response to John’s testimony instead of reliance on institutional authority.
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
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
Cross-references
- John 1:6 There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John.
- John 1:15 John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”
- John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
- John 3:26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”