John 5:36

The NET Bible®

"But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete—the deeds I am now doing—testify about me that the Father has sent me.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given me to accomplish.

King James Version (1611)
But I haue greater witnesse then that of Iohn: for the workes which the Father hath giuen me to finish, the same workes that I doe, beare witnesse of mee, that the Father hath sent me.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
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 American Standard Bible
"But the testimony I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

New Century Version
"But I have a proof about myself that is greater than that of John. The things I do, which are the things my Father gave me to do, prove that the Father sent me.

Amplified Bible
"But the testimony which I have is far greater than the testimony of John; for the works that the Father has given Me to finish—the very same works [that is, the miracles and proofs of My deity] that I am [now] doing—testify about Me, [by providing evidence] that the Father has sent Me.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

Legacy Standard Bible
But the witness I have is greater than the witness of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

Berean Standard Bible
But I have testimony more substantial than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish-the very works I am doing-testify about Me that the Father has sent Me.

Contemporary English Version
But something more important than John speaks for me. I mean the things that the Father has given me to do! All of these speak for me and prove that the Father sent me.

Complete Jewish Bible
"But I have a testimony that is greater than Yochanan's. For the things the Father has given me to do, the very things I am doing now, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.

Darby Translation
But I have the witness [that is] greater than [that] of John; for the works which the Father has given me that I should complete them, the works themselves which I do, bear witness concerning me that the Father has sent me.

Easy-to-Read Version
"But I have a proof about myself that is greater than anything John said. The things I do are my proof. These are what my Father gave me to do. They show that the Father sent me.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But I haue greater witnesse then the witnesse of Iohn: for the workes which the Father hath giuen me to finish, the same workes that I doe, beare witnesse of me, that the Father sent me.

George Lamsa Translation
But I have a greater testimony than that of John; for the works which my Father has given me to finish, the same works which I do, testify concerning me, that the Father has sent me.

Good News Translation
But I have a witness on my behalf which is even greater than the witness that John gave: what I do, that is, the deeds my Father gave me to do, these speak on my behalf and show that the Father has sent me.

Lexham English Bible
"But I have a testimony greater than John's, for the works which the Father has given to me that I should complete them—the very works which I am doing—these testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

Literal Translation
But I have the greater witness than John's, for the works which the Father has given Me, that I should finish them, the works which I do, themselves, witness concerning Me, that the Father has sent Me.

American Standard Version
But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Bible in Basic English
But the witness which I have is greater than that of John: the work which the Father has given me to do, the very work which I am now doing, is a witness that the Father has sent me.

Hebrew Names Version
But the testimony which I have is greater than that of Yochanan, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

International Standard Version
But I have a greater testimony than John's, for the works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.John 3:2; 10:25; 15:24; 1 John 5:9;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But I have a testimony which is greater than that of Juchanon; for the works that the Father hath given me to accomplish, these works that I do testify of me that the Father hath sent me.

Murdock Translation
But I have a testimony, which is greater than that of John; for the works which my Father hath given me to accomplish, these works which I do, testify of me that the Father hath sent me.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But I haue greater witnesse, then the witnesse of Iohn: For the workes whiche the father hath geuen me to finishe, the same workes that I do, beare witnesse of me, that the father hath sent me.

English Revised Version
But the witness which I have is greater than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

World English Bible
But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But I have a greater testimony than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to fulfil, the very works which I do, testify of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Weymouth's New Testament
"But the testimony which I have is weightier than that of John; for the work the Father has assigned to me for me to bring it to completion--the very work which I am doing--affords testimony concerning me that the Father has sent me.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But Y haue more witnessyng than Joon, for the werkis that my fadir yaf to me to perfourme hem, thilke werkis that Y do beren witnessyng of me, that the fadir sente me.

Update Bible Version
But the witness which I have is greater than [that of] John; for the works which the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me.

Webster's Bible Translation
But I have greater testimony than [that] of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear testimony concerning me, that the Father hath sent me.

New King James Version
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.

New Living Translation
But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.

New Life Bible
I have something greater than John which tells of Me. I am doing works the Father has given Me to do and they are proving that the Father has sent Me.

New Revised Standard
But I have a testimony greater than John's. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, I, have, as my witness, something greater than John's; for, the works which the Father hath given me, that I should complete them, - the works themselves which I am doing, bear witness concerning me, that, the Father, hath sent me.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But I have a greater testimony than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to perfect, the works themselves which I do, give testimony of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Revised Standard Version
But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But I have greater witnes then the witnes of Iohn. For ye workes which ye father hath geve me to fynisshe: the same workes which I do beare witnes of me that ye father sent me.

Young's Literal Translation
`But I have the testimony greater than John's, for the works that the Father gave me, that I might finish them, the works themselves that I do, they testify concerning me, that the Father hath sent me.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Neuertheles I haue a greater wytnesse then the wytnesse of Ihon. For the workes which the father hath geue me to fynish, the same workes which I do, beare wytnesse of me, that the father hath sent me.

Mace New Testament (1729)
but I have a better witness than that of John: for the works which my father hath order'd me to finish, those very works that I do, bear me witness, that 'tis the father who sent me.

Simplified Cowboy Version
But I have something that verifies me even more than what John said. My teachings and the miracles I do prove that my Father has sent me.

Contextual Overview

³¹ "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. ³² There is another who testifies about me, and I know the testimony he testifies about me is true. ³³ You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. ³⁴ (I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved.) ³⁵ He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light. ³⁶ "But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete—the deeds I am now doing—testify about me that the Father has sent me. ³⁷ And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time, ³⁸ nor do you have his word residing in you, because you do not believe the one whom he sent. ³⁹ You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ but you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I have: John 5:32, 1 John 5:9, 1 John 5:11, 1 John 5:12

the works: John 3:2, John 9:30-33, John 10:25, John 10:37, John 10:38, John 11:37, John 14:10, John 14:11, John 15:24, John 17:4, Acts 2:22, Matthew 11:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 4:5 - That they Numbers 16:28 - Hereby Zechariah 4:9 - and Matthew 11:5 - blind John 4:34 - and John 5:39 - they which John 6:27 - for him John 9:4 - must John 9:16 - This man John 10:32 - Many John 10:36 - sent John 17:3 - and Jesus 2 Peter 1:17 - God 1 John 2:1 - Father 1 John 4:14 - the Father

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But I have greater witness than that of John,.... The Vulgate Latin, and Ethiopic versions read, "greater than John", but wrongly; for the testimonies of Christ's works, and of his Father, are not compared with John himself, but with his testimony; and the sense is, that Christ had a greater witness than the witness of John; and so it is expressed in the Persic version: and his meaning is, that he had no need to insist upon John's testimony; he had other, and greater witnesses to produce:

for the works which the Father hath given me to finish; such as the preaching of the Gospel, the fulfilling of the law, and the redemption of his people; all which were appointed by his Father, and given him to do, and which he completely finished. The whole Gospel came, and was published by Jesus Christ, and the law was entirely fulfilled by him; and the work of man's salvation was finished by him, and these bear witness to the truth of his deity, and divine sonship; for none but the Son of God could have done these things. The Ethiopic version reads in the singular number, "this work which my Father hath given me", c. and if it was a single work that is referred to, the work of redemption bids fair to be it. But, these works include not only what Christ did on earth, in his state of humiliation, but what he has done since, and will do which his Father has given him to finish, and he has finished, or will finish them; such as the resurrection of himself from the dead, the effusion of the gifts and graces of the Spirit, the spreading and succeeding his Gospel in the world, the conversion of his redeemed ones, the gathering in the fulness of the Gentiles, and the conversion of the Jews, the destruction of antichrist, the resurrection of all the dead, and the judgment of the whole world. Though more especially his miracles are here intended, and which, and not his mediatorial works, were demonstrations and proofs to men of his divine sonship; see Matthew 14:33;

the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me; and that he was in the Father, and the Father in him; or that they were one in nature, and equal in power and glory,

John 10:30.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Greater 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 19:30. From this it appears that Jesus came to “accomplish” a certain work; and hence we see the reason why he so often guarded his life and sought his safety until the task was fully completed. These works or miracles bore witness of him; that is, they showed that he was sent from God, because none but God could perform them, and because God would not give such power to any whose life and doctrines he did not approve. They were more decisive proof than the testimony of John, because:

1. John worked no miracles, John 10:41.
2. It was possible that a man might be deceived or be an impostor. It was not possible for God to deceive.
3. The miracles which Jesus performed were such as no human being could work, and no angel. He that could raise the dead must have all power, and he who commissioned Jesus, therefore, must be God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 36. But 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 this God bears testimony to me? By my works: these miracles, which attest my mission, and prove by themselves that nothing less than unlimited power and boundless love could ever produce them. By my word only, I have perfectly and instantly healed a man who was diseased thirty and eight years. Ye see the miracle-the man is before you whole and sound. Why then do ye not believe in my mission, that ye may embrace my doctrine, and be saved?