John 8:14

Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, [yet] my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} and {G2532} said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Though {G2579} I {G1473} bear record {G3140} of {G4012} myself {G1683}, yet my {G3450} record {G3141} is {G2076} true {G227}: for {G3754} I know {G1492} whence {G4159} I came {G2064}, and {G2532} whither {G4226} I go {G5217}; but {G1161} ye {G5210} cannot {G3756} tell {G1492} whence {G4159} I come {G2064}, and {G2532} whither {G4226} I go {G5217}.

Yeshua answered them, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony is indeed valid; because I know where I came from and where I’m going; but you do not know where I came from or where I’m going.

Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go.

Commentary

In John 8:14, Jesus responds to the Pharisees' challenge regarding His self-testimony, asserting its truthfulness based on His unique, divine knowledge of His origin and destination. This verse is central to understanding Jesus' claims about His identity and authority.

Context

This verse immediately follows a dispute with the Pharisees in the Temple treasury, where Jesus declared Himself the Light of the World. The Pharisees countered His claim by stating, "Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true" (John 8:13). Their objection was rooted in Jewish law, which typically required two or three witnesses to validate a testimony (Deuteronomy 17:6). Jesus' response transcends their legalistic framework, pointing to a higher, divine standard of truth.

Key Themes

  • The Validity of Jesus' Self-Witness: Jesus declares that even though He testifies of Himself, His testimony is "true." This is not an act of arrogance but a statement of divine authority. His unique knowledge of His origin and destination makes His witness unimpeachable.
  • Jesus' Divine Origin and Destiny: The phrase "I know whence I came, and whither I go" highlights Jesus' intimate awareness of His pre-existence with the Father and His ultimate return to Him (John 16:28). This knowledge is exclusive to Him, setting Him apart from all humanity.
  • Spiritual Blindness and Unbelief: The contrasting statement, "but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go," exposes the spiritual inability of His accusers to comprehend His divine nature. Their earthly perspective prevents them from grasping heavenly truths, a theme often explored in John's Gospel, such as the necessity of spiritual rebirth to see the Kingdom of God.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "bear record" or "record" is martureo (verb) and marturia (noun), meaning "to witness" or "testimony." Jesus acknowledges the legalistic challenge but asserts that His marturia is inherently true because He possesses unique knowledge of His identity and purpose. This truth is not contingent on human corroboration but on His divine nature.

Practical Application

John 8:14 challenges us to consider the source of our understanding about Jesus. Do we approach Him with an open heart, seeking spiritual truth, or with a skeptical, purely human perspective like the Pharisees? This verse reinforces the profound truth of Jesus' unique identity as the Son of God, who comes from and returns to the Father. Our faith is grounded in His divine claims, which are validated by His perfect knowledge and authority. It encourages us to trust in His self-revelation as the ultimate truth about God and humanity's salvation.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 13:3

    Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

  • John 16:28

    I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

  • John 8:42

    Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

  • John 14:10

    Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

  • John 17:8

    For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

  • Numbers 12:3

    (Now the man Moses [was] very meek, above all the men which [were] upon the face of the earth.)

  • John 7:27

    Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.
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