John 3:11

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

Verily {G281}, verily {G281}, I say {G3004} unto thee {G4671}, We speak {G2980} that {G3754}{G3739} we do know {G1492}, and {G2532} testify {G3140} that {G3739} we have seen {G3708}; and {G2532} ye receive {G2983} not {G3756} our {G2257} witness {G3141}.

Yes, indeed! I tell you that what we speak about, we know; and what we give evidence of, we have seen; but you people don’t accept our evidence!

Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony.

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

Commentary

John 3:11 is a profound statement from Jesus Christ to Nicodemus during their nocturnal conversation, highlighting the divine authority and truth of His message, contrasting it with the human inability or unwillingness to accept it.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' extended discourse with Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, who came to Jesus by night (John 3:1). The conversation began with Jesus' declaration about the necessity of being "born again" or "born from above" to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Nicodemus's confusion and literal interpretation prompted Jesus to elaborate on spiritual birth, comparing the Spirit's work to the wind (John 3:8). In John 3:11, Jesus directly addresses Nicodemus's struggle to comprehend these spiritual realities, asserting the absolute truth of His own testimony.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority and Unquestionable Truth: Jesus asserts that His words come from direct, firsthand knowledge and experience of heavenly things. He is not speculating but testifying to what He truly "knows" and "has seen." This underscores His unique relationship with the Father and His divine origin, as explored further in John 1:1-3.
  • The "We" of Witness: The use of "We" (plural) in "We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen" is significant. It often refers to Jesus in conjunction with the Father or the Spirit, emphasizing the unified divine witness to truth. It could also broadly include those who truly understand and believe in Him, such as John the Baptist, who bore witness to Jesus (John 1:19-34).
  • Rejection of Divine Witness: Despite the undeniable truth and authority behind Jesus' words, He laments that "ye receive not our witness." This points to the spiritual blindness and hardened hearts of many, particularly the religious leaders like Nicodemus, who struggled to accept Jesus' claims and the spiritual nature of His kingdom. This theme of rejection is pervasive throughout the Gospels, as seen in John 1:11.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Verily, verily" (Greek: Amēn, amēn): This double affirmation, unique to John's Gospel, serves as a solemn and emphatic declaration. It signals that what follows is of utmost importance and absolute truth, demanding careful attention and belief. It's a powerful way for Jesus to underscore the certainty of His statements.
  • "We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen": The Greek verbs for "know" (oidamen) and "seen" (heōrakamen) denote perfect knowledge and direct, complete perception. This is not mere intellectual understanding but an experiential, intimate knowledge of heavenly realities, differentiating Jesus' testimony from human speculation.

Practical Application

John 3:11 reminds us of the absolute reliability of Jesus' words. He speaks not from opinion or guesswork but from perfect knowledge and direct experience of divine truth. For us today, this verse challenges us to:

  • Trust Jesus' Authority: Recognize that His teachings are ultimate truth, worthy of complete acceptance, even when they challenge our natural understanding or worldly wisdom.
  • Examine Our Hearts: Consider if we, like Nicodemus, are hesitant to receive spiritual truths because they seem too mysterious or demand too much change.
  • Embrace Spiritual Understanding: Pray for the Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts to comprehend the deep things of God, just as Jesus sought to guide Nicodemus beyond his earthly perspective. This aligns with the call to spiritual discernment found in 1 Corinthians 2:14.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • John 8:38

    I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

  • John 14:24

    He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

  • John 12:49

    For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

  • John 8:28

    Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

  • John 8:29

    And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

  • 1 John 5:6

    ¶ This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

  • 1 John 5:12

    He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
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