1 John 5:9

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.

If {G1487} we receive {G2983} the witness {G3141} of men {G444}, the witness {G3141} of God {G2316} is {G2076} greater {G3187}: for {G3754} this {G3778} is {G2076} the witness {G3141} of God {G2316} which {G3739} he hath testified {G3140} of {G4012} his {G846} Son {G5207}.

If we accept human witness, God’s witness is stronger, because it is the witness which God has given about his Son.

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

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son.

Commentary

1 John 5:9 (KJV) presents a foundational truth about the reliability and superiority of God's testimony concerning His Son, Jesus Christ, compared to human witness. It underscores the ultimate authority of divine revelation.

Context

The Apostle John, in his first epistle, writes to assure believers of their salvation and to counter various false teachings of his day, particularly those denying the true humanity and deity of Jesus Christ. Leading up to this verse, John has discussed the three witnesses on earth—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—all of which testify to Jesus' identity (1 John 5:6-8). Verse 9 then elevates the discussion, asserting that if human testimony is accepted, God's testimony carries infinitely more weight and truth, especially as it concerns the central figure of Christian faith: His Son.

Key Themes

  • The Superiority of God's Witness: The verse directly states that "the witness of God is greater" than that of men. This highlights God's perfect truthfulness and infallibility, contrasting it with the fallibility and limitations of human testimony. God's word is the ultimate standard of truth, providing an unshakeable foundation for belief.
  • The Centrality of God's Testimony about His Son: The core of God's witness is His declaration concerning Jesus Christ. This divine affirmation establishes Jesus' identity as the Son of God, validating His mission, teachings, and atoning work. This witness is not merely theoretical but has been powerfully demonstrated, for instance, by God's own voice at Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:17) and transfiguration (Matthew 17:5).
  • Foundation for Faith and Assurance: For believers, this verse provides a solid basis for faith. Our conviction about Jesus is not built on mere human opinion or tradition, but on the unwavering testimony of God Himself. This divine witness brings profound assurance of salvation and eternal life, knowing that God's declaration about His Son is absolutely trustworthy.

Linguistic Insights

The key Greek word for "witness" throughout this passage is martyria (or martyron in its verbal forms), which means "testimony," "evidence," or "proof." It carries the weight of a legal declaration, emphasizing the verifiable nature of what is being stated. The term "greater" (Greek: meizon) signifies not just a quantitative difference but a qualitative superiority in authority, reliability, and significance. God's testimony is supreme in every regard, providing absolute certainty where human testimony might falter.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 John 5:9 serves as a vital reminder to ground our faith firmly in God's revealed truth, especially regarding His Son, Jesus Christ. In a world full of conflicting opinions and claims, this verse directs us to the ultimate source of truth. We are called to receive God's witness with full acceptance, knowing that it provides an unshakable foundation for our hope, our assurance of salvation, and our understanding of who Jesus truly is. It encourages us to trust in the divine declaration that eternal life is found in His Son, and that by believing in Him, we overcome the world.

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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

  • Matthew 3:16 (7 votes)

    And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

  • Matthew 3:17 (7 votes)

    And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

  • Acts 17:31 (5 votes)

    Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.

  • Matthew 17:5 (5 votes)

    While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

  • John 8:17 (4 votes)

    It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

  • John 8:19 (4 votes)

    Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

  • Hebrews 2:4 (3 votes)

    God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?